Feel the heat in Indonesia

No trip to Jogjakarta is complete without paying homage to the world’s most-watched volcano, the 2,968m-high Mount Merapi. Just half an hour’s travel north of the city and constantly monitored by volcanologists, Merapi has erupted 68 times since 1548. Deadly eruptions in 1930 and 1994 saw a total of 1,360 people killed, and the volcano’s last violent flare-up in 2006 forced some 15,000 people to flee the surrounding villages.

So why on earth would you want to climb this volcano? Well, other than the chance to see some bubbling lava, Merapi is couched in some pretty cool folklore – so much so that, in 2006, many of the thousands of residents asked to evacuate initially refused to budge, believing they would be in no danger until lightning struck the peak. Today, locals maintain that the volcano (which, incidentally, is believed to have a magical kingdom upon its peak) continues to protect the city of Jogjakarta, ensuring peace and prosperity for its people. As you climb the volcano (a guide is necessary) you’ll see a few unnerving signs: ‘Danger Zone’, ‘Level 3’, and ‘World’s Most Watched Volcano’. You’ll also be told that under no circumstances should you climb to the peak: it’s been banned since 1994 and presumably for good reason. Unscrupulous guides will offer to take you, but it’s at your own risk, and the last point you’re likely to reach has signs that translate as: ‘Highest Risk, No People’. But more importantly, you’re probably not dressed for entry to the magic kingdom anyway.
Sarah Porter

Get There

From UAE: Fly Emirates (www.emirates.com) direct to Jogjakarta. Prices start from Dhs1,057 return, including taxes. Take a taxi, bus, pedicab or minivan to the town of Kaliurang and book yourself into Vogel’s Hostel on Jalan Astamulya No 76, Kaliurang, Jogjakarta (+62 2 7489 5208).