The unexpected trip. It was a pop up trip which actually my heart is not on with, but it is not me if I am not taking the opportunity.

Day 1 :

Arrived in Surabaya around 20.30 PM, then head up to Purabaya bus station in Surabaya. Caught “Damri Bus” from airport to Purabaya it cost Rp. 15.000 and took about 45 mnts. From Purabaya I (we) need to go to Probolinggo, there’re 2 types of buses, an economic bus which doesn’t have aircond and it cost about Rp.15.000 or bus with aircond which probably cost around Rp. 30.000. Trip from Purabaya to Probolinggo will take around 3 hrs. I (we) decided to go with an economic bus because the aircond bus will going to Probolinggo around 12:00 AM, and I (we) afraid that I (we)‘re late to see the sunrise in Bromo/Panajakan. Yes, I (we)’re going to Bromo. Around 1.30 am I (we) arrived at Probolinggo, the city already slept and no “angkot” to drop me (us) to Ngadisari terminal bus. A young man came thru me (us) and offering a car rental to guide and looking around to Panajakan and Bromo mount, he said it will take cost around Rp.600.000 return from Probolinggo bus station, Panajakan to see the sunrise, and Bromo mountain and back to Probolinggo.  As I (we) had a plan to stay in Bromo we tried another dealing price and itinerary.

For Info, there’re 2 ways to catch up sunrise :

1. From Probolinggo head up to Ngadisari with yellow angkot at it will cost you around Rp. 25.000, it’s expensive huh for an angkot well probably it is rate for a tourist. Probolinggo to Ngadisari around 1 hrs trip. From Ngadisari terminal bus then we need to catch up another bus to Cemoro Lawang the edge of the caldera and it will took around 45 mnts.
2. From Probolinggo rent a car and it will cost around Rp.250.000 per/car direct to Cemoro Lawang. The car is a colt diesel car which fit for 12 passengers.

According to Pak Maksum (the driver and tour guide) if we don’t have a plan to stay at Bromo better use his service, take around Rp. 600.000 return from Probolinggo bus station, Panajakan to see the sunrise, and Bromo mountain and back to Probolinggo. Instead of going from Ngadisari he will go from Pasuruan and other places that quite difficult for me to remember the place’s name at 1.30 am.

“Pak Maksum, I (we) want to stay at Bromo, and now is 1.30 am and no angkot so what’s your best deal for us ? “ Pak Maksum said : “Ok we drop you to Cemoro Lawang and it cost for Rp.250.000 one way only”. Fine!

Day 2 :

Arrived at Cemoro Lawang around 2 am, during the way from Probolinggo to Cemoro Lawang Pak Maksum said if I (we) wanna go for sunrise he could arrange it for me (us). He said if join with a group it will cost Rp. 90.000 per person, if charter anther car (Jeep with 4 wheel drive) it will cost Rp. 275.000 round trip (Cemoro Lawang, Panajakan, Bromo and back to Cemoro Lawang). Jeep capacity for around 5 persons, excluding the driver. Another no choice condition in regard of no join group I (we) need to charter one jeep.

Yep, unfortunately I (we) arrived in Cemoro Lawang after a darkest way and cold weather and highway road. Jeep will ready on 3.15 am. I (we) looked around for the hotel in Cemoro Lawang, and no hotel / hostel that suitable with friend’s requirement which probably wishing a JW Marriot or Sheraton build on that area. All hotels that Pak Maksum showed to me (us) were a small rooms and sharing shower room. I remember that 15yrs ago I went to Bromo with my family there’s a hotel that good enough, clean bed room, private shower and hot water, but I forgot the hotel’s name. Hei, it was 3 am in the very early morning and I (we) have no chance to craving a good hotel, which it means if I (we) quite patient to wait until 9 am and look around to find the hotel there I believe will get the hotels there. Base on literature I read there’s a good hotel over there name : café lava hostel (p: 0335541020), cemara indah hotel (p: 0335541019), hotel bromo permai I (p: 0335541021) and lava view lodge (p: 0335541009 or globaladventure@indo.net.id).

Here I (we) go for the sunrise, jeep was taking us at 3.15 am. Paid around Rp. 15.000 at the gate to enter to Bromo area (for 2 person and 1 jeep car, driver no need to pay. I assumed they have a frequent flyer to be deduct on their points .. hehehhe). It’s amazing road along the way to Panajakan, I (we) surrounded by cliff and canyon, don’t worry about the car or driver, they earn the money from it, sure they’re the expert one to handle the road and condition. It was a burnt forest there thus I could smell and see the burning trees. I was asking to driver if he is a native Tengger people and Hindu as his believed. And trying to get more information about Tengger’s life, then suddenly I heard someone asking .. What is Tengger ? I tried for a quick respond of the question with short answer, which I haven’t much knowledge about Tengger.

For your INFO : The Tenggerese speak an archaic Javanese (Majapahit) dialect called Tengger. Elements of modern Javanese influences can be seen in their speech. They have their own written Kavi script based on the old Javanese Brahmi type. he Tenggerese generally profess Hinduism as their religion, although they have incorporated many Buddhist and Animist elements. Like the Balinese, they worship Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wasa (Roughly "Big Almighty Lord") for blessings in addition to other Hindu and Buddhist gods that include the Tri Murti, namely Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu and Buddha. Their places of worship include the Punden, Poten and Danyang. The Poten is a sacred area of ground at Mt. Bromo's Sand sea, and becomes the focus of the annual Kasada Ceremony. Within the Poten, it contains several buildings and enclosures, arranged in a specific composition called the Mandalas (Zones). (source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenggerese).

Another comments from mouth : “so they’re religion is Hindu ? “ … “so they’re language is not Java ?” …

4 am at Panajakan with 12” Celsius, the wind blow and created a weird sound passing thru the pine trees .. woaaahh .. so cold. Was amazing scenery for me sunrise at Panajakan you could see Semeru mount, Bromo mount, Batok mount and the city from above. I took much pictures there, I wish I have dslr L hiks, with wide angle lens .. hiks L. I (we) spent 1.5 hrs there, by around 5.30 am I (we) went down and got a shelter at warong. Friend trying to bargain the price of “Jagung bakar” (grilled corn). The seller was offering for Rp. 5.000 per piece and my friend struggle with Rp. 3.000 per piece. While drinking a hot STMJ (milk with ginger) and put my numb hand on the small stove I heard friend’s story telling how the Bromo is not pretty good compare to Swiss and not that pretty cold, as s(he) at the past usually ran away in the middle of snowy days without cloth. And heard dealing price for Bromo’s shirts. The seller offering Rp.50.000 and the consumer dealing 2 shirts for Rp.50.000, while the consumer continuing her(his) story telling about her(his) European trip. The seller which Tenggerese  cannot stop laughing hearing the comment saying Bromo is not that cold.   

Around 6 am I (we) arrive at Bromo. You could walk to catch Bromo’s caldron or using horse and will cost Rp.100.000 round trip, park area to Bromo’s caldron back to park area. Off course I use horse rather then walk though I need to climb at the “Tanjakan Setan” to reach top of the mountain to see the Bromo’s caldron. My friend prefers to stay at Jeep, afraid to get sick to climb it. I only spend 15 mnt at Bromo’s caldron, strong smell of sulfur make me coughing. Then back to park area with horse. Heih I just realized that my friend jumping to the horse even though not climb to see Bromo’s caldron.

Back to Cemoro Lawang still dealing if we could stay around Bromo, but then I (we) catch up colt bus going to Probolinggo and it cost Rp, 25.000 if not mistaken or mayve Rp. 35.000 per person, join with local passenger and this was a moment that should I catch with my camera but I loose a good moment. I saw an old man holding his goat and tight up his goat then put it on the top of the colt. … (*norak ya gue, gitu aja ternganga-nganga), around 11 am I (we) arrived again at Probolinggo and get an economic bus going to Surabaya. In the middle of the intersection I saw way to Malang, once again I tried to bargain if we could stay at Malang.

What is in Malang ? here is a lil literature :

Balekambang Beaches, (about 30 km south of Malang). There are actually three beaches here: Balekambang, Ngliyep and Sendangbiru. All three are quite beautiful, are close by to each other and locals most often refer to all 3 as just Balekambang. It is best to visit on weekdays as this is a very popular weekend escape and it can get get crowded. It is not safe to swim here but these are great relaxation beaches relax which offer some stunning coastal scenery. There is a offshore island called Pulau Simpu which can be visited by chartering a boat from Sedangbiru beach. At Balekambang beach there are three little islets just offshore which are attached to the beach by walkways. Of the three beaches, Balekambang itself is perhaps the most attractive but all three ar worth visiting. The beaches are easily day-tripped from Malang in a car but for the adventurous there are basic places to stay at and around all three. Rp 10,000. 

Ijen Boulevard, Malang. This is a quite beautiful street in the city. It is lined with well tended bougainvillea against a backdrop of old colonial structures. The street houses a number of interesting buildings including the Brawijaya Army Museum, Immanual Catholic Church and the city library. You should take in this area as part of a becak or walking tour of the historic downtown area. 

Pandepokan Seni Mangun Dharma (Mangun Dharma Art Center), Desa Tulus Besar Tumpang, Malang 65156, ☎ +62 341 787907 (psmd@indo.net.id), [4]. Arts centre dedicated to the research, promotion and performance of traditional East Javanese artforms including dance, batik, shadow puppetry and carving. Superb place.

Purwodadi Botanical Gardens (Kebun Raya Purwodadi, Pasuruan), Jl Raya Purwodadi (about 20 km north of Malang), (kriblipi@bogor.wasantara.net.id), [5]. Opened in 1941, This is one of the four official botanical gardens in Indonesia (the others being the headquarters at Bogor, Bedugul in Bali and Cibodas in West Java. The 85 hectares of gardens house an impressive collection and the splendid Baung waterfall. 

Singosari Temple (Candi Singosari), Singosari, Malang (about 12km north from Malang). This well preserved Hindu temple dates from 1300AD and is a reminder of the great Hindu kingdoms that ruled East Java before the arrival of Islam.

Taman Rekreasi Senaputra (Senaputra Park), Jalan Brawijaya, Malang. Traditional East Java dances every Sunday morning at 10.00AM in the park during the dry season only. Every last Wednesday of the month there is a Wayang Kulit shadow puppet show starting at 10.00PM (source : http://wikitravel.org/en/Malang), more interesting then Surabaya for me.

Long the way to Surabaya, I called up to Kaha travel agent (p: 0315485500/08113490579 – Jl. Gubernur Suryo No.1, one area with hotel Inna Simpang, near to Tujungan Plaza) in Surabaya to get a best deal of mid range hotel rooms. They’re offering Rp.465.000 including b’fast single bedroom at Tujungan Hotel and Rp. 340.000 including b’fast single bedroom at Ibis Rajawali. For sure I choose Ibis Rajawali (Jl. Rajawali No 9-11 - 60175 - SURABAYA - INDONESIA

Tel : (+62)31/3539994 - Booking by phone : (+62)31/3545064 – in front of Jembatan Merah Plaza).

Get lunch at Purabaya bus station in Surabaya, I was concerned to get Pusaka Biru / Blue Bird taxi then the other taxi, while friend catch up another taxi cost Rp. 50.000 from Purabaya to Tujungan Plaza. Pretend to get die along the way from Purabaya to Tujungan, I heard another story telling about how to be good, humble, down to earth life, and how the life of a rich descent.

Absolutely infront of Tujungan Plaza the taxi driver is ready to kick us from his car, while I (we) bagging to drop us to Kaha Travel.

Around 14.30 PM get checked in at Ibis Rajawali hotel, then I rushed went to my room, showering then sleep until 18:00 PM, hopeless to get around Surabaya. Actually I have a friend in Surabaya which I could drop him a message in his facebook but I didn’t, just don’t wanna bother you.

18:00 PM, dinner bell rang. Taxi driver dropped to Jl. Ampel for me (us) grabbing soto or gulai kikil kambing and satay .. yummy, then round to Gwalk until 22:00 PM.

Back to Hotel.

Day 3 :

No more story just wishing to get home as soon.