| Mad About Mountains (II) |
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| (Above)A view of Gunung Pangrango, a 3019 metres tall volcano from the trail up the adjacent Gunung Gede, also a volcano in West Java province, Indonesia...This is one of the last remaining bastions of pristine forest in an intensively cultivated West Java. Most visitors here access the National Park from the well known town of Cibodas, which also harbours the world famous Cibodas Botanic Gardens. |
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| (Above) Upper Montane Forest at Air Panas, 2150 metres elevation appears eerily dark and damp once it is enveloped by clouds at late morning.Trees here are covered by thick layers of epiphytes and mosses.Many of Java's unique species of birds and plants can be found here, including the stunning Javan Cochoa, a species of fruit-eating thrush. |
| (Above)The almost conical volcanic peak of Gunung Kerinci, in West Sumatra looms perpetually over the farming village of Kersik Tua, from where this photo is taken (1500 metres elevation). Gunung Kerinci, at 3805 metres is the highest peak in Western Indonesia and also its tallest volcano. Much of Sumatra's endemic species can be found on Kerinci or its vicinity's lush montane forests, which exotic pheasants and pittas, for example the rare Schneider's Pitta and the Salvadori's Pheasant. Development though has taken its toll on the wildlife and one can see plantations and farms encroaching further and further up Kerinci's slope every year. (Left) Letter 'W' Waterfall, also near Kersik Tua and Gunung Tujuh, West Sumatra. |
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| (Right) Gunung Singgalang 2880 metres , covered with mists and clouds in the mid-morning. This and the adjacent volcano of Gunung Merapi (covered totally by clouds here) form a gateway to the West Sumatran Hill town of Bukittingi, from where this picture is taken.The landscape in this part of Sumatra is very diverse, with numerous mountains, volcanoes, canyons and scenic paddyfield, hence rendering it very popular with tourists from afar. |
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| (Above) Sunrise over the forests, seen from Thailand's tallest peak, Doi Inthanon at 2650 metres.(more about this mountain wil be covered in later article) (Right) Not too far away from Inthanon is Thailand's third tallest peak, the imposing limestone massif of Doi Chiang Dao, 2160 metres as seen from Chiang Dao town. |
| (Left) The roof of the world, the mighty Indian Himalayas (Uttaranchal) as seen from the Hill Station of Nainital, enroute to Pangot village at 2200 metres.While slightly lower than the Eastern Himalayas, snow-capped peaks here like Nanda Devi and Trishul still soar to over 7500 metres. More about Himalayas and Nainital is found here. |
| (Above) View of Doi Inthanon from 1800 metres above sea level. Picture is kind off blurry, so i will replace it very soon. |
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