Mt Rinjani, Lombok, Indonesia

We have now been in Indonesia for 2 weeks since saying goodbye to family Kinos. After 3 days in Kuta Beach, Bali, we decided to take the slow ferry over to Lombok for quieter surroundings - or so we thought. Indonesian mosques start preeching by loud speaker at 5 am, it is impossible to sleep.
Mt Rinjani, at 3726m, dominates the northern Lombok skyline and we soon found ourselves booking a trek to the crater rim at a mere 2700m. The 7 hour, 2100m climb was tough but well worth it for what greeted us was the most amazing caldera complete with errupting volcano. We fell asleep to the rumbling sounds of oozing lava which at times sounded like a jet engine.


Our destination behind, The Mt Rinjani


At the gate - here we go!


Passing through lush rainforests - getting swetty!

Lunch break - our porters speeded ahead and lunch was waiting as we arrived.

David spotting wildlife in the forest...

...be aware of the thieving monkeys.

Tough last 200m - finally above cloud level.

Georgeous views.

Tent site at the back - almost there!

WOOOOW!!! This was the first view we saw after reaching the rim.

Dinner time - had to eat in the tent due to high wind.

Tired but happy to be at the best camp site in the world. Our porters happened to be the fastest, so we got to camp at the highest spot with best views.

The caldera behind us measured 6km x 8,5km.

The errupting Mt Baru inside the caldera.

Views to the west towards the sea and Bali.

Amazing sunset.

Mt Gunung Agung in Bali at 3142m.

Getting cold - at camp fire with the guide and porters.

Night falls.

David's dream comes true - finally can see some lava!

Waking at 6am for sunrise.

Another monday morning :)

Packing up.

Leg burn coming down.

After 7hr descent, we are safely back and waiting for the Bemo to take us home.