Dear friends, It was just few hours ago, My 2 partner and I had just back from our vacation as backpacker to BBM (Bromo, Batu, Malang). Before I forgot all my detail trip, I am gonna share my trip for 4 days 3 night which started on Tuesday 01.00 am until Friday 05.00 am around east Java.
First, few days before our departure, we had already arranged our trip in detail. We prepared it well, discussed, and were looking for some information from websites, blogs, and friend’s suggestions. Based on some blogs and information, Bromo could be climbed by 4-5 tracks. One of the most favorite is through Probolinggo (my friend said that this track is easier and no need to walk to much than Pasuruan, Malang, and other track). Briefly, we dealt and decided to climb Bromo through Probolinggo. Then, to reach Probolinggo, we can go either from Surabaya or Malang. To reach Surabaya or Malang, we can take either bus or train. I think train is more favorable than bus. Oh, and for your information, we would depart from Semarang (Poncol station) because we are Semarang-nian. :p .Below is the comparison of train pathways between SMG (poncol)-SBY (ps.Turi) Versus SMG (poncol)-Malang (kota baru):
|
SMG-SBY |
SMG-MLG |
CostLength of duration |
37 000 ID6 hrs |
Around 38 000 ID8-10 hrs |
So, regarding of arrival time and cost, we decided to go to Surabaya first and paid 41 000 ID using Kertajaya train. I thought the train cost was more expensive than usual because it was holiday season. The train came to Semarang from Jakarta at 01.00 am and arrived to Surabaya (ps Turi) at 06.00 am. We took a rest for while then continued our journey to Bungurasih terminal using bus. We asked some pedestrian sellers how to reach Bungurasih terminal. They suggested us to go by bus than “angkot” because bus took shorter time which only needs 20 minutes. We paid 4000 ID for the bus. Fiuh, keep the spirit high, because we still had half way to Bromo! From Bungurasih terminal we took bus again to Probolinggo terminal using Patas AC bus. The ticket for Patas bus was 23 000 ID, while economic one was 12 500 ID (based on DLLAJ board information). After 2 hours in the way we arrived at Probolinggo terminal around 10.30 am then took a rest, took a bath, and having brunch. We hoped that we would meet another backpacker here, but no-one we could meet. I suggest you to take a bath in Probolinggo terminal, beside the bathroom was quite clean, the water in Bromo was damn chilled. I dare you to take bath there! In this terminal, there will be a lot Bison driver or “ojek rider” offering you trip to Bromo. We preferred using bison. The fee of Bison (like small bus which usually took us to Bromo) was 25 000 ID (the lowest price) while using “ojek” was 75 000 ID. The disadvantage using Bison is waiting. We have wait for almost 2 hours just to wait the passengers full. We were still inside the car until the driver finally being called by tourism agency to take 4 foreigners to Bromo. So we just followed where the driver brought us. A bit complicated here, briefly, we had dealt with tourism agency and joined the jeep tour together with 4 foreigners to Bromo. We paid 450 000 ID in total for homestay and jeep tour to Bromo in the next morning (150 000 per person). Then the Bison took us to our homestay. We arrived at Ana tengger Homestay around 03.00 pm. This was recommended homestay, it was clean, and quite near to Bromo which located in Cemorolawang village. Its cost was 150 000 ID per night. Usually, when you were at Probolinggo, You can have a deal with Bison driver to travel you to Madakaripura waterfall (located between Probolinggo terminal and Bromo, my friend said it is a recommended waterfall to visit) but it is better if your group consist of more than 6 personals. Unfortunately, we couldn’t be there. Back to bison- Don’t worry the Bison will take you to the homestay you addressed, if you have no idea which homestay you addressed, the driver will offer and help you to decide.
In the afternoon, after resting our back and feet, we took a walk around Cemorolawang and peeked Mt.Bromo a little. This village was the nearest village to Bromo, the water here was sooooo like ice, it was as cold as chlor ethil on skin or even more. At night, we were looking for warung, there was not so many warung here. We had fried rice and hot tea for dinner and paid 12 000 ID per person. Pretty expensive huh?
In the very early morning the next day, the jeep was come at 03.30 am and brought 7 people in it (include us, 2 Germany girls, and a Belgian couple) tracking to Mt Bromo. Passing sea sand and climbing the up-down hill in the dark morning, we finally arrived at “Penanjakan 1” at 04.30 am, then we were waiting the sun to rise. We need more power to step the laden, with the more thin oxygen in air we were really exhausted and almost hypoxic. We were a bit confusing where actually the sun would come first due to no compass. Slowly dispersion of orange came penetrate the cloud. Although the sunrise was not perfect cos of the cloud, the sun kept us warm and clear the scenery around. I could now see the Bromo, Mt.Batok, and Mt. Semeru clearly. Damn it was WOOOOWW. Bromo was just beautiful and so was Semeru. You can see how amazing the bell of mountain behind me in the picture 😉
After delighting our eyes in Penanjakan 1, we were brought down by jeep to the temple and cauldron that usually used in Kasada ceremony. It took 15 minutes by Jeep. We passed sea sand again and step 150 stairs to see the cauldron closer. Don’t worry if you are exhausted to walk, there will be horse that ready to carry you up the hill by paying 10 000-30 000 ID regarding the distance. I decided to ride horse in my half way to the hill by paying 10 000 ID. That was my first time riding horse. Scary but fun enough.
At 9 am, we were back to Jeep and ready to get back to our homestay to take bath and pack our belonging. An hour later, an APV car picked us up (actually that should be the Bison driver who should pick us up but because the driver was hurry to carry 2 Germany to the previous tourism agency, we were transferred to another driver). Lucky us, the car was more comfortable than Bison and we didn’t need to pay more, the cost was just same like Bison.
We arrived at Probolinggo terminal at 11.15 am, we had brunch there and waiting the bus to Malang. We used economic bus to Malang which cost 14 000 ID. Our journey was not finish yet. We still had arrangement trip to Malang and Batu. Yet, I am not gonna share our trip to Batu and Malang here. I will share in the next Part. See you on our next trip !
My tips for you who want to trip to BROMO :
- Prepare everything well, you should have plan A, B, or C if it is possible
- Find many information before you trip from blogs, websites, or asking your friends. It is better if you arrange anything in detail, from the budgeting, accommodation, venue, transportation, and destination.
- If you want to travel, be in group. It will wise if you travel with many people, why? Because it can spare your expends. Like in Bromo, you will be easier if renting a jeep with 6 people in minimum, and jeep will carry you to any destination you want.
- Don’t be hesitate to ask, but you’d better ask the compatible person like seller, villager, DLLAJ staf. Approach them using local language, so they will hesitate to cheat you. Like we did to tourism agency.
So, friends what are you waiting for, go prepare your money, your backpack, and go travel to Bromo, and many beautiful places in Indonesia. Believe me Indonesia is just beautiful, Foreigners have claimed it. Believe me or not in Bromo, I saw foreigner tourist mostly than domestic ones.
Rgrds
-purple-
June 22th, 2012
13.00 pm
_that was my old story which delayed to be posted due to my tight school schedule_
Thank for the comment ^^