My Grade 6 English teacher, Mrs. Butterfield, was a bit quacky. During Easter break, we had the "choice" to write a voluntary essay; most kids ignored the assignment but my father always insisted that any scholastic pursuit was very healthy. So, while most of the class was off playing Intellivision or building tree forts, I spent many hours researching and writing about the 1884 volcanic eruption of Indonesia's Krakatoa. When the big moment came, Krakatoa blew itself sky high, triggering the single biggest explosion the world had ever known. Ash turned day into night and blanketed a huge portion of the earth's surface. A 'new' Krakatoa eviscerated out of the sea where the former once was; it is still erupting today.
Indonesia has 129 active volcanoes but most are remote and involve hell bus rides and rough roads. John and I settled on visiting Mt. Bromo, a very picturesque peak with other conical craters nearby. 
