Surabaya - Ijen Crater - Mount Bromo

Mar 2014: We arrived at Surabaya Airport, feeling apprehensive about hiking on volcano. One of the volcanoes, Mt Kelud, near Surabaya just erupted last month (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26183880) and we were rather close to cancelling the trip. Surabaya was affected and the city was covered in ashes. It took 2 days for the ash to clear. 

The tour agency (Eco Adventures: http://www.adventures.com.sg) which helped us arrange the trek assured us that it would be safe to travel to Mt Bromo and would cancel the trek if there was a slightest danger. It was one month later that we arrived and this Indo city was already back to normal with business operating as usual.

Day 01 / Arrive Surabaya
We were welcomed by our guide at the airport and boarded a mini van specially arranged for us.

It took around 6.5 hours via Pasuruhan and Probolinggo regencies, through scenic landscapes until we reached Ijen plateau. We stayed overnight in the middle of caldera and world's famous coffee plantation in a comfortable and charming hotel called "Arabica" (build by the Dutch colonialist as the headquarters of the coffee plantation).

One of the houses at the coffee plantation, Very quiet and quaint area.

Day 02 / Ijen Summit
We awakened very early for our Mt. Ijen (2,400m) excursion. This volcano offers a savannah landscape, ruggedly beautiful panoramas, grand hiking, and a placid, brightly yellow crater-lake. Near the summit of Mt. Ijen is a gorgeous crater filled with a haunting turquoise-blue lake with its surface streaked in the wind blown patterns of yellow sulphur vapour. By the crater lake edge, there is an evil-smelling sulphur where local people digging and carrying 60-70 kgs on their bare shoulders for 2 miles ascending and descending the steep Mt. Ijen slopes. 

After Mt Ijen, we headed for Mt Bromo where we stayed overnight at the Lava View Lodge.

This is the livelihood of the people here. They transport the sulphur down the crater.

Baskets of sulphur

Breath-taking view of the crater

Our favourite Indomee Lunch

Day 03 / Mt Bromo

Again we rise early to transfer to Mt. Pananjakan (2,750m) by a 4WD. At this famous view-point located on rim of the Tengger caldera we watch the sunrise breaking over the volcano cones, including Mt. Bromo and an active Mt. Semeru in the background. The views are breathtaking. We continue across the sand sea to the active Mt. Bromo volcano and climb  the 245 steps to visit  the crater rim (2,500m). The 4WD will bring us back to the lodge for breakfast. At mid morning we drive to Malang City.

We were freezing cold waiting for the sunrise.

Beautiful sunrise

When the sun was up...

Our transport

These are the steps leading to the crater of Mt Bromo 

where the locals would pray and throw in flowers.

Mt Bromo in the background

 

I love this picture. It looks like a unicorn in paradise.

The 3 of us.

Day 04 / Malang - Surabaya 

We went to Malang after Mt Bromo and had a good night's sleep at the hotel.

The next morning, we went to the adjacent bird/flower market, town square, Pasar Besar, Eng Ang Kiong Chinese Temple, colonial architecture along Ijen boulevard. 

Flower market

After a short tour around Malang, we headed back to the Surabaya Airport and ready to set off home. Overall the trip was relaxing and not too tiring. It was a great trip for anyone who just want a short nature getaway.

Hanoi - Sapa

The train is rather small and narrow.
It was our first train ride in Vietnam.
Safe and comfortable as we had a
whole cabin to ourselves!

This was an overdue blog about my trip to Hanoi and Sapa in 2012. Sapa is always a destination which I reminisce about, always telling my friends that I will be back again to chill in Sapa.

We booked our package with http://www.vietnamculturetravel.com and left the planning to them.

Day 1 : We arrived at Hanoi airport in the afternoon and had to take a train from Hanoi Railway station B to Lao Cai as Sapa is at the north of Vietnam. As there was a delay in baggage collection that day due to the Chinese New Year peak season, the timing was just back to back. The train ride was an overnight one that I could remember was about 8 - 10 hours long. We reached Lao Cai train station in the wee hours of the morning. 

This was the restaurant which we had our breakfast,
it was very near the Lao Cai train station and
many tourists like us stop there for breakfast, lunch, etc.

Headed straight for breakfast when we met our guide there. He had spent his night waiting for us at the train station... tough job...

After breakfast, we headed to the Bac Ha market where it was bustling with activities among the locals. It was a Sunday and many were heading there to open their business to sell local produce.

After a walk around this market and simple lunch with tea, we headed direct to the guest house which is the Royal View Sapa Hotel to rest. The guesthouse provides sufficient amenities such as heated shower, bottled water, etc.

Day 2: We woke up early for breakfast. It's rather cold in Sapa but we were quite prepared with our jackets. Our guide fetched us and brought us to walk around the rice paddy fields and to interact with the Hmong tribes. We were asked to buy some of their handicrafts. We obliged as they said that their harvest for the year was poor so they needed money from the sale of their handicrafts to support their families.

The Hmong lady who was with me throughout the trek. She took care
 of us by making sure we walk safely.

Our guide at Sapa. Very funny guy.

The Hmong lady made this for me with a plant. So sweet of her!

The ladies waiting for us while we were busy taking pictures.

The breathtaking view of the rice paddy fields.

We finished the trek by lunch and headed back to the guesthouse and was ready to leave Sapa. Lunch was simple pho with some snacks and a drink. There were many fellow trekkers there as well.

It was a very short trip and we wished it was longer. That is why I always say I will return to Sapa again and maybe to stay for a longer time to get to know the small town better. It has such good weather, scenery and people.

Day 3: After that we took the same train back to Hanoi and spent one day at Hanoi.
We headed to the Kangaroo Cafe for breakfast. http://www.kangaroocafe.com

We walked around the streets in Hanoi and discovered a delicious dessert.

Hanoi has a very rustic feel and it's very relaxing just strolling on the streets and enjoying the food. Aside from the dessert, I had the beef pho as well.

We left for home the following day after spending a day in Hanoi.