Day 2 of the trip was spent exploring the historical part of Yogyakarta. I am looking forward to seeing what this part of the country has. Every trip I have made so far hasn’t interested me, and I always make it a point to spend time immersing myself in the locals. They are not only a great tool or sour gone through. It has been of great interest in history but is also the face of both the present and the past.

The First Stop was Sikidang crater, which is an active crater. Some small holes still emit gas, but the main crater is located uphill and about a 1km walk from the main entrance. Upon arriving, you are asked to wear a mask as you can smell the sulphur in the air. The passage and walkway to the main crater were hard to explain and describe.

Families in tents sold various items, such as sulphur stones, shirts, etc. I assume they also lived there, as it looked like their tents were their houses. It is a heartbreaking picture to see. Children play and live in the area, breathing that kind of air.

The foggy atmosphere along the way makes you look forward to how the craters will look. Imagine from where they were 10 years ago, since they are active and moving, makes it more interesting. Visitors are expected to wear masks and stay not too close to the crater because the temperature on the surface of the main crater reaches 80-91 degrees Celsius. As a free-spirited human, I asked permission to go near and just be up close and see how it was.

It is really boiling, and you can smell sulphur all over the place. You cannot see the surrounding area because of the fog. I can remember when I was doing a Facebook live whilst near the crater, I gathered a lot of reactions from family and friends about the risk I was taking, but I am also careful enough not to harm myself. Still, it was such an experience to come close to an active crater. Not your regular hiking experience, I must say. 🙈😄

Don’t limit yourself to just an everyday experience. Be bold and be brave. Happy travelling.. 😊

Godspeed!!