This morning, like most other mornings here, began with a cup of coffee on the patio facing east, where the sun rose beside Gunung Agung, highest point on the island and the sacred mother volcano of the Balinese. It is still active, although it hasn't erupted since 1964, and at 3000 meters it is eminently climbable, even by the likes of me. This morning, like most other mornings here, I am tempted. It would simply be a matter of talking to a guy and giving him some money and getting up very very early in the morning ( plus that climbing stuff). And the views of the rising sun lighting the rice paddies like a vast work of stained glass... well, it beggars the imagination.
But I won't. Two fifths of a lifetime ago further east in the same country I stared at another volcano, Gunung Api, and ultimately gave in to the temptation. It did not go well. Mind you, I did get a good story out of it (http://terraarcadia.blogspot.com/2011/04/yes-you-climb-volcano.html?m=1), but I really only need one of those.
Meanwhile, 150 km to the west of here, on the island of Java, a third volcano is drawing my attention. Gunung Raung is spitting ash and making airline risk management departments nervous. Flights to Australia have been cancelled on three of the last four days. But you've already been there you say! Yes, this is true, but our flight to Africa is via Perth, Western Australia. We leave in three days. In theory that is.
But, if you're going to be stuck somewhere...
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