Volcano

i have now seen an active volcano and I can definitely say that it was pretty amazing! We went to Mt Yasur on Tanna Island, Vanuatu - billed as "the world's most accessible volcano". It last had a full eruption about 25 years ago, but it is constantly active and shoots up molten lava from 3 vents 10-20 times every hour. The lava pit was about 50-100m below us, and the lava was being thrown several hundred metres in the air then coming back down to land all around the rim and back in the pit. When we visited it was at level 3 (of 5), which was pretty good as it meant it was active but we were able stand at the top and peer in - when it is level 4 you can only watch from the car park, and when level 5 I think you have to stay back in the village! On the path at the top our guide pointed out a rock about the size of a sofa that had landed there about 3 weeks ago and the path was strewn with rock of various sizes, so you tell that it is fairly active.

Pictures and even video can't really do justice to the experience, but I'll post a few anyway to give an idea:

Our 4WD in the ash field with the volcano in the background:

Rosie and I posting postcards at the volcano postbox (in Vanuatu they like "extreme post" - there is also an underwater postbox!)

Lava eruptions:

I tried to add in a video of a little eruption but after an hour uploading it failed so I don't think that will be possible! It was very impressive though, honest :)