Java Jamboree: Hot Spot

Almost at 2000 m above sea level in the Dieng Plateau, there is a place where the air reeked of rotten egg. It seemed like we were transported back to New Zealand to the year 2000 where at Whakarewarewa in Rotorua in the North Island of New Zealand, a similar aroma of sulpur prevailed. Like the Rotorua Caldera, most certainly there is geothermal activity in the Dieng Plateau Caldera complex. Perhaps, there is no Pohutu Geyser or any other geyser here and the area with geothermal activity is not as extensive and spectacular but enough gases could be harvested to produce electricity. An occasional hot mud pool here and there drew gasps of wonder and where thick smokes came out of the hot belly of the earth, the gasps were perhaps gasps of horrors. Our guide told and showed pictures of jilted maiden who jumped to their death here at this hot spot called Kawah Sikidang...


At Kawah Sikidang...Can you spot a hot mud pool?

Traveling Tip: Be careful!