Bukittinggi and it’s famous mountain

Through jungle, mountains and over a winding road we left Pekanbaru and arrived six hours later in Bukittinggi near Sumatra’s west coast east of Lake Maninjau. Because of the altitude, approaching the Equator was relatively cool. Our Bukittinggi hotel was on a hill, but even higher was Mt Marapi not far away—smoke rising from its summit. This was Sumartra’s most active volcanic peak aptly named Mountain of Fire. The volcano had erupted more than one hundred times and was last active in 2020, but on our visit it merely signalled with a puff of smoke. 

Xinbeitou and Thermal Valley

Thermal Valley conjured up images of bubbling pools with the smell of sulphur wafting along the valley. Once I left Xinbentou Station, I followed a well-maintained pathway by a stream searching for my imagined Thermal Valley.

The other side of the mountain

There were two trails — one to Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak summit that I had already climbed with a $5 entrance fee, and a free trail. I headed to the latter.

Jeju Island’s Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

As I relive my trip through these posts, I’m forever thankful that my three weeks in South Korea were back in October/November last year before our world changed. I’m following the situation in Korea as much as my own country, and marvel at Korea’s latest adaptation I heard on CBC news this morning — Seoul set up a drive-in movie (remember those?) that sold out in ten minutes!

In search of an oreum

I started along this fifteen kilometre trail in Jeju’s Saryeoni Forest, but planned to hike only five kilometres into the forest to reach Mulchat Oreum. This volcanic parasitic cone was where Hwaguho Lake, a crater lake was located on its flat summit.

From Wellington to Rotorua

Volcanic fumes, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua – photo courtesy Andrew McMillan – wikimedia.org

As I headed north towards Rotorua, the eastern side of Mt Ruapehu loomed ahead, but unfortunately, the day was overcast and clouds floated over the crater shaped summit.