Mt Batur - Bali

It was 2am when we rolled ourselves out of the comfort of our bed. Our bodies aching from fatigue after a day of travelling and walking the previous day. With our eyes half-closed, we slipped into our trekking attire and scurried into the van awaiting us at our lobby. Sinking into our seats, we fell back into a deep sleep, as dead to the world as an old anvil.

It was pitch black out when we arrived at the foot of the volcano. The group was half asleep, but ready to make the treacherous ascent to the top of Mount Batur in the abyss of the darkness. The pristine night sky played host to our 2 hours long trek, with the sprawling Milky Way sitting atop us, sporadic meteor shower teasing our concentration, and thousands of glimmering stars spurring us on. The night sky was by far the best we have ever seen. Climbing up the mountain wasn’t as difficult as we envisioned. With careful steps, we reached the peak of the volcano, greeted by a soft light teasingly hidden behind the distant horizon.

Looking over the dark jagged mountain, we could see the sun rising in brilliant colors. The sky lit up in shades of red, orange, yellow and pink. The thick morning clouds pillowed through the sky without obstructing the sunrise. The entire group stood at the edge of the volcano in awe. The sun rises each and every day, but today was different. Everything was at rest, placid and harmonious. We spent our remaining time just taking in the beauty of the moment. It was a moment deeply etched in our memory.