Day 76: Bromo
We were shocked the next morning when there was a knock at our door at 4AM informing us that our Land Cruiser was waiting for us out front! The scammer actually came through! We were sure things would get hairy once we pulled up to the park entrance – the driver started demanding payment for the park entrance fee from a mystery third couple in the car (250K IDR pp for the guy and his mum), Even though this guy had two receipts, one which clearly said, “Bromo fee,” but the driver wasn’t having it and told the guy and his mum to get out of the car. We exchanged looks with the German couple, positive our feeble receipts (neither of which were legible) would also be called into question, but when the driver asked us if we paid already, he simply took our, “Yes!” at face value.
Our British companion arguing fruitlessly with the driver and park employees, insisting that his receipt was proof that he paid his entrance fee. Again, no idea how the scribble on our paper was accepted. We continued up the mountain without him, with an army of Land Cruisers riding our tail the whole way
Our party of four continued in the darkness up the mountain to the Terima Kasih Viewpoint platform, where we waited with at least 200 other tourists for the sun to rise. Unlike Mt. Batur in Bali, there was no stadium-style seating – we had to fight for a spot along the railing and defend if with our life if we wanted a clear shot of the sunrise. Luckily for us, most of the tourists were too obsessed with photographing the sun coming up in the East, they all forgot that the Bromo crater was off to the South. We were able to claim a 2-person-sized section of railing, which we shared with Heike and Johannes.
All the tourists, obsessively taking pictures of the impending sunrise
Igor puts his Russian training to work and stakes his claim to a spot on the railing, facing the Bromo crater, which he shared with our German friends
#BromoSunrise #SoManySelfieSticks
Getting a killer view of the Bromo crater from our vantage point
Bromo Crater at Sunrise
Bromo Panorama
Locals selling souvenirs at the viewpoint
Heading back to our Land Cruiser
Another photo op on the way down the mountain where we saw a very dedicated bride & groom who must have gotten up before dawn, did hair and make-up, got dressed, and hauled ass up the mountain for their wedding pics
5
Another Bromo Panorama
Our second stop for the morning was the actual Bromo crater. An active volcano, Bromo was spewing lots of sulfuric steam during our visit. According to a sign at the park entrance, visitors are prohibited from going within 1KM of the crater, but just like the sign as the Ijen crater, no one stops you from going further “at your own risk”. All the Land Cruiser dutifully parked 1KM from the crater, and told us we could continue on foot, or ride a horse for 150K IDR. As we were in no hurry, our foursome decided to walk toward the deadly fumes.
Following the letter of the law – the cars did not take us closer than 1KM of the crater – but no one was there to stop us from going further on foot (or horseback, if we were so inclined)
Climbing the final steps to the crater edge
Really strong sulfur fumes at the edge – since we had no gas masks this time, we knew we couldn’t stay long. I snapped a picture of this sign, assuming it said, “Danger,” or some warning about safety. Nope – Bahasa translation says, “Please do not throw rubbish into the crater unless they are religious offerings.” Apparently local Hindus still throw in sacrifices during their holy ceremonies every year. Luckily for me, Igor did not understand Bahasa, and didn’t throw me in.
Walking along the rim of the Bromo Crater – ’cause we’re young, foolish, and childless
Snapping more pics of this poisonous beauty
Inside the Bromo Crater
Heading back down to the safe-zone – past the Hindu Temple (not open to visitors – not sure if that’s because of its religious significance, or it’s because the temple is within the 1KM no-go zone)
We were feeling a bit peckish, as we hadn’t had breakfast yet, so we bought a bunch of bananas from a local peddler on the mountain top, who insisted we take a photo with him
Our car – one of many Land Cruisiers (boo – all Toyotas – no American Jeeps!) – ours read 376K+ KM on the odometer, and our driver told us it had rolled over the 1M KM mark already!
We returned to the hotel for a full breakfast at the Café Lava Restaurant, before catching our (packed) minibus back to Probolinggo. We got to the train station 2 hours early, but it’s better to be too early than too late, right? Besides, there was a mama and baby goat playing on the tracks to entertain us.
Breakfast buffet and balcony view from the Café Lava Restaurant
Our driver wrapped all our luggage in tarp and tied it onto the roof of the minibus, as it was a full-house inside. Luckily for us, there was no rain!
Tickets in hand, waiting for the train to Surabaya, watching a baby goat prance gleefully around it’s mama
Our “Eksekutif” car was full of sickies this time. Busting out the surgical masks ’cause we don’t got time to get sick!
When we got to Surabaya, we checked-in to the JW Marriott (after passing through security which included a bomb-sniffing dog and metal detector), and allowed the woman at the check-in desk to upsell us to an Executive Suite with lounge access. Hey – sometimes you just gotta #TreatYoSelf!
EXECUTIVE SUITE, BITCHES!
Enjoying a “dinner” of hors d’oeuvres, and open bar in the Executive Lounge at the JW Marriot in Surabaya. I didn’t even care that the sparkling was Moscato – THERE WAS WINE – so I was happy
Another great adventure and thank goodness you are young, foolish and childless!!!