18. SUNRISE OVER MOUNT BROMO

HILLMAN INDONESIA ADVENTURE
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18. SUNRISE OVER MOUNT BROMO
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*** At Malang train station we were picked up by SUVS from Ngadas,
the village high on a volcanic slope where our homestay is located.
Rain is frequent in this part of the world and it makes for lush vegetation.
The man with the umbrella is a common sight (not necessarily with umbrella) for traffic control.
They don't work for anyone, just a job when nothing else is available.
They have whistles to direct traffic and are quite useful when trying to get into traffic from a side street, making turns, etc.
The driver is expected to slip over a tip as he's driving by.
The controller CAN make a good sum at busy intersections.
Not only do we hear these whistles,
but also the constant honking when vehicles are trying to pass us or are wanting to pass another.
*** As we crossed over a bridge, we saw blue houses on both shores: Smurf Village!

*** Trying to keep out the heavy rain.
Brushes and brooms are made of what are often long peeled bamboo?
Quite durable, and we often heard the "swooshing, scrapping" sounds
made by workers while cleaning hotel facilities.
*** Bamboo being put to good use.
*** Another example of local architecture.
These kids of colours are common - vibrant greens, aqua blue, bright yellow, orange...
. .

*** Not far from Ngadas, we were stalled by a truck loaded with vegetables.
It was too heavy and couldn't make it up the mountain's steep, winding road and wee couldn't pass.
There were several vehicles stopped, but motor bikes zipped in and out and continued on their way.
Jeeps were sent and unloaded some of the cargo.
The truck was finally able to move to the side (precarious edge!),
and we were able to continue to the village.
*** Can Mighty Will push the truck out of the way?!
. .

Our Ngadas Homestay
*** The amazing guest house, such a contrast to the more rural standards we have seen.
Four of us shared the house.
Our room is on the ground floor, while two fellow travellers shared the 2nd floor.
*** Our sitting room / lounge.
*** What a staircase!
*** Our dinner prepared by one of the hostesses.
. .

Our supper: chicken, rice, soup, corn fritters, beansprouts and noodles, watermelon.
Simple but good.
.

There was a late-night snack put out for us
but we had to turn in early, as we were to leave at 3 AM
for a Jeep journey down into the volcano crater,
across the Sea of Sand caldera bottom and up to the top of the far rim to see the sunrise.

TO MOUNT BROMO
Wish we had photos of the sanddune-like roads we had travelled across the caldera,
but it was 3 am, dark, and the road was too rough!
We thought we'd be early arrivals but
driving in the dark up to the rim viewing area we passed scores of parked Jeeps
that had transported locals and tourists who were all eager to see the famous event.
This seems to be a nightly ritual and there were people everywhere waiting for the rise of Sol.
.

Obviously a flash would be required for awhile
Temps on the higher altitude Bromo lookout location were chilly
so this was Bill's one chance to wear his Jeep jacket that he'd imported from China.
He even attached the removable sleeves to the vest.
. .

selling blankets, cushions, crafts, treats, etc.
Hawkers roamed through the crowd with flashlights. . .
selling flower "arrangements", blankets, foam pads, toques, treats, and souvenirs
for people who were waiting for sunrise.
. .

This morning's sunrise over the volcanoes in Bromo's crater was a bit of a disappointment
since it was blocked somewhat by cloud cover and fog.
It was almost like being in an airplane flying over the clouds.
We took many photos, but most of them have been shuttled over to our Outtakes page.
.

*** Bill, the Sun God :) . . . "Here comes the sun. . . "
*** It was a surreal feeling to be above many of the clouds.
*** It was hard to make out the volcanos below at first
but after about an hour they started to take shape in the rising sun.
. .