Herons, A Volcano, and Monkeys.

Spoiler: this entry is going to be 90% pictures of monkeys and birds. I don't know what else you expected from me, tbh. Update on my ability to bicara pakai bahasa Indonesia? Tidak. Membosankan.

Two days ago, after class (actually after I stopped to get iced tea at a cafe because it was pouring out and I wished to not get soaked), I walked to Petulu Village. Petulu Village is a tiny village and is about an hour walk from my homestay. It's home to thousands of herons (predominately Petulu Herons although also many egrets and other herons, too), each of which migrate to and from daily. There's a long story about the spiritual story about the relevance of the herons, which you can read about here. Or not. Follow your heart. Mainly I found it interesting insofar as to provide an explanation as to why any human would choose to live in such a loud, smelly, poop bombing village.

So I walked there and on my way, passed dozens and dozens of rice patties on windy roads, and largely just admired the incredibly beautiful scenery. I also noticed the droves of heron flying above me in the direction of the village, so even if it wasn't just two roads to get there, it would have been pretty easy to figure out where to go.

I arrived in Petulu Village and paid the entrance fee ($1.05ish) and walked down the middle of the only road. The first thing I immediately noticed was how incredibly loud the thousands of birds were. The second thing I noticed was how pungent the village was--to the point that I nearly choked as I turned the first corner. But the birds are omnipresent--it's sort of impossible to describe how many there were in such a small place without having been there. And impossible to capture on camera. Also, I narrowly avoided being pooped on dozens of times. Eventually, I found a rice patty outcropping that I walked onto and took pictures of the birds, sun setting, and landscape. Then I bargained myself a motorbike ride home to avoid walking down windy, narrow roads in the dark by myself. Yes, worriers in my life, I wore a helmet. For you. I even specifically asked for a helmet when he didn't have one for me. You're welcome. And now I have a driver and you can all rest easier.

Anyway. Here are some pictures:

This is what Bali looks like seconds outside of "downtown" Ubud. 

This is the rice patty I potentially trespassed on to get better pictures of herons flying overhead. 

Hey, some birds. 

Hey, more birds. 

Imagine hundreds of trees like this one, each with HUNDREDS of herons. And then imagine walking under each one. 

Then. This morning I woke up at 2:30 a.m. (which was tbqh, a feat, since I somehow accidentally set my alarm for "silent," which btws, Apple--really? "silent" alarm option? wtf?) and hurriedly got into a car to drive for an hour to climb an active volcano, Mt. Batur (Gunung Batur). Its first eruption was in the early 1800s and the most recent was in 2000. It's 5,600 ft tall. It has a giant crater and many "hot spots" where the sulfuric steam lurches out of cracks, originating from somewhere involving lava. Idk. Earth Science. Sue?

Anyway. We hiked up in the dark and watched the sunrise. Of our group, I was the only one with a headlamp and (imo) proper footwear. My takeaway of Mt Batur is that it is the Cascade of Bali given the fact that I saw people wearing boat shoes, flip flops, etc. Initially, I sort of felt like a tool with my adequate gear, esp. when one of the chicks in our group was all like, "oh, you're ready for skiing!" No. And also. If you wish to speak derisively of hiking poles, perhaps you should keep up. But actually I really liked her. She was from Brazil. We bonded over similar plights re: people who can't understand why one would choose to live without a car and then, when finally (!) one breaks down and purchases a car, it's all "but why this car?, "not a newer car?" (names not needed; you know who you are.) Anyway, it was a funny moment and I liked her a lot. It's possible I was the best hiker on that mountain. People found it "very hard." I found it "a lovely walk in the woods with a slight incline." I know. But, uh [enter Rosa saying anything]. On the way down, I actually gave one of my poles to one of the French women who kept falling because her shoes were slippery and the rocks were loose. Regardless, it was beautiful. And fun. See: 

Sunrise! It's not everyday you get to watch sunrise from the top of an active volcano.
But it's also probably not the last time I will. My life is hard here.  

The valley and the lake created by one of the earlier eruptions. 

Monkey see; Monkey stare.

The giant crater made by, I think, the most recent eruption. Or at least, made this large by the most recent eruption.
Don't worry, my worriers, we were in much greater volcanic eruption danger in Iceland than I was here.

If I was a monkey, I'd hang out on this sign too. 

This monkey is protecting the valley from idiot humans. 

And this is Mt. Batur from the base, where you can much more clearly see how big the crater in the middle is.
The summit is the right side of the crater.

And then! THEN! I went to the Monkey Forest. Well, I guess first I came home and lay down for a while having gotten up at 2:30. But THEN I went to Monkey Forest. It was beautiful and fun and infested with monkeys and like everything else on this island, insufferably hot. But here are some pictures of monkeys. 

Monkey Business. 

(ACTUALLY I took a picture of this thinking, "oh, 'monkey business: clever caption.' AND THEN seconds later, 

woefully unprepared, I saw two monkeys having sex--ACTUAL monkey business--and did not react quickly enough because I paused to laugh first. Sigh, rookie mistake.)

Real Monkey sitting on Stone Monkey.

Real Monkey sitting with Stone Monkey Family. Real Monkey: "guys, why are you so quiet? Are you mad? 

Did I do something? Okay, well, I'll just sit here and hold your tail and hope you talk soon."

I make this face a lot too! So contemplative, tbh. If you're wondering what I looked like on Silent Day, just imagine me and this monkey making the same face. Only I had an exceptionally good hair day that day wasted due to its lack of witnesses.

"My hair is weird--fix it! fix it!" "Hold still." "No, it's weird and I hate it and why is this happening." "OMG, hold it together." "I'm clutching the ground, just make it end."

What I wish you could tell from this photo (and likely can't) is the desperation of the baby monkey clawing to get away from its mother, who is holding his tail, refusing to let go. It went on for a couple of minutes and was hilarious. 

Monkey mom hug. 

"Ugghhh, I'm the baby, pay attention to ME! to ME!"

"I can whistle, balance, and grow a mustache all at once."

"Humans think this stone bridge is cool because there are stairs. Humans are dummies, this is far more fun, 

like all of life when you have FOUR opposable thumbs instead of just two."

Theft and Aiding & Abetting Theft in progress. (tbh, ugh, hated crim law, might be wrong law) 

The principal does not share with the abettor. 

"Lannisters always pay their debts!"

"I'm young, scrappy, and hungry."

And finally. The first and most desperate time I wished I wasn't alone since I got here. Two monkeys climbed up my dress, one tried to steal my shoes, and one jumped on my arm and NO ONE was there to take a picture. I know. Heartbreaking.

I guess I should go study now, since that is why I'm here, after all. Way to spring ahead, America. I'm glad that my days of walking home in the dark are behind me for the year.