So to start it all off I left my site on Friday around 7:30, got on a bus and went to Surabaya.. Met one of my most awesomest friends at the station and then we preceded to sit around for about a hour and a half waiting for two other people.. But it was nice being around a friend and someone who is American.. Haha.. Finally we went on our way to Probolinggo to meet two other volunteers and spend the night at one of their houses.. It was really fun having six of us be around each other after not seeing anyone really for 4 months.. Lots of laughs shared..
Around 9 on Saturday we packed up and headed to Bromo. We had to take a minibus up some twisty roads and even though we were going up-hill we still would speed around the curves.. I stopped looking out the window at one point because theres no guard rail so it kinda makes me nervous.. We were also packed like sardines. I think at one point there was like 20 people in this bus that really should only have had like 9.. it was interesting.. at one point someone was riding outside the bus hanging on through the window.. Only in Indonesia.. I can only imagine how fast the police would pull over a vehicle like that in the states.. Hah.. so after an hour we got to our hotel which was really awesome.. It was apparently started by a German woman and her Indonesia husband.. the eating area kinda reminded me of a place I ate at in Germany so I could see some of the European influences..
Anyways just some pictures so you get the idea.. We got to the hotel dumped out stuff and decided to go and see Bromo.. We didnt have much of a plan so we just started walking hoping that maybe we would be able to get a minibus to the top of the hill.. and man.. did I need one.. I have never felt more out of shape in my life then I did this weekend.. I think it had something to do with the air and being out of shape but I had to keep stopping.. Luckily everyone was a good sport and someone usually stopped with me.. It was a pretty tough walk at times.. The road would start to angle at like 45 degrees and it was tough..
So finally a minibus came and we traveled the last few kilometers to the entrance of the park.. It also happened to be the steepest part of the road so I was really happy we finally got a ride.. I would have had to turn back.. So I finally get my first glimpse of Bromo and it was awesome.. Everything is just COVERED in ash and it all looked grey and dead. Also got a nice history lesson from one of the boys who happens to be a vulcanologist.. This whole area used to be part of a GIANT volcano that was around hundreds and hundreds of years ago.. All the walls you see around Bromo happen to be old caldera walls of the previous volcano.. so everything inside used to be in the crater.. which happens to be a whole lot including the new(er) volcanoes (including Bromo). I have a video of him explaining it so hopefully I can get that up sometime because it was really interesting..
Below is the surrounding wall that used to be part of an ancient volcano..
So after this we walked back to out hotel had some dinner and went to bed. We had to wake up at like 3:30 this morning so we could catch the sunrise. I could not sleep a wink.. it was soooooo loud.. There were some people sitting outside chatting until like 11pm.. it was also extremely cold so it was a little hard falling asleep.. but finally morning arrived and some of us (not me) bundled up to make the journey to the viewing point.. I did not have any warm clothes so I doubled up on my tshirt and added a sweater.. It was a little chilly but it wasnt too bad.. Going up hill has a way of warming you up.. We had a jeep drive us to the start of the trail to the viewing point and from there it was ALLLLLLL uphill.. it was one of the most grueling hikes ive ever had.. I had to stop so many times and I felt bad that my friends had to wait for me.. But finally i made it to the top in time to watch the sunrise! It was so amazing even after the sun past the horizon.. Totally worth doing if you are ever in Indonesia..
So after the ardous hike up to the lookout point, we got back into the jeep and went down to the crater.. It was pretty awesome coming down into the sea of sand.. It is part of a very large crater created by the enormous extinct volcano and is currently filled with ash from the 'little' volcanoes that now are currently in the middle (ie Bromo).. So first we went and saw the temple that is close to the base of Bromo.. Its been there for close to around 500 years which is pretty neat. Its obvious that some additions have been made so its not all the original structure.. But then again its close to a volcano.. It turned out that there was something going on at the temple.. The main religion is Hinduism so it was interesting watching them pray and see the stuff going on at the temple.. After that we went to climb the crater.. Man that sucked..I had to stop several times.. The whole way up is just covered in sandy ash and its incredibly hard to walk in.. Finally we came to the stairs that led to the top of the crater.. Those were buried in ash and only rarely could you see the whole step.. To climb up you have to grip what was left of the railing and haul yourself up.. My friend Erin was in front of me and she kept trying to clear the steps by sweeping the ash to the side so that it was easier to walk up.. She is really like the older sister I never had.. Im soooo lucky :) Finally we made it to the top.. Pictures and words cant really describe just how awesome the view was.. just check out the pictures!
So thats pretty much it! Maybe one day you all can check it out!
love you all :)
Wow.. that looked exciting! I also found the pictures of Bromo "steaming" a little scary. I'm glad you had a good time, but we missed you at Homecoming! <3
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are awesome!
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