Use the links above to see more photos.

Just before we arrived in Bali, Mount Agung gave signs that it was about to erupt -- the first time since 1963. Over 1,000 people were killed then. This time officials were taking no chances. They evacuated everyone within a 12 km radius of the crater.

The week we arrived we felt a 4.9 earthquake centered directly under Agung, only 30 km away from Ubud where we're staying. And then steam and ash were seen rising from the crater. It didn't seem to worry anyone. In fact seismic authorities thought it might even help things settle down.

I've read that a volcano is like a bottle of coca-cola. If you shake it up and then pop the top it's going to erupt; but if you pop the top first, let it sit a few days, then shake it and reopen it - nothing happens. Let's hope the latter is what's going on because we're here a few months more.

The only thing that worries the Balinese is that the number of tourists, the island's life blood, is way down from what is normal for this time of year. Would-be visitors are afraid that the airport will shut down and then they won't be able to get home. How awful -- stuck in paradise.