ASIA Liana: 1/23 Malang, Bromo, Even Ijen! (Java/Indonesia)

We arrived in Malang at 8am, desperate for a SHOWER and FOOD. Thanks to the friendly locals there, we ended up at a wonderful backpacker/hostel (Kampong Tourist) that offered us free showers. We had our first banana pancakes here (for 25,000 rph / $2.50 with fruit salad and coffee/tea!!) - and eased our exhaustion with some relaxation :)

After Malang, we continued to Probolinggo via bus...

Karaoke on the bus to Probolinggo...why not

Then from Probolinggo, we were to take a taxi to Cemoro Lawang. However, the drivers would not leave until we had a full car. So we goofed off until we found more passengers to join us. In the end, we were still unable to fill the car, so each passenger paid 50,000 ($5) instead of 25,000 ($2.50) to avoid an all-night wait :(

Waiting...

Waiting....

Photo op with Indonesian military men :).... while waiting...

Rawrrr... still waiting...

Waiting...

... and when we finally made it to Cermoro Lawang for an anticipated viewing of the sunrise over Mt.Bromo we were greeted by this...

We hiked through wind, rain and cold temperatures to watch the FOG :(

Nothing to see here..

But "if you are patient, you will see some great things..." so we walked some more...

Looking for Mt. Bromo

I felt like Le Petit Prince

4-5 hours later, we found Mt. Bromo! Our early morning hiking almost left me too tired to make it to the top. But Clement pushed me... and we made it. In the end we had hiked for ~6 hours before 10am!!

On y va!

Hey champ!

After Mt. Bromo we took a taxi back to Probolinggo and then continued to Sempol for Ijen..

Beautiful garden in our homestay in Sempol

Time to pray! Throughout the day Mosques blare prayers through the megaphones for the whole town/village/city to hear. I find it really nice :)

Garbage is a huge problem in Indonesia but they are making some headway...

Sunset over fishing ponds and strawberry fields

The following morning (after waking up at 4am), we rose at 1am to visit the Ijen volcano complex!!! The Ijen volcano itself has a 1-km wide turquoise-colored acid lake... and is the site of a VERY labor-intensive sulfur mining operation... [Wikipedia]

So sleepy....

A very strenuous hike - we hold hands :)

Almost 3am...

The EPITOME of Manual Labor!!

Blue Fires at the mines - as beautiful as they are dangerous. Only visible at night

Tourists are not allowed near the mining areas, any one who approaches the fires does so at their own risk. Our group couldn't pass on the photo op... and to be sure, we learned a lesson. Mother Nature is not to be taken lightly....The winds changed during our "photo shoot" and we got caught in noxious fumes... it was a terrible ordeal that burned our eyes and throats. Luckily, we survived and recovered...