From Jogja we decided to take a 3day Mt. Bromo – Ijen Crater – Denpassar tour as a way to get across Java. Our first stop on tour: Mt. Bromo!
We arrived to the base of Mt. Bromo around 11pm after a 14 hour bus ride from Jogja. We got off the bus, and I was instantly FROZEN. I knew it was going to be cold, but I was definitely not prepared. We got to our room, which felt more like an ice box, then decided the best thing to do was to just sleep. So we did, for a good few hours until it was 3AM and we were up, ready to go see the sunrise!
So we first got into the jeep (which we paid extra for), thinking we were going to be driven to the view point…it turns out, the jeep only takes you about half a kilometer up the mountain. From where we got dropped off, it was a good 20-30 minute uphill until we finally reached the view point, just in time for sunrise!
As we were admiring the pretty view, we looked to our right and there it was, Mt. Bromo, RIGHT in front of us! Because we had arrived after dark the night before and the hike up was pitch black as well, we didn’t realize that all this time, it was right there!
We snapped some pictures, drank some hot coffee, and just snuggled while we watched the beautiful, BEAUTIFUL scenery. Waking up at 3am in an ice box was pretty rough, but it was just amazingly stunning and absolutely worth it!
Next, contrary to what we had been told earlier (that we couldn’t go up Mt. Bromo because of the recent volcanic activity), we were driven to the base of Mt. Bromo, where we were told we can walk up to the crater. The place was completely covered in ash, but that added to its overal coolness.
The walk up to the crater was not the most pleasant. There was ash EVERYWHERE. In my eyes, in my nose, in my lungs…probably not the best for my body…but when will I ever get the chance to walk up to the crater of Mt. Bromo again?
Covered with ash, we returned to our room, hoping to wash off all the ash before got back on the bus to go to Ijen…only to discover that the hot water was no longer working. So, instead, we ate a quick breakfast (included in the tour but quite crappy – plain bread with hot tea that smelled like dirty fish tanks) and got back onto the bus to head further east of Java.
I’m slowly but SURELY understanding the joy of hiking…how can you not, when after a long hike up you’re rewarded with such uncomparable beauty?
Tags: Hiking, Indonesia, Mt. Bromo, Mt. Bromo tour from Jogja, Sunrise, Travel
It looks like the moon… or Mt Saint Helens just after the blast. (I’m not even going to ask if it was a ‘safe’ idea. Incredible site.