Batur

By: Lauren Griffith

As I looked from the restaurant balcony, I could see the view of the volcano named Batur quite clearly.I couldn't believe that we were actually climbing this massive landmark.We drove right down to the base of the marvelous volcano.We walked through a flat land of ash and rock.Then we graduated into a greater incline.Lance and I forged ahead with the guide. We didn't take many breaks going up.In no time we were up on top of the enormous crater. We explored the vast area of land where the monkeys play, the clouds sway, and the wind beats against my face.About 20 minutes later Colin popped up, then Mom and the rest of the crew.Almost at that very second everyone got up to the top.Next, we heard a scream in the distance that said, "Help! Help me! I'm stuuuuuccccccckkkkkkk," her voice echoed through the crater.The voice seemed to be coming from up high on the crater somewhere in the clouds.Lance hearing this scream of terror went rushing up the very rugged and steep terrain with Colin and I following close behind. Lance was going to have us go back if it got much harder than it was.Lance got up there and helped her up on her feet.Anyone could have got out of that position she was in. She was just scared.Next, she carefully kept going down the trail.We all were expecting a dramatic rescue, but all Lance had to do was lend her a hand.Lance likes to think of it as him saving her life.We were all ready 1/3 of the way around the crater, saw the view, and thought it was too beautiful to turn around, so we kept on going!

I've never seen something so majestical and mysterious on top of that volcano! It was beautiful and truly amazing!There was even a part that was so thin that you could fall off both sides!As we turned the corner on the crater, we could see what we have accomplished so far.Looking down from up there made everything look so small.As we started our decent down, the steep incline, our guide accompanied us.He was sent up by Mom to go find us.On the way down, we were sliding downwards on the sand running as fast as we could.We got to level ground where everyone else was, including the girl that Lance helped.We saw tons of monkeys sitting on the rocks right in front of the crater.After that Jodie, Mom, and Mallory went down, Dad, Lance, Colin, and I decided to hike to another crater.Once there we were going to cook our eggs we brought.The whole way up we kept asking Lance if he had the eggs.It was the same response every time.That was, "Of course I do!"We got to the cooking area, Lance looked in his bag and they were not there!We soon found out that Jodie and my Mom took them out because they were not boiled.However, that was the whole point of bringing them. We were supposed to cook them in the steam coming out of the ground!For a while we dug holes and watched the steam roll out of the holes.We grabbed rocks from inside the holes, which were crackling with heat.

On the way down, we passed three other craters that were cool, but not as cool as the first.About half way down, we started hearing party music.We were thinking it was crazy since we were in the middle of farming fields and on a volcano!We soon figured out where the music was coming from, it was the New Moon Festival.Lance and I were the first to reach it!Since we didn't sit all day, we sat down and had a Coke.Later, Dad, Colin, and the guide accompanied us.We found out that the New Moon Festival was a bunch of hippies doing yoga to Disco music.One was even hitting on my Dad!After that we decided to leave and walked back to the car.We concluded the day, got in the car, and headed back to the villa.We thought about what a wonderful experience this was.I had climbed my first volcano, Batur!One of the most beautiful volcanoes in the world!

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Rafting in the Rain

Ubud, Bali

BY Mallory Griffith

Rafting in the rain.

In Ubud by the river, an old man sits with his cane.

I hear the drip drops of rain on water.

Rafting with your daughter!

I have never seen anything so amazing in Bali, in the rain.

It almost feels like your going down a drain!

I love the water!

There's nothing like rafting with your father!

The fresh smell and feel of the rain.

This smell and touch will get rid of any pain!

:)<3

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Rafting

Colin Griffith

Our rafts glided quickly down the muddy, white water of the deep, lush valley of the Ayung River. Lightning flashed in the distance as the sky began to darken. The swallows were swooping down competing with fish to get floating insects in the flowing river. I looked back to see the girls scream as their raft spun out of control down swirling, wavy rapids and collide into intricately carved mossy stone reliefs on the sandstone wall. As they hit the guides yelled, "Boom -Boom!" Waterfalls dropped through the thick, green jungle. Splashing the long, skinny bamboo and enormous fern trees. Our guides pushed our red, rubbery rafts into the largest fall. I got pummeled by gallons of warm water. We passed a large field of tall, majestic palm trees; under a hut a family selling coconut milk had sought shelter from the sheets of sprinkling rain. On a rocky 100-foot cliff face a monkey grabbed small shrubs to get to the next tree. Our aluminum paddles clinked the metal rope holders as we paddled. We stopped at a little, brown, sandy bank, and took a swimming break. The water was cold compared to the humid air, but it felt good after hard paddling. To get across we had to swim and aim up and over so the strong current could push us down to our destination. I could not help but get water in my mouth. It tasted dirty and gritty with mud. When we had reached the other side of the river we scrambled up the slippery rocks so we could jump off and be carried down the deep section of the river. As I floated I was eye level with the pitter-patter of the large raindrops on the water. I got pushed into a runoff waterfall where the water was a dark, orange brown. The wind blew the mist towards me. It smelled like the muddy rice paddies from the top of the canyon of where it had come from. As I passed it the air became fresh again with the smell of flowers, rain, and trees. We got back into the rafts and started paddling. It was the best Balinese Mother's Day rafting trip ever.

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Ubud, Bali

Just arrived back in Hong Kong after an amazing 2 weeks in Bali. We had such an incredible time there -- Our list of adventures was quite extensive including biking, hiking, swimming, exploring, white-water rafting (once in the pouring rain), snorkeling (Colin did scuba diving), treking an active volcano, attending a traditional balinese cremation ceremony and a kecak and fire dance, shopping, and so much more. We also managed to squeeze in quite a lot of school and the kids did presentations on various aspects of the Balinese culture. Bali is a Hindu island in the largest Islamic country in the world. Needless to say the cultural aspect combined with the activities make it one of the most spectacular destinations in the world. What an experience!! Hope you have enjoyed the kids writings and can find some time to check out our pictures. Signing off with a quote that has unofficially become the GSA motto -- "Life is a book and those who do not travel read only the first page".

Lance