Last news: we arrived well in Pemuteran.With the help of Ines and Düde we arranged our flight back: first, we talked to Emirates and they practically agreed directly to redirect the flight back from Jakarta (Java) instead of from Denpasar (Bali). To Jakarta we booked a flight with Lion Air from Surabaya and to Surabaya we were brought by a private car from Banyuwangi, the first town when you cross the channel and arrive at Java.
Like that, we hoped to arrive on Saturday at 12:45 in Frankfurt and then take the train to Cologne – as if nothing has happened…
We have put our report on this trip on seperate pages. You can use the buttons „forward“ and „backwards“.
Sunday, 26. November – from Ubud to Rendang
This day – and probably the next ones – are influenced by the volcano Agung and its activity which increased after a short break on Saturday. Our destination today is Rendang, about 12 km away from the crater. And our tour leads us first from the eastern side south and then westwards around the volcano.
We start at 9.30 a.m. in Ubud. Our first destination is a Hindu tempel which was used in former times as a courtroom.
Pak Rupa, our German speaking guide who we were travelling with already in 2013, explained to us the paintings under the roof which show drastical penalities – among others for adultary and incest.. Interestering: corruption was punished by being cooked alive.
From Klunggung we go further along the east coast to the tempel Goa Lawah. There, we have to put on a sarong. Unfortunately, we cannot go into the inner part of the tempel – with a famous bat cave – as there is a ceremony taking place. The believers wait for the second worship term (the first term is leaving the tempel using another exit).
We continue to a „traditional salt production“ at the coast. Black sand (ashes from the volcano?) is being soaked with sea water. Evoporation results in a concentration of salt in the sand. Afterwards, the sand is being washed with some water which results in receiving quite a concentrated brine which cristallizes into salt in half tubes of bamboo.
Now , we are visiting a traditional village Pegeringsingang Tenganan. The people here are exhibiting their lifes in a museum village – and sell all sorts of things, specially engraved pictures which they produce by using sharp knifes to grave the picture in a bamboo leaf and later put carbon black on it to make the graves visible.
After this, in the old royal residence Tirta Ganga, our next station, two teenagers address us. Their English teacher has told them to ask tourists about the motivation and they take it on video. The young man eagerly holds the microphone while the young girl gathered all her courage and English and asks first Annette then Wendelin a few simple questions. We think it is a super idea of the teacher.
It started to rain again. More important is, however, the development of the mount Agung. It is emitting more and more ashes.
Our way leads us around the volcano in the south – on roads, that are grey (like the plants) and slippery from the ashes mixed with the rain.
We take pictures of the volcano again and again – there is no fire but the ash cloud is changing constantly its shape.
Our hotel, the Mahagiri in Rendang, is close to the Monitoring Station of the seismologists – and popular for „standuppers“, reporters who report the newest development in front of the threatening background.
Next morning, Pak Rupa, is sending us a picture of him in an „Interview“ with one of the reporters in front of his car. A joke – at least he still can make jokes. For many, the volcano is threatening their existence.
and here the map for today…
