The Ring of Fire: Exploiting the Beauty of Batur and Agung Mountain

October 10, 2011 by

The geologists in the team, Indyo Pratomo and the rest of the team have finished exploring the caldera of Batur Mountain, Bali last week. They returned to Denpasar on Saturday to gather every pieces of information they got as a result of an adventurous journey there. Team has spent a week since October 3 to investigate geological area of an active volcano, its archeological attributes and disaster mitigation of the locals.

This time the route was divided into three smaller teams. First team hiked to the top of Agung Mountain (3,142 meters) which took 2 days hiking through Pura Besakih at Karangasem district. At this mountain, team observed the mountain summit and the crater which last erupted in 1963 and took around 1,000 lives.

Second team studied disaster mitigation at Kampung Sogra, Sebudi Village also in Karangasem. Various stories from the local who witnessed eruption of Agung Mountain reveals the issue in mitigation policies and practices. “Mitigation system at Agung Mountain is still relatively weak. Local authorities are not yet well prepared meanwhile surrouding residences aren’t knowledgeable about mitigation,” said A Handoko, a member of the team.

The third team moved with the geologist, Indyo Pratomo, to explore the caldera of Batur Mountain at Kintamani district. Team observed crater of Batur starting from the shape of the first caldera which was formed around 29,300 years ago until the second caldera formed around 29,000 years ago. Then, the cone tip of an active volcano started to form 5,000 years ago and keeps growing until now.

There is a unique cave at Batur and Agung Mountain. The whole cave is made from frozen lava, magnificently beautiful. We can also see fumarol field around the mountain summit. Usually tourists use this gas to experience a natural, primitive yet exotic way to cook eggs. This site is a very beautiful geological tourism and suitable for holidays destination from adventurous journeys to romantic getaways.

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Another Bombing Terror, Now It’s for Garuda Indonesia

October 7, 2011 by

An aircraft of Garuda Indonesia, flight number GA-601 from Manado to Jakarta was threaten with a bomb. Currently the plane is still quarantined by police at a remote area of Soekarno-Hatta International airport.

Garuda Indonesia’s spoke person Pujobroto acknowledges that he was informed of the bomb terror. The threat was in a form of faxed blackmail sent to one of national media right after the plane took off at 2 p.m. The letter also said that there is a C4 with a time detonator placed on the body of the plane. The bomb was planned to explode by 3.30 p.m. or 30 minutes before the plane landed. The flight was advised to conduct emergency landing and that the land crews should prepare for firearms. However, until theplane actually landed at Soekarno-Hatta there was no explosion or whatsoever as informed.

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Suspected to Involve in Garuda Indonesia Bombing Terror, 6 Arrested

October 7, 2011 by

Indonesia National Police Department arrests 6 people as suspects of Garuda bombing terror on Wednesday, October 10th. It was flight Garuda GA-601 from Manado to Jakarta terrorized with bomb. “Upon further interrogation to those suspects it is revealed that there was no bomb placed at the plane. It was just a threat. We have arrested the suspects, there are 6 of them. Initials? We cannot yet inform that,” stated Head of PR Division Indonesia Police Department, General Inspector Anton Bachrul Alam this Thursday.

Furthermore, Anton also stated police cannot yet reveal the motives behind this terror as further investigation is still ongoing. Thus, they will wait for the final investigation result then announce to public about that. At the same time, Head of PR Department of Garuda Indonesia, Pujobroto, said that the threat was received in form of faxed letter sent to one of national press’ office right after the plane took off. It was around 2 p.m. at noon. The letter said the plane that has just taken off carrying approximately 105 passengers is advised to do emergency landing back to Sam Ratulangi airport, Manado or to the nearest airport because there is a bomb inside.

Until the plane was landed at Soekarn-Hatta International airport, Jakarta, no explosion happened as informed in the blackmail. Even so, management team of Garuda Indonesia immediately anticipated that by isolating the aircraft. A team from police checked the craft but found no bomb.

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The Ring of Fire: An Expedition on the Magical Volcanoes of Indonesia

September 30, 2011 by

One of Indonesian news conglomeration, Kompas, organizes a grand expedition called The Ring of Fire. This expedition explores volcanoes and continental plates in Indonesia which entwined as The Pacific ring of fire.

It starts from Toba caldera, then climbing up to volcanic rings of Sinabung and Sibayak, the infamous Krakatau, Agung and Rinjani. Team will then go further in Java Island to Semeru, Bromo, Merapi, Merbabu, Galunggung, Kerinci, Lawu until they reach eastern of Indonesia, Sangihe Island in Ambon. Sangihe is a remote island with magical view of deep sea and active volcanoes. The ring doesn’t stop there; team will explore the drown plate of Sumatra and end the expedition in Mentawai.

This will take team a whole year to finish their discovery of active volcanoes in Indonesia as the part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. It will be covered by newspapers, online papers, national channels, and of course by us; www.watchindonesianow.com. Here is the grand scenario:

Tambora Mountain, June 18 – July 2nd 2011

This mountain is located in Sumbawa Island, West Nusa Tenggara. It is the eastern part of Indonesia. It erupted in April 1815 and well known as “The Largest Volcanic Eruption in History”. Over 71,000 lives gone and it caused climate change; Indonesia calls it The Year without The Sun.

Toba, Sibayak, Sinabung and Tarutung Mountain (Quake plates), September 2011

This time team will go to volcanoes and tectonic faults in Sumatra Island. Super Volcano-Toba is estimated to erupt 74,000 years ago, creating Toba caldera and lake with Samosir Island in the middle of it. The eruption caused Tsunami.

The Krakatau, October 2011

This volcano is located at Sunda strait. Its great eruption happened in August 1883. More than 36,000 people died by Tsunami caused by the eruption.

Batur, Agung and Rinjani, November 2011

The journey is in search of spirituality and rationale. The team will start its discovery on local folklore about volcanoes. Between myths and religious beliefs, volcanoes for Bali and Lombok people are the center of cultures and religions. Team will investigate the influence of these beliefs toward modern disaster mitigation.

East of Java Adventure: Semeru, Penanggung, Bromo, Ijen and Kelud

Local life there can be concluded as blending with disasters. Ijen crater was once the source of sulfur and amunitive substances. It was beneficial for its surroundings. Now, it keeps a great danger. Tips of this crater with abundant sulfic acid may turn to avalanche. Leakage has already occurred causing land poisoning.

Central Java: Merapi, Merbabu, Lawu, Sindoro, Sumbing, Dieng

Re-civilization by eruption. Merapi eruption is suspected to be the main cause of shifting ancient Mataram to the eastern part of Java. Merapi is also a real test to modern disaster management against local culture and beliefs which often counteract.

West Java: Tangkuban Perahu, Salak, Papandayan, Galunggung

A very fertile area of Parahyangan with a terror of volcanic quake.

Kerinci, Dempo, Marapi and Sorik Mountain

The Mountains of Gods and the myth of small human. Kerinci is also the highest volcano in Indonesia which not only beautiful but also deadly. It has a long known myth about small human who live there.

Rokatenda, Egon, Lewo Tobi Mountain, Tsunami in Ende and Larantuka

Eastern Nusa Tenggara is an extreme example of archipelago formed by a series of volcanic mountains. This affect the humidity and dryness level there. Other than that, Tsunami often washouts this area.

Team will then continue to Sangihe, Ambon, Ibu and Soputan Mountains, Liwa-Padang, Aceh and Palu. Sumatra and Palu are considered an island with the most active volcanoes in the world. However, disaster management there is not yet sophisticated.

End of the journey: Mentawai, Nias and Simeulue Islands

Islands of the continental verge. These 3 islands are located at the verge of continental line which makes areas with most earthquakes and highly potential for Tsunami in all history. Local people has developed beliefs and traditional wisdom in facing all of the disasters but now it has long gone.

Source: http://ekspedisi.kompas.com

Tags: Volcano, Indonesia, Travel, Mountains

Ijen Crater: The Largest Acid Lake on Earth

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Baluran, a stunning beauty of Indonesia with a touch of African exotics

September 16, 2011 by

Baluran is a national park located in a small city called Banyuwangi, on the east of Java Island. It is preserved area where tourists can see the biggest savanna in Java. Here you will be awed by the wild lives of the bulls, deers feeding at the savanna, natural beauty of male peacocks trying to attract the females, colonies of wild buffalos, eagles flying in search of preys and monkeys called Makaka.

In Baluran you can explore one of the nature mysteries. You will find a unique tree so called Pilang tree, a real visualization of the tree James Cameron creates in his movie Avatar. This tree will bloom only once in its lifetime carrying 1 ton of fruits and then it will die. You can also find Bekol tree, a tree with a lot of magical and mystical stories of local cultures. If you are a nature explorer you will be psyched to observe the bulls, bulls are mascot of this park. It is said that only 30 left under strict governmental control. Indonesian government heavily protects their existence. Not only that, wait and witness how Ajag, the local wolves with long black tail and red eyes, capture and eat their preys, usually they come for the deers.

Baluran may mirror the beauty of African wildness but here you can also find a twist of Indonesian beauty, the beach. Go through acacia jungle, 3 kilometers far. You will find a part of Bali strait, a shallow beach called Bama. Things to do are water sports like canoeing. You can also snorkel to see the beauty of corals and reefs inside. Last but not least, you can see the biggest Bidada tree in Asia, the size of 6 adults hugs. So, pack yourself to Baluran and witness the beauty of Indonesian wildlife.

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