We woke on time and had a hell of a time waking up the night clerk to pay him. He slept on a blanket on the restaurant floor. We rode the motorbike down a steep hillside road that lead to the base of Batur Lake and heading for the starting point. Our guide had us put oranges and bananas in our packs and we began our several kilometer trek through the lava fields to the base of the mountain. I was exhausted by the time we reached the start of the upward assent. We pocketed out flashlights, since there was a bright moon and we used the natural light to negotiate our foot holds. Around halfway up the mountain, I began to get a sick feeling and we took a couple of short breaks. Perhaps the nausea was caused by my dismal lack of physical shape for the climb, or the mild food poisoning, or the lack of sleep or the fact that I hadn't eaten in almost a day. In any event, I got sick and Sudi and guide helped get me squared away. We continued to the summit where the guild got me a banana sandwich, which calmed down the stomach. During our break at the summit, I met a children's book author from Singapore. We had a good conversation. We than walked along a ridge at the top of the mountain to the volcanic crater. Over 1,000 Balinese perished in 1963, when the crater exploded. As we sit at the edge of the crater, I can see the magnitude of the explosion. We look out over the valley and the view is spectacular. After our descent, we drove the long journey back on the motorbike and my body is a mass of pain. I am sore from the assent and my ass is in unbearable pain from bouncing on the back of the motorbike through kilometers of back roads. Tonight, we go to the clubs to look for more women. Tomorrow we leave for a small island off the coast with a couple of Tokyo women. I am too tired to think. I will sleep soundly.
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