Buzz
As we ascend towards the mouth of the volcano, the breathtaking grandeur overwhelms us with vast deserts, sky-piercing clouds, and swirling smoke.
Indulging in the 'specialty of dust' at Bromo volcano
Indonesia is renowned for Bali's islands, but seeking a change from the sea, we opted for the majestic Bromo volcano in East Java.
From Juanda International Airport in Surabaya city, our group took nearly 5 hours to reach Bromo. As we ascended, the air grew colder, and the lights dimmed. Some stretches were illuminated only by the headlights of our vehicles. On one side, pitch darkness; on the other, a cliff, and beyond, the houses of locals.
Many eateries in Bromo close early, so upon arrival, we wandered until we found a Bakso vendor – Indonesia's famous meatball noodle dish – still open for business.
We booked a tour with Bromo Adventure Land – a tour with a private guide and driver for our group, following our planned 5-day, 4-night itinerary, costing around 8 million VND per person.
At 3 a.m. the next day, under the lingering darkness, the jeep was waiting in front of the hotel to pick us up. The first stop, guided by Ian, was the King Kong Hill, offering a breathtaking sunrise view.
Dim lights illuminated the jeeps traversing the white sand, making me feel like I was lost in a desert rather than Bromo. The strong, chilling wind and the wait for the sunrise led our group to pause at a small tent for a warm cup of Tee Ta Rik milk tea.
Due to the thick fog, our guide Ian quickly took us to a lower spot, Love Hill, ensuring a clear view of the sunrise. Despite being distant, Bromo captivated each of us from this vantage point.
En route to Bromo volcano, I felt like I had wandered into Tibet, as the scenery resembled scenes from movies I've watched. The ascent wasn't too challenging, and the higher we went, the more overwhelmed we became by the majestic beauty – the sea of sand, the sky, and the smoke rising from the volcano. Bromo volcano is still active but at a safe level for tourism.
The path on the summit was quite narrow, requiring maneuvering around others. It was the most splendid morning in my months of wandering through countless places.
The 'specialty' at Bromo is the dusty terrain, so don't forget to bring a cloth to cover your nose from the dust when you're here.
At 10 a.m., we returned to the hotel, had a meal, and the whole group 'collapsed' from fatigue due to a sleepless night.
Ijen volcano complex
The next day, after witnessing the sunrise at the Seruni peak and having breakfast, we quickly packed up to visit the Ijen volcano complex, also in East Java, passing by the Madakaripura waterfall on the way. After a 5-hour drive, we arrived at 6 p.m. At midnight, we set out to climb the mountain.
I climbed to the point where every 2 minutes of ascent required a 5-minute rest, not to mention the stretches where my companion had to push me from behind.
Here, there's a 'taxi' service to transport tourists to the summit. It's called a taxi, but it's a recycled cow carriage with an added cushion for passengers. Due to the long and challenging ascent, an average of 3 people is needed to pull one passenger. After covering some distance, I considered giving up and inquired about the taxi fare. However, upon hearing a quote of nearly a million VND for a one-way trip up the mountain, I was determined to climb on my own.
Arriving at the halfway point of our stay, I felt like I had no energy left. Entirely drained, limbs trembling, partly due to lack of sleep, partly due to fatigue, I experienced dizziness.
On the way up to the summit, we rented masks to avoid the toxic fumes emanating from the sulfur mine.
After 2.5 hours, I finally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the lake unfold before my eyes. The emerald-green lake stood out amidst the majestic mountains. The descent to the lake was even more challenging than the climb.
The pungent smell of sulfur filled the air, and the smoke from the mine stung our eyes. As the smoke billowed intermittently, we had to seize the moments when it dispersed to take photos.
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourMarch 20, 2019
