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Published: December 29th 2014
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Gilmanuk, Bali
From Lovina to Gilmanuk by local bus The start of my new weeks blog.Today we are traveling to Probalinga and on to Samera Lewak by train, to climb Mount Bromo which is suppose to be one of Java's most scenic volcanos. We also are winging it today on accommodation as we really don't know what to expect. The scenery on the train as we past by villages and various sorts of farming, mostly rice paddies workers now are harvesting the rice no doubt back breaking work. The rivers and streams always have children playing and bathing and adults doing the daily wash or dishes life seems pretty uncomplicated for these country folk. They seem quite content with life, a few satellite dishes scattered in towns (maybe they are watching neighbours)........ Passing though jungles which also have been put to use as they are growing bananas and fruit.
.............Well Christmas. Day has passed and its been four days in which I haven't written any accounts of our travels down, so shall catch up, We finally arrived at Mount Bromo after a hellish ride from Probalingo we checked out a few of the Home Stay abodes and finally booked into 5 star hotel. I should have taken pictures but no
Mt Bromo, Java
The volcano crater before 5am one would ever come to Mount Bromo and remember we weren't here for the accommodation but the experience,which we knew that it was pretty rough so that probably why we had not booked anything.We had been chatting to a local land cruiser guide in the evening and he gave us a few tips on the walking tracks down into the dead crater. Around
5am in the morning we walked down to the dead crater and through to the centre till we got to the foot of the active crater then climbed to the top,May I add, that we saw no one else on foot every one else took jeep or rode a pony's, we must of climbed 500 hundred steps for the final leg, It was amazing and kind of scary too we saw a few young and stupid walking around the rim of the live crater with just a foot either side they would have been dead if fallen. After we returned to the hotel and a very cold shower (as their was no hot water) and a noodle breakfast we were on the road again back down to Probalingo and to the 12 hour bus ride to Yogyakart......Arrived
Mt Bromo, Java
Just before climbing down into the dead crater in Yogyakarta around
1am in the morning so we just crashed. Woke to the sounds of hustle and bustle of cars bikes trains,thousand of people had descended on this town. Apart from being the cultural hub of Java it was Christmas and also a HIndu Festival thousand lined the streets eating, buying souvenirs of Batiks, Art and local sweets and pastries We visited the Sultans Palace and Museum and the Dutch barracks. Thank god for the Dutch.who built these barracks it's been are saving grace this place apart from our hotel were we can escape from the multitudes of people.Each at the opposite sides of town which is great, quiet hotel and quiet barracks with a lovely little cafe which servers food also, and is always empty but we aren't telling any about it. On Christmas Day we went to the Prambanam Temple it's no Angor Watt but just as spectacular in its own way,very interesting that two religions co existed even 1400 hundred year ago Hindu and Buddhist could have e temples that were together. They are set in acres of beautiful gardens which you can wander around we walk for hours before we caught the local bus back
Mt Bromo, Java
Mist lifting to expose the old volcano to the Barracks for Christmas LunchBoxing Day and we took three local buses out to Borobudur Budhist Temple The largest Budhist temple in the world. Which was found by Sir Thomas Raffles covered in jungle and had not been used for 700 years and no one knew why the had stopped using it . We had great fun on the way back the bus driver decided to take us back the scenic route and we passed through farms and hills and pot hole s I must have left my seat half a dozen time with Glen holding on to my pants so I wouldn't fly out of the door.. .
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Susan
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Looks like you are having the trip of a lifetime. I'm jealous ;-)