It is the middle of the night on the rim of one of the highest volcanoes in the world. A lone figure attempts to retrieve a baseball cap lying precariously close to the crater’s edge; loose stones begin their rapid descent into the lake 4,000 feet below. The wind cuts through his clothes; he is exhausted; he looks up and smiles.

Indonesia is in political and economic turmoil; a beautiful country of rainforest, beaches and volcanoes, laid waste by corruption; a country steeped in history but still coming to terms with its present. It is against this background that the author decides to go on a journey.

Motivated by a childhood wish to see a volcano and oblivious to the warnings of civil unrest, he travels across Java, Bali and Lombok encountering the physical beauty of ancient temples, verdant islands and massive volcanoes, along with the kindness, hostility, interest and indifference of the local population.

Often treading the fine line between self-confidence and arrogance, the author puts himself into a variety of situations which sometimes only luck enables him to overcome.

As the journey takes on its own personality we are unsure as to who is in control and, as with most journeys, it continues long after he has arrived home.

Evocative, informative and amusing, Playing with Fire is packed full of fascinating insights into the minutiae of travelling and the culture and geography of Indonesia; a country which is a backpacker’s dream in a time of rampant tourism.

And it is a story for anyone who has ever dreamt of doing something different.

Sample chapters

Java / Bali / Lombok

The book is available at 

www.Adventures-in-Indonesia.co.uk