Current location : Gattières, France

 12/Mar/09 to 15/Mar/09 : from Surabaya up to Mt. Bromo, East Java

A rare sight : 2 active volcanoes in close proximity. Clockwise from left is Mt. Bromo  2329mtrs, Mt. Semeru 3676mtrs (highest mountain on Java), and the dormant Mt. Batok in the foreground.

Since the start of my trail to Australia, I’ve criss-crossed different landscapes - from deserts to mountains to jungles - but never got anywhere near to volcanoes. When the ferry from Kalimantan let me off late afternoon in Surabaya port, Java, suddenly I was in Volcano Country - there’re more than 40 volcanoes on the island of Java, at least 20 are considered active, and these actives ones don’t seem too far away …. according to my map. It’ll be a shame to ride pass it - it’ll be like “going to Paris without seeing Eiffel Tower”. Bali can wait.

Guess which is my horse ?

Meanwhile, riding on Java’s main trunk roads is similar to riding in India. It took 2 hrs to get to the eastern outskirts of Surabaya city, another 2-1/2 hrs in the early nightfall zig-zagging between long queues of trucks : total 4-1/2 hrs for 150km covered to get to Probolinggo. Tired.

Yes, I like to ride up there

Next day, I turned towards eastern Java’s Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, where Mt. Bromo is located. The Tengger people, with their fascinating cultural history and their Hindu religion roots, live here on the fertile highlands. These are very friendly and simple farming folks. What’s amazing are the sights of unending hill slopes of vegetable plots, the slow pace of life and the spectacular views of the trio Mt. Bromo, Mt. Semeru, Mt. Batok from the village of Cemoro Lawang at the edge of the caldera.

Kicking up sand in the caldera

Mt. Bromo is a beautiful active volcano - quite stunning against a clear morning sky. I couldn’t help but enjoy rambling around its “sea-of-sand”, even up to the crater (well, almost) during my 3 days stay. I like this place … well worth a re-visit in the future … if it doesn’t blow off its top (the crater is currently off limits to visitors due to high seismic activity).

Time out with fellow travellers

More pics below

 

Boat companions, Pak Wahyu and his family, on our 18hrs ferry trip from Banjarmasin to Surabaya, Java Island

From 10/Mar/09 to 11/Mar/09 : Banjarmasin to Surabaya on RoRo ferry
The 2 days ride across quiet country roads of S. Kalimantan took me into its busy provincial capital of BanjarMasin. It’s a city built on a delta island, […]

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Current location : Gattières, France

This is the kind of quiet country road of South Kalimantan that greeted me. Loved it.

From 07/Mar/09 to 10/Mar/09 : ride from Samarinda to Banjarmasin

Eight days passed since we (Kuda & I) entered Indonesia’s East Kalimantan on a fishing boat. We encountered more successive “adventures” (or in simple word, meaning difficulties) […]

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Current location : Gattières, France
2nd day midnight : this heavy truck could not get out despite being pulled by 2 other trucks simultaneously. The road is blocked. We spent our 2nd evening here … Iwan, the driver of the truck I hitched a ride with, had wanted to drive all night. 

03/Mar/09 to 06/Mar/09 : From Berau to Sangatta, E. Kalimantan
Must remember […]

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Current location : Gattières, France
Putting so much faith on an old winch with rusted thin wire produced cold sweat on my palms.

From 28/Feb/09 to 03/Mar/09
28/Feb/09. Just before dawn, the shadow of Tarakan island and its flickering lights in the horizon slowly came into view. In the low tide, Captain Nadi guided the KM Slalu Ada, without […]

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Current Location : Gattières, France
Last entry date : 08/Jun/09 
Off we sailed on 27/Feb/09 evening towards the Indonesian port of Tarakan on the fishing boat KM Slalu Ada. The captain annonced the weather looks fine for the ride.
 

From 24/Feb/09 to 27/Feb/09
Up till now, armed with a valid passport & visa, Carnet de Passage and info from […]

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Current Location : Perth, Australia
Last entry date : 26/Apr/09
Sunday market at Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu, capital city of Sabah.
From 19/Feb/09 to 27/Feb/09
…. enjoy the photos
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Current Location : Perth, Australia
Last entry date : 25/Apr/09
This cute little fella is Jarvis Leow. And he is ready to play !!
From 07/Feb/09 to 19/Feb/09
…  enjoy the photos, will fill in the travel tales soon
[Show as slideshow]

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Current Location : Perth, Australia
Last entry date : 18/Apr/09
On way to visit the Sleeping Buddha inside a Temple cave above a bay north of Prachuap Khirikhan.
From 30/Jan/09 to 06/Feb/09
…. enjoy the photos, will fill in the travel tales soon
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Current Location : Melbourne, Australia
Last entry date : 03/Apr/09
Hello … from Vang Viang !!
From 28/Jan/09 to 30/Jan/09
 … enjoy the photos, will fill in travel tales as soon as possible (… still working on how to get this done quickly while out on the road).
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