BEST SUNSET: Broome, Western Australia

South Pacific – Minerva Reef

BEST DIVE: Navy Pier, Exmouth Exmouth, America Down Under

BEST PLACE TO TAKE PHOTOS: New Zealand, everywhere! Coromandel Penninsula, North Island

BEST NEW SKILLS: Kitesurfing and Sailing

BEST PLACE TO KITEBOARD: Rangiputa, New Zealand, very windy, shallow flat water, unknown and hidden (you need a 4×4 to get to) so you have the water all to yourself!

Lancelin, Western Australia: Blown away by Lancelin Consistent side to side onshore strong winds, very flat water.

BEST BEACH: Uoleva Island, Ha’apai Island Group Tonga Happy in Ha’apai

BEST PLACE TO HANG A HAMMOCK: Uoleva Island, Ha’ apai Island Group, Tonga

BEST BUDDHA: Reclining Buddha, Bangkok, Thailand

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT: I missed my connecting flight after having a 3 – hour layover!

BEST PLACE TO SNORKEL: Turquoise Bay, Cape Range National Park, Western Australia – teaming reef just a few feet from the beach, crystal clear water with a drift current that pushes you along as you snorkel feeling almost like a fun ride!

BEST JUMP: Bungle Bungles

BEST COUCH SURFING: Waihiki Island, New Zealand with Host Todd … Surfing Waihike Island

BEST HOUSE ON WHEELS: Octopus – drove us all around the North Island of New Zealand … Octopus Tales

BEST EXPERIENCES (most unforgettable): Kitesurfing offshore, Minerva Reef – we launched from a catamaran anchored 200 miles from land, literally in the middle of the big blue Pacific ocean!

Swimming in the middle of the South Pacific  - Minerva Reef

Standing on the rim of an erupting volcano, Mt. Yasur, Tanna, Vanuatu. Frighteningly awesome!

BEST ICE CREAM: Kapiti raspberry vanilla ice cream covered in white chocolate (made in New Zealand)

BEST PLACE TO FALL IN LOVE: Lancelin, Western Australia

BEST PLACE TO DIG A HOLE: Hot water beach, Coromandel Peninsula – Thermal Therapy

BEST “EUREKA MOMENT” coined by Toddy: Hua Hin, Thailand – where I finally was able to ride upwind!

MOST MEMORABLE PERSON: Buddy Tyson: A cultured coloured gentleman

BEST PLACE TO CAMP: Tawharanui Reserve, North Island, New Zealand – where you camp within an open sanctuary where native plants and animals including kiwi can live and breed successfully without the threat of predators.

BEST OFF ROAD TRIP: The Kimberly via Gibb River Road in Hercules with Stacy

BEST TRAVEL BUDDY: Thomas (it was a tough decision Stacy, you were a totally awesome travel buddy, but Tom is a better snuggler)

BEST DESERTED ISLAND: “Little Potatoe: Niuas Islands, Tonga – where we spent the day lounging in a hammock in between swimming and snorkeling!

BEST KAYAK TRIP: Katherine Gorge, Northern Territory, Australia

BEST KEPT SECRET: I can’t tell you or it wouldn’t be a secret! But there are some funky little shacks somewhere in Western Australia that overlook a beautiful windy beach. Local traffic only …

BEST SMILES: The happiest people in the world … live in Vanuatu

BEST PLACE TO PLAY HIDE & SEEK: Pinnacles, Western Australia

BEST MEAL: “Connect Dinner” aboard Infinity with the village men in Tanna, Vanuatu …  One Big Family in Tanna

BEST HIKE: Karijini National Park, Western Australia

Hancock Gorge, Spider Walk, Karijini Nationahl Park, Western Australia

BEST RAINBOW: somewhere in the South Pacific

BEST ADVENTURE: 3 months spent sailing across the South Pacific while crewing aboard yachts.

Sailing Adventures in Wonderland – 40 ft yacht – 16 day ocean passage from New Zealand to Tonga

Forteleza – 48 ft yacht – 7 day ocean passage from Tonga to Fiji

Infinity – 120 ft yacht – 5 weeks spend sailing from Fiji and islands of Vanuatu on environmental research project

MOST FRIGHTENING MOMENT: While on steering shift aboard Infinity, the front sail ripped in half during a 4 am thunderstorm!

BEST CHALLENGE: 7 day silent Meditation retreat in Koh Samui, Thailand

Bootcamp for the mind: Dipabhavan Meditation Retreat

BEST COCONUT: Vava’u Tonga, probably the same as coconuts across the South Pacific, but after being forced to conserve water while at sea for 16 days, nothing tasted better!

BEST WATERFALL/SWIMMING HOLE: Emma Gorge, Kimberley, Western Australia (technically end of 2010)

BEST PARTY: Lancelin Ocean Classic – annual windsurfing competition

BEST VARIETY OF AWESOME DIVES: Savu Savu, Fiji

FUNNIEST MOMENT: Echinda Chasm, Bungle Bungles, Western Australia  … “It was suppose to be funny!” said Stacy

WORST EXPERIENCE: taking apart toilet head while at sea …  Toilet Tales in Wonderland

BEST PLACES TO VISIT AGAIN:

Vanuatu: I only had the chance to visit 3 of the countries 83 very unique islands.

Cape Range National Park, Western Australia: Amazing place to camp for a long time in seclusion and natural beauty

Fiji: I would like to visit other islands, specifically Taveuni to do more scuba diving

Lancelin, Western Australia: so many amazing memories made here that I just have to go back!

2012 you have a lot to live up to!!!

“So you are back because you ran out of money?” everyone asks.

YES, I sure did, and money well spent it was!

Having yet to find a way to make money on the road, and having spent every last dime I had saved and then some … I decided it was in my best long-term interest to return to the states and work. This logical way of thinking is quite foreign to “by the seat of her skirt” and as I contemplated my options under a coconut palm in Fiji, the glistening turquoise waters did its best to seduce me to stay longer. Another option I considered was meeting a friend in Africa.

But ultimately, the paycheck I was lucky enough to have waiting for me in San Francisco, won me over and had me boarding a flight back to California.

My totally awesome boss graciously allowed me to return to my previous position as a marketing contractor. “Hand over your passport lady!” she demanded on my first day back to work, knowing full well I am a flight risk. “How long do we get you for this time?” she asked me, presuming and okay with the fact that I would hit the road again as soon as my bank account is in the black. We decided I would work for 6 months, helping manage projects during the busy season, seemingly a “win-win” for everyone. There had been speculation amongst my coworker as to whether or not I would actually return. Bets were placed; many hoped I would continue traveling so they could continue following my adventures around the globe.

While it was great to see all the faces I had missed while away, it was also very startling to find myself in a cubicle after having spent the previous three months on yachts sailing the brilliant blue waters of the South Pacific. The playful sound of the sea splashing against my cabin window was replaced by the chanting protests of Occupy Oakland outside my office window. The real world can be a real unfair bitch.

I decorated my cubicle in photographs of beautiful beaches and sunsets which only served to torture me as they giggled amongst themselves taunting me, “look how pretty it is where we are, bet you wish you were here!” Accustomed to seeing Thomas’ smiling face 24/7, I taped a close up him to my computer monitor to ease the “Swiss Withdrawal”.

My body physically rejected the predicament I forced upon it eight hours a day. My outstretched arms felt tingly and numb as my fingers pecked against their will. A more ergonomic chair would help to ease my physical discomfort; however, inside I felt overwhelmed, lost, bored, and restless. Reverse culture shock is a real phenomenon, and those first few weeks back were anything but easy! It seemed so wrong to feel discontentment while surrounded by loving friends and blessed with a job “in this economy.”

I know what you are thinking … cry me a river, right? I have some nerve to complain about being back at work after a yearlong holiday. You are absolutely right! And I slapped some sense into myself for you! It also helped to attend travel related events like Meet, Plan, Go! and Travel Massive, both great reverse culture shock support groups attended by other travel addicts.

I eventually got my groove back and I am happy to call San Francisco my home again, if only for a brief while. It’s hard to believe I have been back for four months; time has gone by so fast. Sometimes it feels as if nothing has changed since I have been gone. I think this bothers me most because I feel so different somehow. Thus as we evolve so does our place in this world. As I reflect on the past and look longingly at the future, I am reminded to pause and embrace today.

So for now, I am thankful for my very blessed life in SF! I will keep working hard, living frugally, and saving money for my next big adventure!

What is that I hear? Is that Africa calling?

2012 is going to be a VERY good year … stay tuned!

Global Lives will be celebrating 7 years of engaging, educating and inspiring audiences to rethink what it means to be a global citizen. Come and be introduced to your neighbors near and far!

Featuring large-scale ten-screen video project, a global selection of delicious drinks and tasty hors d’oeuvres, live world music, henna and tea lounge, and more.

Purchase tickets now, while discounted presale supplies last!

I first wrote about the Global Lives project after experiencing the exhibit in 2008. I found the project a brilliant and inspiring portrayal of the diversity and similarity of cultures around the world. I am always happy to support the organization’s mission “to reshape how we as both producers and viewers conceive of cultures, nations and people outside of our own communities.”

David Evan Harris of San Francisco, is the creator of Global Lives and got the idea for the project after he spent months studying and traveling around the world his junior year in college. Specifically his experiences in living with host families in different countries inspired David to develop Global Lives. In an interview at the iSummit in Japan, David talks about how he began to view the world differently after his trip. “When back in US after living in a bamboo hut in the Philippines and having spent time in a former squatter settlement in Mexico city, those people whose lives I had shared so intimately really stuck out in my mind and I couldn’t even do the sort of normal day to day tasks like reading a newspaper or watching a TV news cast and think about those countries in the same abstract way that I use to. I thought about the individuals”. David Evan Harris

Never heard of Global Lives? Watch this short video to better understand what this project is all about …

The Global Lives project is a collective effort of more than 150 volunteer filmmakers, artists, architects, programmers and everyday people from around the world to build and display a video library of human life experience. The projects goal is to record 24 hours in the lives of 10 people that roughly represent the diversity of the planet’s population. The installation gives the viewer a chance to step out of their own reality and into one they never would have known.

The Global Deets …

Thursday, November 10th
6-7pm  //  GVIP Reception (GVIP = Globally Very Impassioned Person)
7-11pm  //  Global Gala

Attire is Globally Glamorous (aka Cocktail Attire)

Ft. Mason Center
Building A, Conference Center
Enter @ Buchanan St. & Marina Blvd
Parking @ Ft. Mason Center

Purchase tickets now, while discounted presale supplies last!

Ticket proceeds benefit the work of the Global Lives Project and are tax deductible over $25 to the extent of the law.

The event was timely in helping to ease the reverse culture shock I had been feeling since my recent return to “the real world” after traveling for a year. I learned I am not the only one who has found re-entry to be quite challenging. Transitioning from sailing the South Pacific to cubicle entrapment has not been easy for me and I welcomed an evening devoted to inspiring long term travel.

Attending the event was a mix of experienced long term travelers, those pondering a big trip, and those actively planning their first career break. Many see a career break as risky and unconventional. Discussed and BUSTED! were the most common Career Break Myths:

My overactive wanderlust does not need encouragement, but was inspired in the presence of like minded travelers sharing stories and offering support and understanding of my desire to continue wandering the world. I realized that I have actually traveled more than I have worked in the past 3+ years.

Having taken two long career breaks to experience the world, my perspective on career has forever changed. I no longer think of long-term travel as a career break but instead I see my career as a break from travel and the means by which I will fund my next big adventure!

With that being said, I also understand that not everyone desires to travel for years at a time. The five panelists chosen to speak  had very unique travel styles, demonstrating that there are many ways in which we can choose to take a long trip. They shared their personal experiences and answered a range of questions from what to pack, where to go, how much money to bring, and addressed a question on re-entry … “I just got back from a year of travel … now what?”

Meet, Plan, Go! co-founder Sherry Ott started the event by comparing long term travel to jumping off a cliff.

“We can either take the leap or look humbly over the edge and kick a few stones.”

Being a “by the seat of my skirt girl”  I am always taking the big leaps and wish more people would jump off a cliff because I did!

Sherry has been living a nomadic lifestyle since she left her job in Corporate America five years ago.

Kristen of  Take Your Big Trip,  says traveling has made her more employable. She discussed the skills learned on the road like communication, negotiation, adaptability, can transfer into real world skills that employers desire. I could most relate to Kristen’s “travel style” as she and I both choose to travel, work for a while, and then travel again when we have the money.

Kristen wrote and excellent post Planning the Big Trip: Questions and Answers from Meet Plan Go 2011.

The Traveling Philosopher – Spencer came full circle after speaking at the same event a year prior just before he embarked on his big trip. Spencer is a professional writer who has been successful in getting paid while on the road by writing about his travels. He inspired in many the idea of finding work while on the road.

In hindsight he said “I honestly don’t remember much about what I said last night. I remember saying something about “pura vida”, but what I do remember is that I saw a room full of people from all walks of life who were ready to turn their talking into doing and blaze a trail.”

Sarah & Morgan took their family on a year long around the world trip teaching their children while on the road. The Runners Trip is an inspiring blog showing that extended travel is still possible even when you have kids. I absolutely believe that you can learn more through experiencing the world than you can from a book or classroom setting.

“The biggest motivator for taking our big trip was not going, but thinking about our life if we didn’t go.”

She spoke about how to make due with less stuff while on the road and her realization that “life should not be about the stuff you have but about meaningful experiences and relationships.”

Proceeds from ticket sales for the San Francisco event were donated to the AFAR Foundation, which is the philanthropic affiliate of AFAR magazine. Co-founder Greg Sullivan, co-founder of the organization, told the audience that the idea for AFAR was generated during a career break of his own.

Other notable quotes overheard at Meet, Plan, Go! nationwide  2011 ~~~

“I never met a traveler who said they shouldn’t have gone on that trip…” – Sean Keener

“My career break was absolutely the best year of my life.” @cogentlegal

You never know the work your going to get abroad until your boots are on the ground!

Listening to talks of career breaks and stories of long term travel really makes me miss living out of a 35l backpack.

…wish we’d had MPG before starting! So great to spend time with like-minded folks who “get” the work, sacrifices, choices that go in to making travel a priority…and the great results!

“The idea of traveling alone as a woman is scarier than actually doing it.” Olivia @whygo at #meetplango #pdx

When traveling solo, can be much more interesting says @lisanapoli -people offer more, help more, show more.

Talking about peer pressures of long term travel, Ryan and Jen say that “nobody else has to be ok with it, just you”

You’ll come back from travel more creative & a risk-taker, and this makes you a more appealing employee!

“I don’t look at other countries as ‘those people’. We’re all the same. That’s what travel has taught me.” @takeyourbigtrip

Careers will work out. Any hiring manager will want to hear about a #RTW trip. @cogentlegal

Long term travel is a more realistic goal than you might think and a career break can actually be beneficial to your career. Having just returned from my second year long career break (I forgot to tell you I am back!), I can personally attest to the life changing and rewarding experience long term travel offers to those who dare to escape their cubicle to find freedom on the open road.

But don’t just take my word for it, be inspired by all of the people out there that have or are currently “living the dream!” making career breaks their reality.

Meet, Plan, Go! is an online and in person resource for general inspiration and information for aspiring career break travelers. Meet, Plan, Go! is hosting events in 17 cities nationwide today (October 18, 2011) to encourage and teach others how traveling the world can be beneficial to your career.

Buy a ticket and attend Meet, Plan, Go! …

• You will MEET like-minded, supportive people in person and online.
• Get tools and tips to PLAN your career break travels.
• Find inspiration to GO by hearing other career breaker’s stories.

I am excited to be volunteering at the San Francisco event where I can help an organization that is also passionate about inspiring others to experience more this beautiful world by trading in your *briefcase for a backpack (or a suitcase … but there is something so liberating about carrying your whole world on your back!).

“We envision a world where the term ‘career break’ is a part of your overall career strategy”

Let’s face it, a 2-week vacation is just not enough! Life is too short, the world is too big, and careers are too exhausting! We need to take a longer break to relax & recharge but also to really have a chance to appreciate a different culture and cultivate unique experiences. American culture expects us to work hard now and play much later … when sadly we may be too old to enjoy it.

I remember climbing New Zealand’s Franz Joseph Glacier during my first career break in 2008. While I was digging the steel blades of my boots into the compressed snow climbing higher, squeezing my body through narrow chilly crevasses, and shuffling sideways down vertical walls of ice, a helicopter was flying above. Packed inside, peering down through foggy windows were many elderly individuals on a “Heli Hike”. I felt confident in that moment that I was doing exactly what I was suppose to be doing to the contrary of what society or my mother might argue. I know “future me” will one day thank me for taking risks for adventure when I was young and fit!

Like the founders of Meet, Plan, Go! I want to continue to challenge the way it’s always been done and offer support and encouragement to others to follow your dreams wherever in the world they may take you!

Sure a career break sounds great to everyone in theory but you still may feel as if a long term travel is a pipe dream due to the natural fears and uncertainties that come to mind. In her article Career Break Travel Myths, Meet, Plan, Go! cofounder Sherry Ott addresses the many fears and myths surrounding the concept of leaving your job to go travel including: worrying about gaps in resumes, not having enough money, and wondering what do do with all your stuff. If anyone is qualified to be a career break mythbuster it is Sherry! Author of Ottsworld – Travel and Life experiences of a Corporate America Runaway, Sherry traded in her briefcase for a backpack five years ago and is still “living the dream” and motivating others to take career breaks.

If you are looking for inspiration and ‘how-to’ advice regarding career break planning and travel, then be sure not to miss this amazing event!  And if you can’t make the event be sure to check out the inspiring stories and helpful information on the Meet, Plan, Go! website. The cost to attend the event is only $15 …

Sherry Ott is founder of Briefcase to Backpack which inspired the creation of Meet, Plan, Go!

Australian windsurfing legend, Warren Francis, has been living the good life in Fiji since he opened Safari Lodge in 1991. Safari Lodge is a boutique resort housing a maximum of 40 guests at a time with a variety of accommodation options to suit any budget.

Available are bunk style dorm rooms, private double rooms, and charming private villas with gorgeous ocean views. Guests have the option to buy package deals that include three meals a day, airport/boat transfers, and other inclusions depending on the package chosen. Package options include: Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, Sailing, Sea Kayaking, Snorkeling, Diving, Fishing, Day Spa, and Eco Tours.

Warm tropical water, wind, and sunshine provide perfect conditions for the water sports focused resort. The lodge itself is located steps from the sand, surrounded by swaying palm trees to shade you as you relax in a comfy hammock. Safari Lodge offers quiet seclusion within a world of opportunities to make your ideal paradise.

I purchased a kitesurfing package at $1480 FJI ($796 USD when this post was written) which included a week of kiting supported by the Safari Lodge staff, daily boat support, a private double room, three delicious prepared meals per day, and airport/boat transfers to and from the resort.

After spending three months roughing it at sea, cooking for a large crew, sleeping in tiny spaces, forfeiting all sense of privacy … I basked in the luxury of being taken care of by the friendly staff at Safari Lodge. There is nothing better than waking up on a beautiful island with a view of the ocean, having a great morning kite session, coming “home” to a prepared lunch, enjoying an afternoon nap in a hammock before heading out for your afternoon kiting session, and finishing your day with a glass of wine and a delicious dinner (always with dessert) as you watch the sun sink into the South Pacific. PARADISE! There is nothing better except knowing you get to do it all over again the next day!

Besides the undeniable beauty of the island and the crystal clear Fijian water, I was also very impressed with the professionalism of the Safari Lodge staff. The daily activities are very well organized and the staff did a great job keeping everyone on schedule to allow for the most time on the water during the windiest part of the day. To ensure a great day, the staff heads out early each morning in the kite boat to scout out the windiest spot to kite that day. After the best location is decided, Warren holds a meeting for all kitesurfers in which he briefs the group on weather conditions, points out the kiting spot on the local map, and explains any challenges one might encounter (don’t kite past that house as the wind dies there and you have no chance of relaunching) all the while getting everyone super excited for a new day on the water.

There are so many great options for kitesurfing near the island. Depending on the wind conditions we could head out in the yellow dingy to off-shore reefs or kite the deep blue waters of Kite Point. On lighter wind days we were taken to upwind launching points for  fun down-winder sessions. This was my first experience pumping up and launching my kite from inside a small dingy. The staff have perfected the process and are quite efficient in getting a large group of kiters off the boat and on the water quickly. It is also possible to kite right off the beach directly in front of the lodge; however, the wind typically blows onshore here and at high tide the beach disappear making this option better suited for more advanced kiters.

With such a great support system at Safari Lodge,  it is a great place to travel as a solo kiter. Besides the support you can expect from fellow kiters, you feel safe knowing that the Safari staff is on hand to provide a boat rescue if needed.

Not into wind sports? Safari Lodge is sure to keep you entertained without the help of the wind. Additionally, you can choose t0 stand up paddle board, relax at a day spa, snorkel, scuba dive, fish, explore the area in a sea kayak, or go on a hike in search of beautiful sunset!

I experience one of my best dives with Safari Lodge which way surpassed my previous dives in the South Pacific. The dive team took us out about an hour from shore where we did a 2 tank dive at Vatu-i-ra Passage. I knew we were in for a treat before we jumped in as the water was crystal clear showing us brilliant reef for as far as the eye could see! Sadly, it is common to encounter dead  coral in the South Pacific due to climate change (warming waters), predators (spiny starfish), pollution, and destruction due to human-related activities. But the coral we saw at this dive spot was teaming with life and glittering with color!

Being even more environmentally conscious after spending 5 weeks aboard Infinity (a sailing expedition vessel whose mission is to promote global awareness of issues that affect the environment), I was pleased to learn that Safari Lodge is focused on passive recreational sports. They do not Jet Ski, drag net Fishing, or encourage clients taking of precious resources, in particular our marine life on the reefs.

Thank you Safari Lodge for protecting your beautiful surroundings and for an unforgettable time in paradise!

CONTACT Safari Lodge to make your reservation at Fiji’s best windsurfing, scuba diving and kitesurfing resort!

+679 628 3332  or  Skype: SafariLodgeFiji

To see more beautiful photos of Safari Lodge CLICK HERE!

Below is a video I found by Maniac Films featuring Safari Lodge.

From the top of the mountain we could see the “John Frum Village” nestled between the rumbling volcano and the crashing waves at Sulphur Bay. We descended the mountain, struggling to keep pace with two village women walking barefoot carrying large loads of root veggies.

I was intrigued by what we had heard about “cargo cults” and was excited by the possibility of seeing this phenomenon with my own eyes. Upon entering the village looked just like all the others I had visited so far in Vanuatu. However, at a closer glance I notice an abundance of flagpoles we would learn hoist American flags, and a large dusty area where the followers march and dance each Friday night in accordance to John Frum’s orders. It was a shame we were unaware of the weekly day of celebration as we arrived on a Saturday.

The legend goes that in 1936 John Frum, the brother of the god of Mt Tukosmera, came from the sea at Sulfur Bay and told the people there would be an abundance of wealth so long as all Europeans left Tanna.

The cults were founded shortly after in the wake of World War II by Melanesians who came in contact with U.S. soldiers. According to one theory, the islanders who developed these cults saw “giant silver birds” drop crates that floated down to earth with parachutes and burst open when they hit the ground. Most of the military hardware, but sometimes people would find special items like SPAM, which tasted like pork, meat reserved for sacred ceremonies. The islanders concluded the airborn cargo must be gifts from gods.

During this time the Tannese met generous African-Americans who shared their Coca Cola and cigarettes and given the similarity in skin color many thought these guys were surely Tannese in disguese. It is suspected that John Frum must have been an African American soldier.

Another possible explanation is that cargo cults were founded by islanders who worked at American bases and returned to their villages with tales after the war. When the troops and their fancy machines departed as abruptly as they arrived, cults were created to explain the alien invasion and to lure the Americans back with more cargo.

New Guinea, the Solomons and Vanuatu are all said to have had cargo cults. In some places, tribes built landing pads to mark the spot where the Americans should return. Others built fake radio towers and made tin cans into imaginary telephones which they used to chat with “the gods”. Today most of the cults have disappeared, overwhelmed by Christian missionaries or overcome by modern times.

I can attest to the fact that there is still an active cargo cult on the volcanic island of Tanna, and I had the opportunity to meet a few of the followers. The older members of the cult did not speak English and it was difficult to fully understand the teachings and the future of the cult.

If you find yourself in Tanna it would be worth the hike to show up in the village on a Friday night and see the cult in action as  followers from all around Tanna gather to honor John Frum and expedite a return of the Americans.

*Parts of this post are paraphrased from article in “Islands Magazine”

Read about How to kitesurf offshore by launching from a yacht!

Mt Yasur is an active volcano on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu. Climbing to the summit is easy, the low volcano rises to a height of 361 m (1,184 ft) above sea level. It was an amazing and frightening experience to stand on the rim of the volcano as flaming lava shot out of the crater. Yasur can be heard booming from miles away, and ash is always in the air.