Jeep Tour on the Mountain

We have some new friends here who will only be in Indonesia for six months.  It's nice because they're trying to get all the touristy stuff in while they're here.  We've been here for 2 1/2 years and haven't done it all.  So, we get to experience being a tourist with them!  A couple of weeks ago, we went on a Jeep tour up Mount Merapi, which translates to "fire mountain."  It's one of the world's most active volcanoes!  

 At one of the peaks, there were several different photo opportunities.

Truett saw this owl and thought it would be fun to have his picture taken with it.

I love this shot of him cutting his eyes over to the owl.

Paisley was sitting taking a break and wanted to take a picture of her dad and kakak (older sibling).

Boy, does she love that kid!

I took these pictures because they make me laugh a bit.  Notice the face mask on Paisley?  They gave these to us to help us with the dust as we drove up the mountain.  Normally, wouldn't you think someone would take it off when taking a picture?  Sure.  But, not here.  People wear them so regularly (to keep from getting sick?  to keep others from getting their sickness?  to keep the exhaust fumes out of their noses and mouths?), that taking a picture with it on is just not out of the norm. 

This was another photo op.  This huge stone is called the Alien Stone.  Can you see it?  Me, neither!

Just a beautiful view of the top of the mountain. 

Several years back, the people of the village up near the mouth of the volcano were told to evacuate because of a suspected eruption.  However, the people were waiting for nature to tell them to go.  They waited for the birds to fly down the mountain.  They waited for tigers to go down the mountain.  However, the tigers never went.  Could be because they have become nearly extinct.  By the time the village leader could tell they were in danger, it was too late.  Many died on the mountain.  The following picture is of a shelter where several were found,

but they did not make it.

Michael wanted to take this picture.  It was our last stop on the tour.  I'm not exactly sure what they're digging rocks for, but we got a little nervous as our driver backed up right to the very edge of a very steep cliff!

We had lots of chances to get some family pictures.  I feel like we haven't had any in a while.