Of course, I will not forget that day, November 5, 2010. Merapi, one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia located in Yogyakarta Province and Central Java Province showed its "power" to the world. I was in Yogyakarta at that time and constantly heard the strong rumble voices since midnight. I thought Merapi was ready to erupt and it was precise. I came outside from the hostel I stayed inside Gadjah Mada University and amazingly (and scarily actually) for the first time in my life I saw and felt the rain of sands. It was not only ash rain that already happened several days before. Both ash and sand rain were the impact of the Merapi's activity. Those reached many kilometers even though it was far from the mountain. Then I started to turn on television and it had already been the headline news in all Indonesian TV channels. People were hectic to move to be further from Merapi area.
Around 7 in the morning, I started to explore the area of Gadjah Mada University. It was so silent - of course it was too different compared to the daily life of the university which was commonly very crowded with students' activities. Then I took Trans Jogja Bus to go to Malioboro, that normally was one of the most hectic spots in Yogyakarta. Uniquely, there was also so silent without many people going to shop in the area. So much different. All the areas I saw from Gadjah Mada University to Malioboro were full of ashes and sands. Other unique view to see was all the people wore masker.
Today, Yogyakarta has proven that it is dynamic city which is full of the toughness and spirit from the people. Through the hard time, they can face and undergo life after Merapi eruption. Now it has been exactly one year after the eruption and Yogyakarta has settled itself like before: great place to visit, nice home to stay, comfortable spot to enjoy your life. Yogyakarta and its Merapi always have their exotic beauty in whatever time and condition. So you don't have any reason to not put them as your list to travel.
Those are the pictures I took on my way from Gadjah Mada University to Malioboro. I wish you enjoy them and for those who experienced that day as me could have them as memory.
[caption id="attachment_140250" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Becak passing the ashes in front of a hostel in Gadjah Mada University"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140251" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Gadjah Mada University atmosphere after Merapi Eruption "][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140252" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Gadjah Mada University was full of ashes and sands"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140253" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Car with ashes. People wrote "][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140254" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Graha Saba, meeting hall of Gadjah Mada University was full of dust as well"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140255" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Green or white leaves?"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140256" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Another spot with much ashes"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140257" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Just few motorcycles in university - very contrast to its daily hectic life"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140258" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="In front of Gadjah Mada University"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140260" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="in front of Gadjah Mada University"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140261" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="You might not be able to read because of ashes"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140262" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Silence..........."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140263" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Could not hide from the ash"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140264" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Mosque entrance in Gadjah Mada University"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140265" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Taking bus to explore city after eruption"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140266" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Really could not run away from the ash rain"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140267" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="All people on the bus wore masker"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140268" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Becak driver with masker"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140269" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Malioboro with its silence"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140270" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Batik ornament on tree in Malioboro also got dirty because of ash"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140271" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Street seller with masker in Malioboro"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140272" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Malioboro without crowd"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_140273" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="My dusty feet..walking through Yogyakarta after Merapi eruption in November 5, 2010"][/caption]
