merapi - to erupt or not to erupt

Am pondering whether it is a right choice for us to fly out to Java island tomorrow for our 1st of the 2 main trip of the year.

Mt Merapi has been in the news for the past 3 to 4 weeks now... increased lava activities, signs of eruption, blah blah blah.

It hasn't erupted yet, villagers who evacuate a few weeks ago are dying to go back to their village. they rather die at home than to die of boredom at the centre. Cattles dying of hunger before the smoke, lava or poisonous gas even reach their backyard. journalists end up wishing they have taken other less exciting story than to sit under the hot sun waiting for Mt Merapi to erupt. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Scientist studying the mountain wish they have something new to inform the hungry information-starved journalist.

it is now not even posted on The Jakarta Post main news or under national news... so what if Merapi has increased its activity? what people want or perhaps what the rakyat want is when it will erupt. i bet bookies are quite happy accepting bets on whether Merapi will erupt within the next 24 hours, next 3 days, next 2 weeks, never in this year, etc. hmm.. i'm sure there's those type of bookies around since there's bookies taking bet on when it will rain for the day and whether wayne roonie will play for england, etc.

anyway, am playing safe by promising that i won't head to central java where Mt Merapi is.

however, the daredevil in me has decided to go to another volcano (2 in fact... Twin Volcanoes)... Gede-Pangrano National Park but at West Java.

we shall see if there's any exciting news to blog. ta ta for now...