The manager of our hotel “Adeng Adeng” on Gili Meno is a hilariously likable, big, Bavarian woman named Karina. Adeng Adeng, which means ‘Slowly, Slowly’, kind of a local mantra, is a very highly rated hotel for the money. It…
Indonesia Day 6: The return to earth. ‘No poop till Meno!’
There are no summiters to wake us up. We sleep pretty well for being in a small tent at 11,000 feet. Everyone looks pretty satisfied with themselves, and they should be. This has been the hardest physical test we’ve ever…
Indonesia Day 5 – Down into the volcanic crater: Hot Springs, Trash and a moment with god.
Outside the tent I can hear muttered Bahasa Indonesian. Lights, headlamps presumably, criss cross scan the walls of our tent for a 2am light show. The summiters are gathering to make the attempt to the 13,000 foot peak of Rinjani. …
Indonesia Day 3-4: A wonder of the world? Ascending Gunung (Mt.) Rinjani
I had never heard of Gunung (Mt.) Rinjani before opening the Lonely Planet Guidebook. I’d seen dozens of the ‘Top 100’ travel lists sent around Facebook, and they are very Euro-centric. There’s no harm in that. I expect them not…
Indonesia Day 1-2: Return to China – our overnight in Hong Kong
This is the first epic vacation since 2012’s Africa expidition and I’m doubting my plan already. I traded in frequent flyer tickets for puchased ones because I found an ultra cheap fare – less than $950 each from the US…