Mount Merapi is an active volcano that erupted quite often at the border of Jogjakarta and Central Java. Merapi eruptions often claims many lives, and definitely causes lots of damages. The violent nature of the volcano doesn’t discourage people to visit or even live at the slope of this mountain.
Today, the aftermath of Merapi’s wrath is a popular tour route. With a basecamp at Kaliurang, you can take up a jeep tour that will take you to several spots that shows the aftermath of Merapi eruption. From lahar stream, alien stone, and devastated houses and villages. This tour will bring you to see terrifyingly beautiful place that is Mount Merapi.
Go early to catch the best sunrise view at Kaliadem
Most tour require you to go as early as 04:00 or 04:30 in the morning if you want to catch sunrise in the most beautiful spots. The tours typically last for tiga.5 hours or so. The first destination of the tour is the Kaliadem peak which is not the actual peak of the mountain.
This location is chosen because of its wonderful sunrise spectacle. There is also a defunct bunker in Kaliadem that was used as a protection against eruption. Sadly, this bunker became a death trap when two people were unable to dig out their way in 2006 eruption.
A museum of burnt treasures
Merapi eruption causes significant damage to villages on its slope, sometimes also takes some lives too. One of the memento of the devastating power of Merapi is Museum Sisa Hartaku (literally My Remaining Treasure Museum). It is a kecil museum showing a family’s belonging that was destroyed by Merapi eruption in 2010.
You can see partially destroyed items like clothing, television, motorcycle, furniture, cutlery, and even bones of their cattle. The most powerful item is a clock that melted and the hands stuck forever, showing the exact moment the eruption hit the house.
An Alien Stone
When Merapi erupted, it spewed lots of material including lava, hot ash, and rocks. There is one big stone that was thrown out of the volcano and landed on a picturesque spot. Locals call it the alien stone.
Many people still finding it hard to believe that a stone that big can be easily hurled that far away during the eruption. During the tour, the stone and the surrounding area is a very good spot to take a picture. Some even say that the stone resembles a face.
Kali Kuning wet track
The track home is a challenging one. The jeep will not take you to normal road. Instead, the jeep will go down through a river, Kali Kuning (Yellow River). The trek is very tough but the scenery is wonderful. Along the way, you can ask the driver to stop once a while if you want to take pictures. The view is amazing; a river tumbling down on a sandy riverbed, with a background of the intimidating Merapi.
The price for the tour usually is about IDR400,000 to 500,000 per jeep, and this jeep can carry up to four passengers. If you stay in a hotel near the basecamp in Kaliurang, you will be picked up right in front of your hotel. For a more complete experience, you can also get a morning coffee break hidangan that consist of Jadah Tempe, boiled peanuts and bananas, and coffee or tea.