When the coronavirus first crossed over from Asia to Europe, I read nasty comments on social media and news sites. They ranged from supposedly innocent jokes about the Chinese eating habits to downright racist remarks. What it came down to: if those damn Asians wouldn’t have sold bats, porcupines, baby crocodiles or snakes in their markets, we wouldn’t have to go through this terrible health crisis*. Mind you, these were the days before we learned that the coronavirus didn’t even take off in Wuhan’s infamous wet market.
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Day tripping in the Ring of Fire (2): Tambora, the volcano that changed the world
As if the summit of volcano Merapi wasn’t enough, this time our man went to Tambora. When it erupted in 1815, that rascal plunged our world into Year Without Summer. And no, an extra jacket did not suffice.
Continue Reading →Day tripping in the Ring of Fire (1): on top of Merapi, the most active volcano in the world
Indonesia is dangerously beautiful. Not only can you find 20 per cent of Earth’s biodiversity in this country, but also the highest number of active volcanoes. We decided to climb the most active of them all. “Merapi is an asshole, but a friendly one.”
Continue Reading →Fire in the belly: about falling in love on top of an active volcano
Is there a better place to experience a turning point than the top of a mountain?
For those with a decided lack of talent for rhetoric, the ones who immediately want to denounce that you may as well experience such turning point on the platform of a train station, or seated down on a toilet: the answer is, of course, no.
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