When we’re asked to submit about Forces of Nature as the theme of Weekly Photo Challenge, I decided to share old pictures of my visit to an affected area of Mt. Merapi two months after a large eruption.

We were able to see the trails of pyroclastic flows that burned everything on its way and left it with ashes. Even the huge sand barriers were totally damaged.

But nature always finds a way. Among the dried environment which was full of ashes, I saw fresh greeny growing leaves were bloomed on top of dried brownish one. A beginning. A new Hope!

And last year, on my way to Solo from Jogjakarta, I took a picture of Mt. Merapi from the South-East direction. I was amazed to view of Mt. Merapi’s peak. The beautiful peak looked partially collapsed apart, because of its continuous activities of large explosions and pyroclastic flows.

Mt. Merapi, 2930 m or 9610 ft height, around 28 kms north of Jogjakarta, has been designated as one of the 17 decade volcanoes in the world because of the destructive eruptions and proximity to populated areas.
