Mount Merapi: Hopes and Fears

Mount Merapi is an iconic landmark of Indonesia, claimed by many to be one of the most scenic spots within Southeast Asia. In 2010, Mount Merapi erupted, destroying complete villages and leaving many homeless.

Armed with nothing but a small backpack of bare necessities and a English-Indonesian dictionary, i took the leap of faith and booked a budget flight to Yogyakarta, hoping that despite my limited ability, I could be of some help to the people of Merapi.

I spent some time in Cangkringan Village volunteering with members of the organisation, Jalin Merapi, which contributes by disseminating safety information about the Merapi area, collecting donations, and providing relief aid to the villagers living around Mount Merapi.

When i reached, i was overwhelmed with the warm welcome I reached from the volunteers and locals. It seemed to comfort them greatly that a volunteer from a land so far had come to lend a helping hand.

Some reconstruction efforts by local authorities were in the works, but the progress was slow. Villagers were settled into temporary huts, made of bamboo and planks, and metal roofs. Though providing temporary comfort, the shelters provided only poor living conditions and are not believed to last more than 5 years. In the meantime, the government-funded restoration of the villages was very slow-moving.

In the eyes of the volunteers I could sense their uncertainty and worry: where would the locals stay when the huts no longer stand?
Despite the gloomy outlook, the locals remained cheerful.
They lived simply and peacefully, with great gratitude and hope for better life in the future.

Having lived in a city all my life, I've seen only too much of the culture of intolerance and ingratitude city-dwellers are plagued by. Witnessing how the locals lived with a great amount of thankfulness and tolerance despite the hardship and suffering had moved me.
Seeing the eruption of Merapi through their eyes had put it in a different light.