Today’s blog is probably the hardest to write.

The days are stressful, when will the mighty Mount Agung erupt?

I woke up this morning realizing how lucky I am to be part of a loving, close knit community.

Our Village in Sangeh is located quite some distance from the alleged danger zone.

I say alleged, as the evicted villages are what the Volcanologist’s and scientific experts are calling the safe zone.

Nobody really knows what will happen, according to the last tweet by Magma Indonesia.

In response to the rumors that the Great Volcano will erupt tonight, we from PVMBG can not confirm the truth because the forecast is done using a different approach to what PVMBG does in understanding volcanic activity. PVMBG sees signs of volcanic activity through continuous (24 hours / day) visual and instrumental observation. The latest analysis of PVMBG indicates that volcanic seismic volcanic energy continues to increase and has the potential to erupt. However, both PVMBG and all volcano experts in the world who study scientific activity volcano, not a single one is able to determine when the eruption will occur. thank you Kasbani Head of PVMBG.

In my last post Made spoke about the stories from his mother when Mount Agung erupted in 1963, however it’s not 1963, it’s 2017 and anything is possible.

I desperately want to take my husband’s carefree attitude and go with the flow and see what happens, however, I believe in balance and it certainly doesn’t hurt being prepared.

I woke up this morning in an assertive mood, and although my husband called me paranoid, I sent our niece Eka out in search of high quality surgical face masks and goggles for not only our own family compound but for hers as well.

She counted 23 adults and 7 children.

I am still waiting for her to return to see what she could find.

Apparently there are no more high quality masks left on the Island?

I instructed Eka that it was her mission. She was a warrior. I am positive both Eka and Made think I have finally flipped my lid.

I have the responsibility of my people.

I must be prepared for the worst case scenario.

I must compile a substantial medical kit, ample supplies of fresh water, food and be ready on stand by for what ever happens.

My friend Ayu Conroy, who lives in Canggu with her Australian husband Chris and daughter Alexa also has family on her mind.

Ayu decided to take a road trip home to Singaraja on the other side of Mount Agung and visit a camp in Tejakula Village where approximately 2,000 people have been displaced.

Ayu told me that she felt the press were mainly concentrating on the Karangasem Regency and feels the other side of Mount Agung may be forgotten.

However, when she arrived at the camp she was surprised at the amount of fresh food and resources available. Ayu told me that the supply of food was healthy and plentiful.

Ayu’s tip when visiting the camps is to bring chocolate and lollypops for the kids.

Apparently if you bring supplies in the box you cannot open them and distribute yourself. The supplies could only be distributed by the volunteers

“I wish I had brought 100 lollypops in my handbag, that way I would have made the kids really happy”.

Ayu is concerned that when Mount Agung erupts people may forget about the people in the camps, as the after effect is sure to go on for months.

© Photographs Ayu Conroy

To lighten the mood with Made and myself obsessing over masks and goggles, I asked Made questions about the religious and cultural significance of Mount Agung.

I was delighted to hear that in the old days, people would climb to the top of Mount Agung and meditate as they could feel the energy.

I asked Made why Mount Agung is a male?

He explained that Mount Agung is bigger than Mount Batur.

Mount Batur is the woman as she is smaller than Mount Agung and is surrounded by a lake.

This makes perfect sense to me.

Made went on to explain more about the significance, the song, Kidung Bali which is the prayer for both Mount Agung and Mount Batur.

Ill sign off  with a pray, as we continue to walk through our days of the unknown here of the magnificent Island of the Gods.

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. Live stream 3

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. Live stream 2

Bali – Mount Agung VOLCANO ALERT…. Live stream

 

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