A treacherous decent into the blue flames of Hell

Asia » Indonesia » Java » Ijen Plateau
May 20th 2015

Published: June 28th 2015

The name may not ring any bells but many people may have seen documentaries on Mt Ijen on TV. This active volcano is mined for its sulphur. Day in day out miners trek deep in the crater amongst the towering noxious fumes. Like most visitors to the volcano we ventured inside it at night to get a view of the hypnotic blue flames. Getting here was no easy feat. The infrastructure for doing such tour... Read Full Entry

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CrispyLife

mikesrtw

Hi we're Chris and P. We have quit our jobs and sold our house to follow our dream of travelling around the world for 12 months!!! Let’s jump back about 2 years - We're driving to P's friend’s house for an evening meal when she turns and says "I've been thinking..." And what a thought that was indeed. That thought turned into buying a dilapidated property and spending a total of 2 years 'doing it up' ourselves coupled with a new job and a wedding thrown into the mix for good measure. We even questioned ourselves at times on whether travelling would actually become a reality or be j... full info

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28th June 2015

A Small Swede in the Big World
Per-Olof Persson

Terrible
Those working conditions are not even remotely humane. It is an eye-opener to witness such things.

28th June 2015

mikesrtw
CrispyLife

Terrible
We agree. We cant even begin to imagine what sort of life they have!!

28th June 2015

mikesrtw
CrispyLife

Terrible
We agree. We cant even begin to imagine what sort of life they have!!

28th June 2015

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Difficult jobs
It is hard to see people working in those conditions. It would not surprise me to learn that these jobs pay well for the area and are coveted jobs. You've found another interesting hike.

29th June 2015

mikesrtw
CrispyLife

Difficult jobs
Yes it was certainly an eye opener of a hike. Challenging and sad to witness such conditions. Yes it may be a higher wage compared to other in the area but this was still very low. When we gave one guy a few rupia to take his picture his face lit up. He was soo happy. This reality of this really hit home with us.

28th June 2015

His shoulders were badly blistered from the gruelling work

taracloud
Tara Cloud

We are so lucky!
So many miners have such horrible conditions, except for the push-button miners in our countries. It's one thing to see the conditions in a documentary or to read about it, but quite another to see their back-breaking work and smell the overpowering sulfur, knowing their receive so little for their shortened lives. Thanks for the hard reporting!

29th June 2015

mikesrtw
CrispyLife

we are soo lucky!
It makes me embarrassed to be from a developed country not really knowing much about the conditions people work in to make certain products. Something we need to look into more.

29th June 2015

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

Glad you made it out in one piece...
Unscrupulous tour companies, a horrible hotel with dishonest staff, and exploited workers carrying sulphur rocks. :( And I think trip advisor seriously needs a review of that hotel with details of the masturbating guy… I have no words! Eww.

29th June 2015

mikesrtw
CrispyLife

making it out in one Piece
I agree. I am yet to upload my philippipines and Indonesia trip adviser reviews but this hotel review will be shameful. The rooms were filthy and local men roamed it going to public toilets with doors wide open. One of the worst places we have ever stayed. It's all a sham too as most tour agencies send people here even if people 'think' they have booked elsewhere with the tour agency :( Not pleasant at all.

29th June 2015

mikesrtw
CrispyLife

making it out in one piece
I agree. I am yet to upload my philippipines and Indonesia trip adviser reviews but this hotel review will be shameful. The rooms were filthy and local men roamed it going to public toilets with doors wide open. One of the worst places we have ever stayed. It's all a sham too as most tour agencies send people here even if people 'think' they have booked elsewhere with the tour agency :( Not pleasant at all.

29th June 2015

mikesrtw
CrispyLife

Making it out in one piece
I agree. I am yet to upload my philippipines and Indonesia trip adviser reviews but this hotel review will be shameful. The rooms were filthy and local men roamed it going to public toilets with doors wide open. One of the worst places we have ever stayed. It's all a sham too as most tour agencies send people here even if people 'think' they have booked elsewhere with the tour agency :( Not pleasant at all.

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A treacherous decent into the blue flames of Hell

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