Hiking to Mt. Batur, Bali, Indonesia

February, 2007. Its the rain season in Indonesia. I'm on a three day business trip to Nusa Dua, but I'm arriving a day early due to flight shedules and to give myself time to adjust to the timezone. When I arrive, its midnight, and I have spent the last 26 hours in an airplane. Time to rest? No, its time to unpack the luggage and pack the backpack, since the local mountain guide is coming to pick me up at 3 AM. Time to climb an active volcano, Mt. Batur in the northern part of Bali.

Arriving in Indonesia, by the way, was a bit unnerving due to signs like the one below. Hope no one is slipping anything in my pockets... Read More