Rinjani and back

Im back from RInjani now.

It was a helluva 3 day 2 night and had it not been for a bunch of friends, I wouldn't have been able to bring myself to get through it...

We started off flying to Lombok, then riding to the base of Rinjani. We stayed at an amazing resort for the night. facilities were amazing. warm water, over head shower, 2x queen sized bed with zircon etc.

Day 1, we started at 9am and trekked to the crater rim. reached at 4pm.
The trek was quite endless but the first half was scenic.  Rolls and rolls of land. Blankets of clouds rolling by. So thick that they sometimes cover the entire highland, deceiving everyone that the rim is just 100m away.
The 2nd half of the trek consisted a lot of gravel, sand stuff. Ie: a lot of step and slide backs. it was easy to keep stopping. But we made it up in the allocated time. And equally important, i made it on my own effort.

At the Crater Rim, the scenery was heavenly. We were at the same level as the clouds so it almost looked like we could step unto a carpet of clouds to the highlands in front of us. As if, this is what heaven would look like.

The guide, Ahmed and the 6 porters who came with us, were our Justice League. They carried all our stuff (except our day pack) as well as food supplies, cooking utensils and tents etc. Maneuvering up and down those slopes like professionals. Of course, they did grow up climbing these slopes... since they started working as porters since young.

Every meal cooked by them was different and it included a colourful picnic mat, camping chairs and cutlery wrapped in a nicely folded serviette. What luxury!! Its a pity that we were always so tired that we didnt have much appetite and energy to eat.

We slept very early on Day 1. Because the climb to the summit would start at 3am...

To be Continued