Color me Kelimutu: The Three Colored Lakes of Kelimutu, Flores

By: Jacobus E. Lato

Kelimutu is a volcano on the island of Flores. At 1,640 meters above sea level, the mountain forms the highest point on the island; Its main attractions are the three colored crater lakes: Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is usually blue and is the westernmost of the three lakes. Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) is usually green, while Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake) is reddish in color. The color of the lakes changes as a result of chemical reactions resulting from the minerals contained in the lake, possibly triggered by volcano gas activity.

The name Kelimutu can be roughly translated as the “Getting together mountains;” Keli means mountain, Mutu means get together. The locals believe that Kelimutu is under the reign of Konde Ratu, a supernatural king, who rules over the  spirits of the dead. Young spirits reside happily in Tiwu Koo Fai Nuwa Muri (Lake of the Young Men and Maidens); the old live in Tiwu Ata Bupu (Lake of Old People), while evil spirits dwell in Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched Lake).

Sano Nggoang Lake: Flores’ Other Crater Lake

By: Reyhard Matheos

Kelimutu Lake on Flores, is widely known as the three colors lake. But in fact, the same island is also home to the biggest crater lake in Eastern Indonesia, Sano Nggoang. In the local language this means ‘the burning lake.’ This lake is located between the village of Sano Nggoangand Wae Sano village, in the West Manggarai Regency on Flores.

The trip to Sano Nggoang Lake takes more than 4 hours from Labuan Bajo. You can directly reach the lake, by oto—a local name for a public truck. The roads are rough, even though most of them are paved. Nevertheless, the view of the green and fertile Mbeliling mountain ranges, compensate the rocky roads ahead.

The Rinjani [Rubbish] Trail: How Lombok’s Majestic Rinjani is Covered in Mountains of Litter!

By: Hush Petersen, published in Jakarta Expat

The naturalist John Muir is credited with a quote most mountain climbers have memorised and tend to recite after a few beers or moments of beauty and sheer awe. Climb to the top of Rinjani in Lombok and you might hear a few of the brave souls who left camp at 2am to make the sunrise summit mumble it to themselves during the euphoria that comes with the 3,726-metre accomplishment.

Society speaks and all men listen, mountains speak and wise men listen.”

If Rinjani herself could speak, she would beg for help. If only the men in charge of caring for her would listen.

With tens of thousands of locals and foreigners alike flocking to Lombok every year bent on conquering the brutal three-day trek up the 3,726-metre summit, officials, trek organisers and skeleton clean-up crews can't seem to keep up with the purple packs of empty Kukubima forgotten along the trails and the streamers of used toilet paper strewn like tinsel through the high grass mere metres off the beaten path.

Kasada, a Celebration Involving a Volcano & lots of People Throwing Stuff in it!

By: Jack Lato

People are divided into two categories in regards to their position in time. People that hang on to the past and those that live for the future; the first tend to live as men did decades or possibly centuries ago. The latter focus more on the present and the future. The Tenggerese at the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java, Indonesia possibly belong to the first category. They live the same way as their ancestors; observing cultural traditions, according to the rules set by those before them. One of the rituals they still observe is Yadnya Kasada, an annual sacrificial festival taking place at the crater rim of the Bromo.

Kasada: More than Chickens in a Volcano

Celebrated last Sunday evening to Monday midnight, August 14 – 15 this year, the event actually lasts for a month. This special holy day involves a volcano, the tourist hot spot Bromo, and lots of people throwing stuff in it. Chief of Tourism and Culture of Pasuruan Sub-disctrict, Agung Maryono last Thursday, August 11, 2011 explained some activities and rituals preceded the event.