MOUNT BROMO pt 1
MALANG - TUMPANG - CEMORO LAWANG
The journey itself just getting there nearly eclipsed the actual event,
after leaving my gear at Armyn Hotel, we set off in an angkot with only our backpacks. We changed angkots at another terminal and
this one took us through to the little town of Tumpang, where we were unable to
hire a scooter but got a lift on the back with 2 local ojek taxi guys.
That took us on the most incredible ride to Cemoro Lawang, a tiny village perched on the edge of the caldera at a height of around 2200 meters and the starting point for the Mt Bromo tours, i only wished i could have done the ride myself.
We left this bustling little market square and took off on the most amazing ride I have ever done. We wound our way through tight corners up into and over the mountains on tiny roads that sometimes disappeared leaving only paving or potholes to mark the way.
There was farmland and beautifully landscaped crops every way we looked when we weren't surrounded by thick jungle, where it did open up we seemed to be always peering over into a massive valley.
We passed small villages that almost seemed lost in time, it was some tough riding and the bikes were regularly only in the first 2 gears. The journey can be done in the comfort of jeep, but that would be too easy! You just wait at the markets in Tumpang until there are enough people to go.
The area had one more treat in store for us though, it was the reason i had chosen to go through Tumpang instead of Probolinggo, as is usually the case. We had crossed our final mountain and were heading down the other side into a vast valley, as the jungle cleared and we hit the bottom exit out into the valley floor I was speechless.
The view here was unlike anything I had encountered before and was literally breathtaking, the kind of beauty and tranquility that made me just pause and reflect on my life, but ultimately left me truly grateful I had chosen to come and witness nature at her finest.
My decision to explore the world and soak in her wonders was never more affirmed than at that moment on the scooter, taking in the sights that literally surrounded me.
We were crossing what would best be described as a flat open savannah, tall dry grass interspersed with some sort of wildflower lined our path and off to my right was a huge mountainous ridge, a valley rim that seemed endless and was the most lush green, towering above us.
In the distance to our left we could see the smoking, blackish grey volcano in the foreground, the other mountains of different colour and texture that surround it and the impressive Mt Semeru behind, towering above it all.
We followed the valley around, the lush ridge never leaving our side, until the grass gave way to a blackish grey desert of volcanic ash and sand, such contrasting scenery just added to the almost magical feel of the place. It is truly a spectacle to behold.
We hadn't even arrived yet and already I was in awe of this place, after crossing this wondrous valley we were back up another mountain and booking into our very basic accommodation for the night. The room was basic, and that's putting it mildly, but the price tag was not.
Expect to pay more than you are used to in Cemoro Lawang and don't stay longer than you have to, 1 night is plenty. We went for a stroll around the area then chilled out with a cold beer or 2 as the sun went down, dinner and a hot shower saw us retire to our room for a good night's sleep before the ungodly wake-up call at 3am the next morning.
That took us on the most incredible ride to Cemoro Lawang, a tiny village perched on the edge of the caldera at a height of around 2200 meters and the starting point for the Mt Bromo tours, i only wished i could have done the ride myself.
We left this bustling little market square and took off on the most amazing ride I have ever done. We wound our way through tight corners up into and over the mountains on tiny roads that sometimes disappeared leaving only paving or potholes to mark the way.
There was farmland and beautifully landscaped crops every way we looked when we weren't surrounded by thick jungle, where it did open up we seemed to be always peering over into a massive valley.
We passed small villages that almost seemed lost in time, it was some tough riding and the bikes were regularly only in the first 2 gears. The journey can be done in the comfort of jeep, but that would be too easy! You just wait at the markets in Tumpang until there are enough people to go.
The area had one more treat in store for us though, it was the reason i had chosen to go through Tumpang instead of Probolinggo, as is usually the case. We had crossed our final mountain and were heading down the other side into a vast valley, as the jungle cleared and we hit the bottom exit out into the valley floor I was speechless.
The view here was unlike anything I had encountered before and was literally breathtaking, the kind of beauty and tranquility that made me just pause and reflect on my life, but ultimately left me truly grateful I had chosen to come and witness nature at her finest.
My decision to explore the world and soak in her wonders was never more affirmed than at that moment on the scooter, taking in the sights that literally surrounded me.
We were crossing what would best be described as a flat open savannah, tall dry grass interspersed with some sort of wildflower lined our path and off to my right was a huge mountainous ridge, a valley rim that seemed endless and was the most lush green, towering above us.
In the distance to our left we could see the smoking, blackish grey volcano in the foreground, the other mountains of different colour and texture that surround it and the impressive Mt Semeru behind, towering above it all.
We followed the valley around, the lush ridge never leaving our side, until the grass gave way to a blackish grey desert of volcanic ash and sand, such contrasting scenery just added to the almost magical feel of the place. It is truly a spectacle to behold.
We hadn't even arrived yet and already I was in awe of this place, after crossing this wondrous valley we were back up another mountain and booking into our very basic accommodation for the night. The room was basic, and that's putting it mildly, but the price tag was not.
Expect to pay more than you are used to in Cemoro Lawang and don't stay longer than you have to, 1 night is plenty. We went for a stroll around the area then chilled out with a cold beer or 2 as the sun went down, dinner and a hot shower saw us retire to our room for a good night's sleep before the ungodly wake-up call at 3am the next morning.
