Indonesia... again

In late March, I took a trip back to Bandung, Indonesia, with the MS science teacher, five 8th grade girls, two 8th grade boys and Kaleb. It was a lot of fun but a flying trip since we left Penang at noon on Friday and returned home at 2 a.m. on Monday. A lot of our time was spent driving, flying or waiting in airports! The trip was optional for those 8th graders who wanted to see the volcanoes as they had just studied. Our friends who had hosted us in Bandung over Christmas once again came to the resuce. They gave us their home to stay in (they were heading away to Bangkok) and even bought us groceries for our breakfasts. We had hoped to get to two volcanoes, one on the north and another on the south, but the time got away from us at the northern spot and the traffic was heavy so we were unable to see the other place. Posing above the major crater. When we were at this same spot at Christmas, it was windy and cold so my friend and I were tossing our hair around for a crazy picture. On this day, it was very calm.

Waiting for the gang to catch up.

Hot sulfur rocks - our guide cracked them out and gave them to us to take home. I have one on my desk and although it isn't as bright as when it first came out of the ground, it still sparkles nicely.

Soaking in the hot mud pools.

The whole group at the steaming pools of the active volcano. Don't worry - the scientists are on hand and do tests constantly to make sure nothing is going to erupt.

The active volcanoe bed from up above.

How skinny is he? Skinny enough to fit into a dead tree trunk!

We hiked down into a dead volcano bed and with the lightweight volcanic rock, wrote out "Dalat". It's hard to see but Mr. Tyas (in purple shirt to the right) has a huge rock above his head!