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.