Message Stick

After leaving the jungle we had a mammoth day of bus journeys until we reached Berastagi in the Karo highlands whose cool air was a light relief from the sweltering jungle. Known for its two nearby active volcanoes, the following day  we attempted the smallest one, Gunung Sibayak (2450m). With legs not fully recovered from the jungle trek we ambled our way up the fairly safe and dry path to the volcano summit. For the majority of the climb it felt like any other  mountain but suddenly when nearing the top, the fresh air became sulphurous and all you could taste was eggs. It was just as you’d hope a volcano would look, steaming, ferocious and something not quite of this planet.  We sat down wind of the eggyness and tried to enjoy our packed lunch unable to fully appreciate the amazing views as the clouds refused to clear.

The climb down was much more luscious with thick jungle undergrowth that often masked the ramshackle steps we were attempting to following.  The three hour descent was really spectacular and we were highly rewarded at the bottom with a session in the hot spring baths. Naturally heated water from the volcano was pumped into several  pools at varying degrees of temperature. I’m afraid bathing in this eggy warm water was so relaxing we forgot to take  any photos. The minerals clearly had some kind of impact as they turned our wedding rings blue and despite being laundered twice our bathers still smell eggy.