After long deliberation to go or not to on the Volcano Trek, we decided it would be a waste since we are here not to go. Everyone said the trek up the Volcano called Mount Batur will be really easy (everyone being people that were selling us the trip). The idea is you are picked up at 1am from the hotel, drive for 2.5 hours and then climb for 1.5 hours, wait for the sunrise have breakfast at the summit and climb down for 1.5 hours. It was anything but easy, and I will tell you why.
We were picked up by a driver that started to complain from the beginning that he is really tired, he has been driving for more than 24 hours. He stopped over 5 times to splash water on his face to wake himself up. He tried everything, he listened to music, opened the window, he drank water, pulled over and still he couldn't stay awake. I was so scared that I decided to forgoer my beauty rest and sleep in the car before the hike, for our safety. I talked to him occasionally and remembered what my dad told me about falling asleep behind the wheel. "Chew gum or nuts, as long as your jaw is working you will stay awake." Well I passed this wise tip to the driver in hopes that he had some gum to chew. He didn't but decided he will try anything to stay awake and found in his pocket, to my dismay a red hot chili pepper. He ate it at once and woke right up. However, he underestimated the strength of this little red pepper. He had to pull over yet again as he now couldn't drive because he was screaming in pain. At least he woke up and then I went back to sleep happy at an accomplished mission.
We arrived at the bottom of the mountain in complete darkness. Our driver was already getting ready to sleep and our guide has introduced himself. He gave us a pair of flashlights and away we went. To my asking of how long this will take and how far is the climb he said "very close and very easy." I was really happy about that. At this point it was 3:30 am in the morning to be fair I was really really regretting my decision to conquer this mountain. Who cares about the sunset, why am I here in the middle of the night with a flashlight and 3 hours of climbing ahead of me??? There was not turning back, so I looked forward and followed the guide. The walk at first was really easy. One foot after another, one after another. I kept checking my watch to gauge our progress, what felt like 30 minutes was really 10 minutes. The woods were dark and I couldn't see anything. Marc was right behind me still asleep and in his own world. I tried to talk to the guide but his English was no good and my Balinese was even worse. I checked my watch again only another 5 minutes have passed, I was getting really tired but I couldn't help notice that the road was getting steeper and we were definitely just starting our uphill climb.
When we have climbed for 30 minutes (serious uphill trekking) the guide allowed us a break. My shirt was drenched I was breathing heavy. I was really hoping that Marc was on the same page that we should just turn around and call it a night. He was fine and muttered a few words (his first in the last 30 minutes). I asked the guide again if it gets harder from here, he then pointed at the mountain and my jaw dropped. I finally saw our destination. We were walking on a flat surface and had 80%of the mountain left to climb. The mountain was 1770 high and one way climb was 5 km.
I decided to stick it out. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. We took a break every five minutes as my feet were just giving out. The guide after our break gave me his hand and dragged me up. We were climbing the mountain with rocks falling beneath our feet in the middle of the night in the dark. When we climbed for 1 hour and 20 minutes I said I was done. I did not care about anything other than stopping and getting my breath back. Marc made a good point that it is longer to go down hill. We sat for 10 minutes and then I got enough courage to finish the climb.
Forty minutes later we reached the top. I literally felt like I was on top of the world. My feet were shaking, my clothes were drenched, my chest was hyperventilating but we made it. The sun had another 1.5 hours till sunrise. We were the first to reach the top, and gathered at a restaurant. The chef was making boiled eggs and bread (not much of a choice there but you take what you can get) and we sat in the kitchen trying to get warm. Slowly other people started gathering and by the time the sun came up there were more than 50 people on the mountain. Everyone shared a secret bond through our sense of accomplishment. People were chatting, eating, trying to stay warm and waiting for the sun to come up. We ran into a Canadian group that we have travelled with previously. It was a surprising place to run into one another.
The scenery was truly breathtaking. In front of us was another mountain covered by clouds. At the bottom was a river, on top of the mountain the sun was rising and a few feet away we saw the Crater erupting with warm springs. Once the sun came out so did the monkeys. Marc fed them tomatoes that the guide has picked and we even saw some monkey business. In the end I do feel great that I did it, but in the future I need to prepare physically for such a hike.
Unfortunately, we are leaving Bali tomorrow and going to Laos. Not that we don't want to see Laos, but we really love it here. We are now researching a temple where Monks grow tigers and they run free and are very friendly (the tigers run free not the Monks, although I'm sure that they both run free and are really friendly). Marc said he will sit this one out, but I am really excited. We are not sure what the Internet situation will be like then, but as soon as we can we will blog.
Marc and I would like to wish a very happy mothers day to Mama and Charlene. We are sorry we couldn't be there in person but we love you and miss you very much. Please also wish Babushka Dina and Babushka Asya, Tetya Ala, Tetya Bella, Tetya Ira, Polina, Marina, Vika, Rita and all the mothers a very happy mothers day from us.
Kissess
Veronika
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