Up in the mountains

Ah....I am destined to be forgotten in history because of my laziness about recording my adventures...

Now that I have been away for what feels like a very long time and life is starting to feel a little bit more life normal life, blogging has been a challenge. Additionally, in Cambodia I have been working on a computer, my little netbook in a windowless non-ergonomic room - though there is AC, so going on the computer to blog some more after I'm done working feels like a pain in the neck (pun intended). So though I have excellent internet access, I don't want to use it!

These are just some of the excuses as to why I have fallen behind. I have travelled to Vietnam, had some day-to-day adventures in the village in Cambodia, and am looking forward to travel in Thailand and Laos starting next week. I'll try and improve on reporting back!

But, alas...the journey in Lombok continues.

Lombok was magical:) On this portion of the trip we traveled to the base of the mountain/volcano that the island encircles Mt. Rinjani. We did not, to my disappointment, actually hike up this volcano as it would have been a 3 day hike and there was too much else yet to see. Next time I suppose!

Instead, we went with a local guide (the first woman guide I've had) and explored her village area up in the mountains. The next day we visited a beautiful and invigorating waterfall, a fountain of youth, and were rejuvenated.

The following are some shots from the mountain village.

These hangout platforms, as i will call them, were where life happened. The houses were small and windowless, so social life would occur in these median places between rows of houses. Babies are born here, dead people are laid here, and all that's in between.

Unrelated to this picture, but when people get married they have to file down their canine teeth...ouch! Our guide said it hurt for about a month after...right when you are a newly wed and are granted the only sliver of privacy that you will likely experience in your village life!
There were lots of puppies, too many to all be taken care of.
A plant that had white powder on its underside...The guide took it and slapped in on my leg before I knew what was going on. I must look like an easy target because guides are always doing strange things to me!
Look familiar? Poinsettias! Very different meaning in Indonesia than in Canada. Here they are used to indicate the changing of seasons for agriculture purposes when the colour of the leaves changes from red to green.
Climbing up a massive palm tree.



Children burning things and a hen and her chicks!
The next day I was slowly waking in my room, planning to do some early morning yoga...when I red light glinted in from the window. I jumped up eager to see what I hoped I would - a gorgeous sunrise and view of the valley and the ocean and the volcano. Heaven.




That day, the day that started out with a beautiful sunrise and yoga, we hiked into the forest and swam in a frigid waterfall 'that would wake up your dead grandmother', as Andy put it, with the wind blowing like it was a hurricane.

Our hike followed the path of impressive irrigation infrastructure - carved out in the mountainside. The water was very clear and clean. We also walked through a creepy tunnel, which was quite a thrill!





Emerging from the jungle

Here is a shot of my lovely travel group as we gathered to have lunch. That was our trip up on the mountain. Next stop, the beautiful Gili Islands.

Stay tuned!