...Countless travelogues from those who have experienced volcanoes often mention Mount Bromo in Indonesia, which is known as the breath of the gods. And the accompanying wonder is the blue flame that still burns, inviting the brave to come and experience it.......ahem..accept the invitation.

5 days of living with someone I've never met before, but it turned out to be fun and laughter in every moment.

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The rough itinerary we had planned, but when the actual time came, it went wrong in many ways due to many factors. This caused our trip to change as follows:

June 1, 2016: Departing in the afternoon, heading to Surabaya Airport. The agent picked me up at the airport and immediately went to Bromo.

June 2, 2016: Enjoy the view at Penajakarn Peak, followed by climbing up the crater of Mount Bromo, then down to the savanna grassland, whisper sand and travel to Kawah Ijen

June 3, 2016: Trekking to see the Blue Flame and the lake, then traveling on to the city of Malang.

June 4, 2016: Whitewater rafting at Kasembon instead of visiting the waterfall. Travel back to soak up the atmosphere of local food in Surabaya.

June 5, 2016: Packed my bags and returned to Thailand.

Agency

After negotiating with a few agents, the lottery fell on Arif for 1,700,000 RP excluding food, which I later compared with friends who went to another group.

I think it's better not to choose the meals, because we can choose the restaurant and the style of food we want. We can even eat luxuriously if we want. But if we include the meals in the price, the agent will try to take us to places that are not very good.

Booking flight

Thanks to booking in advance, I got a round-trip ticket for 3770 baht.

BKK -> SUB [ Air Asia ] 3:50 PM - 7:50 PM

SUB -> BKK [ Air Asia ] 11.10 - 15.10

SUB -> BKK [ Air Asia ] October 11 - October 15

Preparation before traveling and what is necessary

1) Two backpacks: leave the large backpack in the car, and carry the small backpack with water and other necessities while hiking up the mountain.

2) Sneakers, sandals

3) Pack clothes as needed, as you won't be carrying them up the mountain. Don't forget to bring a towel, as the hotel doesn't provide one.

4) Kawaii-chan's winter coat is thick and warm for the cold nights.

5) Pack a raincoat just in case.

6) Sun hat, winter hat

7) Buff

8) Sunglasses, preferably sporty ones, as Bromo has a lot of dust and sand.

9) Artificial tears or eye wash solution, used for eye irritation from smoke.

10) Gloves, socks

11) Headlamp or portable flashlight, as you will be hiking up Kawa Ijen in the dark.

12) Sunscreen

13) Over-the-counter medications: massage cream for people who don't hike often, motion sickness medication for people who get carsick easily.

14) The camera captures the Milky Way very clearly. Be sure to bring cleaning supplies, you'll definitely need them after visiting Bromo.

15) Power bank is a must-have because you'll be spending most of your time in the car.

16) Round extension cord, extension cord

17) A smoke mask, buying one for around two hundred baht is enough.

18) Neck pillow As I said, most of the time is in the car, so you can sleep comfortably.

19) Trekking poles are helpful for the ascent and descent, but they are not essential as the trail is not too challenging.

20) Foreign insurance

21) You can exchange money for Rp or USD.
After clearing the work, the red line is cut before boarding the plane. Throw all the burdens in Thailand and soar into the sky far away.

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Upon arrival at Surabaya Airport, the agent sent a driver to pick us up. This driver became both our driver and guide throughout the trip.

We were a group of 11 people in total, and the agent arranged a large van that had enough space for all of us. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures to show off because I was careless. I thought I would take them on the last day before we left, but there was a falling out during the trip, which caused us to part ways early.

Our first mission was to buy a Sim card for sharing the internet to play with. It took a while to understand each other because we went to a local shop. Luckily, someone nearby who could speak English came to help us explain. So we got a 5GB net sim for 65,000 rp. It's a good idea to buy one because the hotel's wifi is very bad. While we were in the car each day, we could play on the internet to relieve boredom.

Our guide, P'Yan, asked us what we wanted to eat. For our first meal, we had to try the local specialty, chicken satay. However, as the restaurants in this area close before 10pm, P'Yan had to take us to a roadside stall. The conditions were as you can see, but this stall was special because it had delicious and juicy goat satay.

With over a hundred orders, the lone chef was overwhelmed, leaving customers waiting impatiently. They could only watch enviously as other diners enjoyed their meals.

After a satisfying meal, we headed towards Bromo. We dozed off and woke up in the car until we arrived at our destination. We had to switch to Jeeps here because there were 11 of us, so we had to split into two teams. We would be going to separate viewpoints in different Jeeps.

Penajakarn 1 and 2, one of which will be a view that most people go to, while the second one requires a hike of about one kilometer. Some friends who have been here before want to go there. Personally, since this is my first time here, I have to go to the first spot.

The Jeeps snaked up the mountain, revving their engines. They overtook each other playfully, or perhaps with genuine animosity, it was hard to tell. One minute they were tailgating, the next flashing their high beams. If this were Thailand, they'd surely be out of their cars, showing off their Muay Thai skills.

Upon reaching the end of the road, we found a parking spot and the driver told us to return before six in the morning to continue our journey. In the area, there were shops selling hot tea, coffee, and toasted bread to help us warm up, as the weather was quite cold, so much so that our breath could be seen.

We hadn't even started to feel tired when we arrived. It was a fairly large clearing that could accommodate two or three hundred people. People were starting to claim spots to take photos in the morning, so we sent some of our members to occupy the area near the fence. The crowd gradually grew larger as dawn approached.

Even though they are at a tourist spot, the Indonesians do not forget to pray.

The sky was full of stars at the second viewpoint. My friend took a picture to show off because we couldn't take one at the first viewpoint due to the large crowd. The light from the flashlights and other things was too much.

The first light of dawn broke over the horizon, and people rushed to capture the moment with their cameras.

The smoke from the Bromo crater, when hit by the morning sunlight, looks truly magnificent.

Villagers come out to make a living.

It was time for our appointment, so we got back in the car and climbed down the mountain to the rim of the Bromo crater, enjoying the beautiful views along the way.

We've reached the bottom. This is our car, a beautiful bright red. The sky is clear and the sunshine is perfect.

Magnificent

It wasn't long before we reached the path to the rim of Mount Bromo. Personally, I was a bit annoyed along the way because people kept asking if I wanted to ride a horse. Plus, what I call "dirt rain" was caused by Bromo's occasional minor eruptions, which caused small amounts of dirt to shoot out of the crater and spread out in a wide circle, falling like rain.

After walking for about two kilometers, I finally reached the stairs leading up to the crater rim.

Wow, is this Bromo? It looks magnificent, with smoke coming out periodically.

The scary thing is its roar. It sounds like it's about to explode at any moment. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

I walked along the edge of the crater, the path was quite scary, as it was narrow and sloping.

Watch the video

After walking for a while, my friends started to drop out one by one. No one wanted to go to the highest point at the top, but I came all the way here, I had to go all the way. Let's go!

Reaching the peak, where the path ends, it was as if the god Bromo was extending a grand welcome. It roared thunderously, spewing out immense plumes of smoke right before my eyes, within a mere few meters of focus.

At that point, I was alone. I hadn't even taken many pictures yet when I told myself that I wouldn't risk my life here. I stomped down, ignoring the narrow path. The closer I got, the more I had to endure the rain of mud that hit me in the face, eyes, ears, and even my scalp. It was so dirty that there was hardly any room for cleanliness.

Photos taken by friends from a distance because they went down before me.

Capture me in the photo too. You have to zoom in eight times to see me. Haha.

Next, we stopped at two more places: the savanna grassland

And Whisper sand

Heading towards Kawaii Giant in an unbathed state, we didn't stop by Madakaripura Waterfall because it was raining and it was closed.

But thank God, what we were afraid of was the weather forecast that said it would rain all the time. But when we arrived, the rain stopped so we could say hello and goodbye. Goodbye... Bromo, a long journey from Bromo to Kawa Ijen, which took about 5-6 hours. We spent our time in the car, and the last part before we arrived was quite bad because the road was winding like the road to Pai, Mae Hong Son in our country. We sat in the car until we were tired and tired again.

Tonight we chose to stay at Catimor, arriving around six in the evening. The first thing everyone craved was a shower, as the last time they had one was over thirty hours ago.

After taking care of personal business, they went out to eat together.

A hilarious incident occurred when a member of our group ordered a Coke but there was no ice. So, they ordered ice, but what they got was a giant ice cube, the kind used for chilling food. They did break it up for us, though. The ice cube was about the size of a Dove soap bar. I mean, how are we supposed to drink this? They didn't even give us a glass, just a bowl. I'm pretty sure they were messing with us.

After a hearty meal, the girls retired to their beds, leaving the young men to sip their beers and chat.

It was past ten o'clock, and I had to go to bed, even though I wanted to keep drinking. We had to leave at one in the morning to hunt for the blue flame, which was the main reason I had come so far.

01.00 Everyone gathered in the lobby, while I was still stuck in the bathroom getting ready for the big trip.

02.00 We started our journey with a local guide, whose real name is Luke, but you can call him David. We talked all the way, and Luke helped me with many things. He also took good care of the group members.

Luke used to be a porter, carrying almost 100 kg of sulfur a day to sell to a Chinese company that only paid 1,000 rp per kg. If you ask me, I'd only do it once because the smell of sulfur is very strong.

The initial ascent is quite steep, but the path is wide and there are opportunities to rest along the way. The sky was relatively dark, revealing a sky full of stars. However, we couldn't rush up too much as we didn't want the group to become too spread out, which would have made things difficult for the guide.

After a steep climb of three to four kilometers, the path levels out for a while before reaching the descent point to view the Blue Flame.

The descent path is mostly rocky, so we had to walk in single file. However, at some points, we got separated from the others and ended up on a different path that required some climbing skills. We didn't follow the usual route, and my friends had to pull me up.

At this point, breathing becomes seriously difficult, because we are very close. In fact, we could smell it from the halfway point of the first section. But here, our eyes start to sting, and tears begin to flow at times. The air is also quite cold.

Finally, we arrived at what I would call the "Thailand zone," where several other Thai groups were gathered, sitting together and watching the flames dance.

I told Luke that I wanted to go as close as possible. Luke arranged for me to go very close.

Like an ancient animal that is still alive

Watch the video

What you see as a small, brown pool of water is actually liquid sulfur, which they use to fill various molds.

As dawn approached, the next destination was the lake below. But now it was filled with thick smoke, covering every area. Some members couldn't stand the cold, the smoke stinging their eyes, and had to ask to walk back up. Luke had to abandon some people to take me down below.

As you descend further, you will come across a lake. The water is warm, even hot to the touch. Unfortunately, the view is not very clear due to the fog and smoke that fills the area.

We waited here for a while, hoping the fog would clear, but it showed no signs of lifting. In the end, we were forced to admit defeat.

As I made my way back, I couldn't help but notice the path I had taken the night before. It was a beautiful struggle, indeed.

This view is my favorite, the cliff that juts out into the middle of the valley.

Looking up from the top, people look so tiny.

The path that was invisible last night, but now I see it with my own eyes, which makes my heart so full.

A hilarious incident occurred when one of our group members set a new record for the fastest descent down a mountain. The story goes that he had been suffering from a stomach ache since the moment he set foot on the mountain, but he had endured it until the morning.

With the lava erupting inside, ready to explode at any second, and the wind blowing through the goosebumps, I rushed to the bathroom at the halfway point, but I couldn't find a place to release the sulfurous lava.

He had to rush down to the ground floor, but because it was a tourist attraction with a lot of people, the bathroom was full!!! 555 His life is so pitiful.

Another member of the trip saw that they had symptoms, and they all got infected with the virus one after another. The two of them were so close that they were called "best friends".

Despite their best efforts, the two of them had to endure the journey all the way back to the hotel. However, upon arrival, it seemed like it was too late. The fumes had gotten to their heads, and they were completely unable to relieve themselves. 555 Oh, before heading back to the hotel, we gave Luke a smoke mask to help him make a living, as we figured we wouldn't need it anymore.

After that, we packed our bags, checked out, said goodbye to Kawaii-chan, and headed to Malang City. According to the original plan, we were supposed to stop by Blawan Waterfall before continuing, but we were so engrossed in our conversation about the "poop couple" that even our guide forgot to take us there. T_T

Today was a long day of traveling by car. We left Kawaii Prefecture at 10 am and arrived in Malang at 10 or 11 pm. The car's air conditioning was broken, which made the journey even more uncomfortable.

It was absolutely awful to be sitting in a car with only a few small windows, driving through the scorching midday sun. I had to fan myself constantly. I really wished I could have climbed up and sat on the roof.

In the late afternoon, I stopped by the city for lunch and took a short walk while waiting for the guide to take the car for air conditioning repair. But the guide came back with an apology T_T The sunlight started to slant into the car, making me feel even more sticky all over. I had to ask the guide to help me put some newspaper on the car to block the sun.

Not only that, we also got stuck in traffic in the city. But we got to get off and breathe some fresh air at a gas station for a while. At this point, it was a bit of a treat because we got to eat Bakso, or our own beef noodle soup. It was delicious and very cheap, only 15 baht per bowl.

Slowly crawling through patience, then patiently telling until finally, our guide called a friend to bring a car to change. Yay!!! But little did we know that this was a farewell to this car without warning.

The sun had set, and our guide brought us to an interesting restaurant with stylish decor and a performance that, while we couldn't understand it, was still enjoyable.

Inggil Restaurant

After a tiring day of travel, we arrived at our accommodation and went to bed separately, preparing for the next day. We woke up early and had breakfast, which was delicious. Oh, and this hotel had a ping pong table to play on too, but I can't remember the name of the hotel, haha.

Okay, let's pack our bags. Today we're going whitewater rafting.

As our guide, P'Yan, had never taken anyone there before, and he himself had never even gone whitewater rafting, we got lost three times before reaching our destination.

The price of white water rafting is 250,000 rp per person, including lunch. It's a bit expensive, but hey, we've come this far.

The officer explained about safety. If he says BOOM!!, put the paddle beside the boat and lean back. Everyone seemed to be listening intently. Did they follow the instructions in a real situation? Let's go see the footage.

Our spacecraft joined halfway, then got scared and refused to go all the way.

The iced tea is very delicious.

Some videos please.

Watch the video

Perfect condition

BOOM!! situation

55555555555 It's hilarious, it's hilarious, it's hilarious every time I look at these pictures.

Upon reaching his destination, the young man had to show off his power, which was only natural (just taking a picture).

Laughter and smiles abound here. These are not just a product of the place, but also spring from the hearts of each individual. Truly impressive.

After returning from the whitewater rafting, we took a shower and changed our clothes. It turned out that it was raining heavily. Fortunately, we didn't have to raft in the rain, otherwise we would all have caught a cold.

It's time to eat. The food here is delicious. It's a buffet, so we went around and got food several times. The vendors started to give us the evil eye, so we decided to stop. Hehe.

Many of the photos were taken by the officials and charged a fee, which is quite expensive at 30 baht per photo. However, if you buy multiple photos, you get a discount according to the order. At first, I didn't plan to buy a lot, but when I saw the photos, I wanted to buy them all. 555

It's time to go home. I'm sure I'll miss the atmosphere here. Before leaving, the two riders didn't forget to check in at this spot, just like before. 555

The last time I took a long car ride was when I thought that returning to Thailand and taking a car from Chiang Mai down to Pattani wouldn't faze me at all.

Arriving in Surabaya again in the evening, today we will come out and try walking around the mall here. It's similar to Central in our country.

The sign looks like HomePro.

Let's find some rice to eat. There's still money left in the common fund, so let's go all out.

Social media enthusiasts must come. In a city like this, the signal is strong.

Translation:

After arriving at the hotel, I went out for a walk to find something to buy. I was looking for Bintang beer, but I don't know if it's because of the law or something, but no shop in the whole city sells it. Oh well! Life.

Streetside shop

And then I stumbled upon this shop because I had heard that the roti here is famous for its deliciousness.

I went to talk to the person who made it, but it turned out that we couldn't speak English. Oh no, what should I do? Luckily, a student who seemed to be a college student came in and helped me out.

We had a great time chatting, but it seems the roti maker is a bit shy. But he's kind, he put a lot of ingredients in it. 4 people can't finish it, lol. It's delicious, I forgot to take a picture.

Before leaving, the children asked to take a picture with us. It was a fun experience eating snacks together. Even though we spoke different languages, we were able to communicate through laughter and gestures.

Time is really up. We have to go back to work to earn money to create new experiences. Thank you to my friends who shared this fate with me this time. The impression is too much to tell you all. See you again... soon.