Brastagi village is between Mt Sibayak and Mt Sinabung. Sinabung had erupted a couple of days before we arrived (on August 4th) and everything was covered with a fine layer of ash. The morning after arrival we woke at 4am for 4.30 start to climb (the also not dormant as it turns out) Mt Sibayak. The plan was to see the sunrise and the plume of ash that was still spewing out of Mt Sinabung but the cloud was low and we didn't end up with much of a view. Our guide for the climb, Marison, set off up the mountain at an alarming pace in the pitch black. He soon figured we couldn't keep up and slowed to accommodate. Was tough going on the rough terrain with a couple of crappy flashlight at 4.30am. Specially loved the invisible volcanic vents roaring along side and shrieking overhead!

Brastagi village in the highlands is where the Batak cannibals made their home. They say the last human was eaten 200 years ago. Now they eat dogs. And vegetables: big market gardens here too. It's much colder in the highlands, about 17 degrees - nice change from the 33 odd we'd been having.