INDONESIA (Java)

DAY 6

We set out a bit past midnight on our 5.5 mile hike of 5,000 feet to reach the top of the 9,550 foot tall active volcano known as Mt. Merpai. No one told us it would be SO difficult. Using only a flashlight, we had to climb sometimes on all fours up the very steep muddy 'trail' through thick mist at breakneck speed. It was incredible though! There were electrical storms over the whole valley. It was quite muggy and warm for most of the climb. Five of us (including 1 guide) pulled ahead from the rest of the group and reached the top at 4:30 am. Many of the others never showed. It was extremely cold at the top but luckily there were huge pockets of steam and hot rocks to curl up in. Just before the sun came up, one could still see the red flowing lava in the crater below. As day broke, the green sulfur and steam vents could also be seen.

We literally ran down the mountain and arrived back in the early morning.

Since we still had the whole day ahead of us, we took a becak to the Gembira Loka zoo. It was a very depressing place - falling apart, rusty cages, people hitting the monkeys through the bars or throwing peanuts at the crocodiles. The gorilla, locked in a small cage, just stared blankly in front of him. The only nice part of it was a small amusement section for the humans.

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