Taman Nasional Bromo Tengger Semeru
Looking at Sunrise
It felt like winter, but we were there from near and far to see the view. First to come was the sunrise.
I met new friends from Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and even from the Netherlands, in addition to the locals there. I recognized Russian, Spaniards, Australian, American, Italian, and many more.Lookingsunrisebromoeast javaindonesiakingkong hillmountainnaturetravel
Comes in Layers
As the sun rose higher, we encounter changing atmospheric and light conditions as layers of fog blowing through the region. How can we be so blessed to be able to be here, to experience, and to enjoy this? Did I tell you it was cold? It was the closest thing that reminded me of how the winter felt like.
As people around me took photos and made selfies, I was looking for enough space to move around and made my photos. It is a norm nowadays to bring selfie sticks on vacations.ComesLayersbromoeast javaindonesiamountainnaturetravellandscape
Pre-Wedding Session in Tengger Caldera
When you are up and about at the crack of dawn, the last thing you think of is a wedding photoshoot. But, here they are at the first available light for the day.
The couple's from Singapore and they will get married by the end of this year. Along with them were younger sisters or relatives which have just graduated from Nanyang Technological University. They both also took some photos with their graduation gowns there.
We had a short conversation and congrulated them. They were not the only wedding couple we encountered that morning.
Puffing Mount Bromo
After about a couple hours of waiting in the cold weather, there was sufficient light to make a proper photo of Mount Bromo. We stuck around for awhile on King Kong Hill to make sure we got the shoots we thought we wanted.
I met with variety of people from around the world while on that spot. If you are one of them, contact me and let's keep in touch.
Mount Bromo was on escalated activity since April 2016. Other than the sporadic ash emissions, there were no significant volcanic activities since its last eruption in February 2016. According to the locals, there were no casualties from the last eruption, only dried produce from the volcanic hot gasses.PuffingMountbromoeast javaindonesialandscapemorningnatureparktravelvolcanic activityvolcano
Thin Flat Layers of Clouds
After spending a few hours on King Kong Hill, we went up to the highest view point, Penanjakan. On the view point site, we could see antenna towers and, obviously, Mount Bromo.
The place was empty, since almost everybody had gone down to the base of the caldera to climb Mount Bromo.
I saw this interesting flat layers of clouds hovering just below the top of the towers. I don't know what it's called. It is just interesting.ThinFlatLayersCloudsbromoeast javaindonesiamountainnaturetravel
Tengger Caldera
The panoramic view of the caldera. Behind the clouds of ashes there's Semeru, the highest volcano in Java island at 3,676 m (12,060 ft).
The scene was taken at the view point on top of Mount Penanjakan (2,770 m or 9,088 ft).
The town to the left is Cemoro Lawang. We stayed in one of the hostel there, where Mount Bromo is about an hour walking distance away.TenggerCalderabromoeast javaindonesiamountainnaturetravelvolcanocloudsashes
Tengger Caldera from Love Hill
We reached another view point. It is called Love Hill (Bukit Cinta). Mount Semeru was visible, under the plumes of ash clouds. Mount Bromo is partially obstructed by Mount Batok.
Part of the first day on the caldera was to survey the land to pick the best vantage point. We were blessed because we got better conditions right away, because the locals said the view was foggy and much worse the previous morning.TenggerCalderafromLoveHillbromoeast javaindonesiamountainnaturetravel
Between Mountains
I did learn more about the region after I got back from the trip. While processing photos, I collected information about things captured in the photo.
On our first night, we went to a gallery of Sigit Pramono at Jiwa Jawa, basically, to gain inspiration and extra motivation. It seems like the more you find, the more you want to keep exploring and digging. The adventures are endless.BetweenMountainseast javaindonesiatravelcemoro lawangbromotenggercaldera
Defender Adventures
On our way to the savanna on the back side of the mountains, relative to Cemoro Lawang, we met with a young German couple which drove their Defender around. We stopped, took some photos, and chatted for a bit. I assumed they drove from Germany, since the Defender has a German license plate.
They had been in Indonesia for three months and was on their way to Bali and eventually will go across to Australia. Both were high spirited and I could feel their excitement during our conversation.DefenderAdventuresbromoeast javaindonesiamountainnaturetraveljeepbwblackandwhitebnw
Path to the Savanna
Inspired by Windows XP desktop wallpaper.
We were at the south side of Mount Bromo. The scenery is extreme opposite. While it is rugged and nothing but sand by Mount Bromo, but just around the corner, it is green and blue skies.
An Active Volcano Around the Corner
There are two sides of the caldera: the sandy part and the savanna part.
We were just getting into the savanna part at this point. The only sign of an active volcano was only the plumes over the hill.ActivevolcanoAroundtheCornerblue skybromocalderacloudslandscapenational parkoneplusoneplus oneplumesavannasmoketenggervolcanic activity
Cabbage, Onion, and Corn
Volcanic area provides fertile soil to grow produce. Other than from tourism, the village people around Bromo national park are mainly farmers. They grow mainly cabbage, onion, and corn.
cabbageonionandcornbarncemoro lawangeast javafarmgreenhouseindonesiaoneplusoneplus oneproduce
Onion Farming
It was late afternoon, so we saw only few people working on the farm.
onionFarmingbwblack and whitecemoro lawangeast javafarmfarmersfarmlandfogindonesiaoneplusoneplus onevillagework
Train of Jeeps Under the Moonlight
It was quite a busy morning, looking at the amount of traffic going through the thick fog and up the mountain road.
Visitors, using the hired jeeps, was heading up to the view points to witness the sunrise on the mountain first hand.
I could only imagine how it would look like during the peak season. That morning, some of the visitors started their ride at 2 am.TrainjeepsUnderthemoonlightbromocalderacloudeast javafogindonesialong exposuremorningstar trailsstarstenggertravel
Darkness Through the Fog and Ashes
It was few minutes after 4 am and the moon was almost full. The actual full moon was about a couple nights prior.
There were fog layers both above and below us. It was relatively quiet and cold morning. There were probably less than 20 people gather on this spot. Most of the visitors went to the higher view points.DarknessthroughthefogandAshesbromocalderacloudeast javaindonesialong exposuremoonlightmorningstarstenggertravel
Looking at Constellations Through the App
Prior to sunrise, fellow visitors learned about constellations using an app. I thought most people would already know this. It is nice to know that they now can enjoy stargazing aided by the app on their cellphone.
On the background is Mount Penanjakan. The highest view point, on top of the mountain, is located where the lights are.LookingConstellationsthroughtheAppblue skybromobukit cintaeast javaindonesialove hillmoonlightmorningmountainpenanjakantenggertouristtravel
Two Active Volcanoes
Mount Semeru joined Mount Bromo by puffing a tiny cloud, by comparison. Small volcano produces big and thick mess, and the big volcano makes a tiny bundle. The sky was clearer than the previous morning. So, we could see Semeru better that morning.
According to our guide, the view from the top of Mount Penanjakan was obstructed by fog. The visitors from the top eventually made a quick stop to our spot, before hurrying down to the caldera to go to Mount Bromo.TwoActiveVolcanoesashesbromocalderaeast javafogindonesiasemerutenggertravelvegetation
Fluffy Fog Blanket
With the sunlight, I could see that the fog was significantly thicker than the morning before. On the way up, we could hardly see the path around the mountain, as soon as we hit the base of the caldera.
It would be easy to get lost, if our driver/guide is not familiar with the area.FluffyfogBlanketbromocalderacemoro lawangeast javaindonesiatenggertravelvegetationmorningsunlight
Sunny with A Chance of Fog
The clearest photo of the mountains I could make from the trip. I might go to make another attempt some other opportunity.
I do have some ideas on the kind of photos I want to make, on top of the ones that I already have.SunnywithChancefogcalderacloudeast javaindonesiamountaintenggertravelvolcano
Lone Horseman
He might came in late, since there were a lot of horses for rent already.
The distance between the parking area to Mount Bromo looked, deceivingly, not that far. The sand and higher elevation made it tougher to walk the distance. I knew that from experience.
No horse ride for this guy. I was either too manly or too cheap, or both. Plus, I like to think that I gave the horse a break.LoneHorsemancalderaeast javafoghorseindonesiaridersandtenggertravel
Speedy Way to Go Around
Suprisingly, there were some motorcycles on the area. They were mostly regular bikes, not even considered a dirtbike. I saw less than a handfull dirtbikes while we were on the caldera.
I would say the bikes usually don't last very long, because of the environment they are operating in. Steep climb and sandy surface are not meant for regular road bikes.SpeedyWayAroundcalderaeast javafogindonesiamotorcycleridersandtenggertravel
Temple by the Volcano
No. It's not of a movie set. The locals are using the temple year round.
Obviously, it is deemed inaccessible during an eruption. But it was built and is maintained as a place of worship. I can see it can get repetitive to keep the ash out of the temple.templethevolcanoashescalderacloudeast javafogindonesiamountainsandtenggertravel
In a Hurry
The horses were far from a stallion, but they worked hard regardless.
There were probably at least 50 something horses avaialble that morning; carrying young and old for a fee.
I was offered $8 for a ride, near the parking area and down to $2 about 50 meters from the bottom of the stairs.
On our walk the previous day, we met with a local who owns one of these horses. His main income is from growing crops and supplemented by renting his horse to visitors by the mountain.horsebackhorseindonesiatraveltenggerbromocalderabwbnwblackandwhiteriderpanningspeedeast javaasia
It Is Almost Like Mordor
At the beginning, we weren't planning on climbing to the top. I also noticed the sign on the ticket booth that climbing Mount Bromo is prohibited because of the recent increased activity level. The others, who had arrived way earlier, went climbing the stairs to the top, so we just followed along.
Calamity and destruction forces have their own charm. That's probably why we can't look away from an accident. An active volcano is nothing different.
Don't Forget to Look Back
I was probably at the half way distance to Mount Bromo. A bit exhausted, out of breath, but it was hard to breath because of the thinner air.
The ground looked like it's out of this world; there's hardly any vegetation. If there's any, it's covered by volcanic ash. The air felt thin, but clean. It required more air to breath.
I took short break to catch a breath and looke back. The fog partially faded, burned away by the sun. While enjoying the view, I saw Mount Penanjakan on the top left where flock of people gathered to wacth the sunrise. Slightly to the left is King Kong Hill. It is about 2 hours hiking away from Cemoro Lawang.
Still on Earth
The environment was so foreign. Imagening it with much less gravity and atmosphere, it would feel like the surface of the moon.
It is too bad that we cannot stay there for long, exploring. We had to catch a ride to Probolinggo; last minute plan change to go to a different national park in East Java.
Mount Batok
Sitting right next to Mount Bromo, Mount Batok probably is outshined by its neighbour. Even though it's taller and has unique texture. From a distance, the mountain looks barren, but looking closer, it is actually covered by vegetation. The texture reminds me of the Devils Tower; another place I would like to visit.
Batok means coconut shell. It does somewhat look like a coconut shell, don't you think? The peak's elevation is at 2,470 m or 8,104 ft. It's no longer active.
Men's Best Friend
This is where the rides end, or started if you decided to ride the horse back to the parking area.
Most of these horses are Sumbawa's horses, not local. I don't see any sign of the horses are being used to grow crops. So they are probably mainly utilized to be rented to visitors. Some of the visitors probably won't make it this far without these horses.
So Close, But Yet Still So Far
AT this point, I decided that, no matter what, I will reach the top. We have walked this far to not gone to the top. It would be a regretful decision, if I didn't.
It was also my curiosity to see the big ball of fire behind this huge ruckus. Will it be a big pool of lava? Will it be a blob of volcanic mud?
The Final Push
It's either the thin air or being out of shape, the stairs looked shorter before.
Fortunately, the weather was clear and the sun was out. It would be harder to climb when it's dark and full smoke and ash. Good trekking shoes were a plus.
Even though there are stairs to the top, they were covered with ashes hence the steps were less pronounce. It was tricky to climb up; it was even worse on the way down.
View From the Top
What guard rail? I believe I can fly. It is probably faster rolling down the mountain than using the stairs. What do you think?
On a serious note, I am glad that I came to this place. It was an adventure that made me glad that I am alive. There are a lot of things to be grateful for. Things can get tough, but in the end, they will get better.
I am broke; had to borrow money for the trip, but I am still enjoying making and sharing these photos. I don't think I would stop doing it anytime soon either. I just need to find a way to make more trips and more photos.
Mount Bromo's Ash Machine
This is the belly of the beast. It was kind of a let down. I was expecting big fiery hole, full of molten liquid hell and destruction. I know, I should go out more.
The crater was just a dark hole with tons of ashes coming out of it. I didn't see any flame or glowing lava.
I did not walk further the narrow pathway, around the crater. I thought I inhaled some of the volcanic gases already; it wasn't pleasant. I did not want to make it worse.
Narrow Brink to Walk Around
It's not a safe place to be on. On one side, it is the mountain cliff and the other side, there is the crater. You don't want to fall off to either side.
When you are in these conditions, what would you have in mind? Selfie stick. Let me get my stick so other people had to walk around me and my stick, with the risk of them falling off of a mountain, so I can make a selfie to post on my Facebook. Do you have signal here?
I hate that thing.
