Mount Agung is an active volcano and an iconic landmark in Bali, located in the Karangasem Regency. Its last eruption, which sent hot lava flowing, occurred around June 2019.

Some areas in Karangasem still have low light pollution, which caught my attention for capturing Milky Way photos. After researching the best spots with low light pollution on Lightpollutionmap.info, I set off on my motorbike toward the destination.

Before leaving, I made sure to pack all my photography gear, including my tripod, camera, lens, and extra batteries. The ride from Kerobokan to Tulamben took about two hours.

Once I checked into my accommodation, I went straight to the back area to find the best spot to capture the Milky Way with Mount Agung as the backdrop.

I took a short afternoon nap after settling in. By 4 p.m., I decided to head to Amed to catch a sunset, stopping at a place my friend had recommended. It was a little funny when I arrived and found out there was an event that afternoon, and I needed to pay an entrance fee. I hesitated but then saw a poster mentioning my friend’s name as one of the DJs. I called him, and just like that, I was in without paying a thing.

By the time it got dark, I headed back to my accommodation in Tulamben. Since it’s a quiet village, the roads were dark, with little street lighting and a chilly breeze.

Once I arrived, I began preparing my gear: my Manfrotto tripod, Fujifilm X-T5, Fujinon XF 16mm F2.8, and of course, my Starwalk 2 app.