Idul Fitri Holidays

During our recent Idul Fitri Holiday (end of Muslim fasting) we took a day trip to one of Indonesia's active volcanoes - Krakatoa. We went with some friends from church - the Moore Family. It was a 3 hour drive, followed by a 2 hour boat trip. The boat trip was quite horrific with at least 2 metre swells and a number of our party becoming quite sick. However we did actually make it - alive!! - to the island. Climbing this volcanoe was like walking up steep sand dunes for one hour. It was quite difficult in the fine volcanic sand. Of course it was black and we were very black ourselves by the end of the hike. We all made it to the first summit and Tilly and I stayed here. Gus just had to get to the top and so lucky Declan opted to go with him. They climbed a very steep and narrow goat like track to the top. Declan said that there was steam coming out of the top and in some parts you literally couldn't go to because it was too hot to stand there. Krakatoa is active, it grows at a rate of 1 metre per year and recent earthquakes opened up large cracks through the mountain. Needless to say Declan and Gus stayed a mere couple of minutes at the top and quickly made their way back down. Going down the volcano was much easier and we ran straight into the ocean to cool off.