First, it was the activity of the volcano Merapi; now, it’s a 6.2 earthquake that has made the front page of the New York Times online edition. I didn’t know about any of this until around three in the afternoon–nearly ten hours after it happened. If any of you are still geographically challenged, the title refers to where I am in regards to the earthquake. It sounds like there might be around 3,000 casualties and many more injured. My colleagues in Yogyakarta have been reported to be safe.
More about my little trip tomorrow.
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Good to hear. Not 15 minutes ago Jenn was reading this in the NY Times and asking me how close it was.
I have a friend there, too, and am now still trying to find out if she’s ok. But this reaction, however normal, is somehow hiding a guilty feeling. We are worrying about someone we know while there are 2,000+ people dead, people that hopefully have someone who will cry and pray for them.
It’s the opposite to what those in grieve would say, “I know these things happen, but didn’t expect this would happen to me. It’s like a dream. So unreal.”
But I know this one is real, with or without a friend in Yogya.
Just so you know, there was also a slight shake here in Surabaya.
That is some crazy shit. Damn you, plate tectonics!
Well, everyone was focused on Mt. Merapi and the activity there, then the Ring of Fire throws a curveball. As one of the commentors has said, it was felt around Java. The Fellow in Malang also felt a few bumps.