THE (SAFE) JEEP RIDE TO MERAPI - AND BACK

To get to Merapi, we had to take this jeep ride. The drivers were already waiting for us near the Merapi Museum.

Everything started pretty well but not after we got into the mountainous area. The jeep would get into all the holes and water puddles visible and once in a while would get stuck in the mud. In its effort to be released, mud splashed and flew at all directions.

We thought the bumpy ride was over once we left Merapi but how wrong we were. We were then taken to this small river for another Camel Trophy Adventure, where the drivers would intentionally got water splashed all over us. I was clever, I got myself covered in poncho much earlier so it was not too disastrous for me.

I must say we had a lot of fun on that day. The last time I had such a thrilling experience was during the roller coaster ride in Everland, Seoul.

If you plan to visit Merapi, make sure you get to chance to be driven the jeep. You will sure remember the exciting moment, if you survive the rough but fun trails.

[MY JOGJA TRIP MAIN PAGE]

VISITING MERAPI WHILE SHE WAS STILL SLEEPING

The trip up Merapi Volcano consisted of three stops.

(1) THE ALIEN ROCK

I am not sure why this big chunk of stone is called Alien Rock. This is the stone that was spewed out when Merapi erupted. If you position yourself in front of the sharp edge, you could see some sort of the face shape of a human skull.

The weather was not that good. It started to rain and we had to run for shelter, and the only shelter available was the jeep. Despite the rain, the journey must go on.

(2) THE BUNKER

The bunker was significant when two volunteers were found dead in it during the 2006 eruption. Just imagine, when you have nowhere to go and you know that death is coming. The place was damp, dark and eerie 

(3) THE VOLCANO

People were here to admire to admire the majestic Merapi, when she was calmly sleeping. The opposite side was the beautiful view of Jogjakarta from afar. Surprisingly, the rain had stopped and the sky had turned blue. However, the summit of the volcano was still hidden in the thick clouds. 

This "valley" was the path of the moving lava during the eruption. There were actually people down there, filling lorries with the soil and stones of the volcano for commercial purposes.

The volcano is still active. Unlike "Kawah Putih" and "Tangkuban Perahu" in Bandung, which are also volcanic sites, there was no smell of sulphur at all in the air. 

[Read about my visit to KAWAH PUTIH and TANGKUBAN PARAHU]

Let us just pray Merapi will be in a deep slumber for many more years to come.

[MY JOGJA TRIP MAIN PAGE]

THE REAL-LIFE MINI MUSEUM AT MERAPI

8th February 2016 ~ The second day in Jogjakarta was the time we went to Merapi Volcano. We had to take a very adventerous jeep ride, but that will be featured in another blog post. For now, let me just focus on the mini museum on Merapi called "Muzium Sisa Hartaku" [translate: the leftover of my treasure]. The ground was grey as that was the actual ash from the volcano.

This mini museum is to commemorate the event when Merapi erupted back in November 2010. People could see the aftermath of the natural disaster which was a terrifying sight. Almost everything was burnt, melted and covered in volcanic ashes. I just could not imagine the horrifying moment the people had to go through, running away from the angry mountain while the sky was heavily covered filled with hot dust and poisonous gases. 

See more photos of the devastating effects of the Merapi eruption IN 2010 HERE.

The owner of the house which has been turned into the mini museum now operates the shops opposite the building.

I am thankful for the life I live as I do not have to suffer what these people experienced five years ago. Let's pray that the volcano will sleep for many more years to come.

[MY JOGJA TRIP MAIN PAGE]