13th January 2024 - Jembarati to Bromo

Another moving on day.

Again, early, the skies were clear but all too soon, the clouds began to roll in.  We ate the same breakfast and relaxed on the terrace.

The cats must have known we were going as they moved back in.  There are cats everywhere here, many with no or distorted tails.  It's sad to see so many heavily pregnant.

Another taxi journey through the streets of Jogya.  At Sari Ater springs we had seen a sign forbidding certain items, like drugs, explosives and Durians. Durians are a large, spiky fruit with, seemingly, a lingering and pungent smell that is hard to get rid of.  The taste, we believe, is acquired.  We saw a man, roadside, selling them.

At Yogyakarta station, we bought pastries and awaited our train.

The train was much busier but we settled in and soon we were heading across miles and miles of ricefields.  The bit of Indonesia we have seen so far is mainly at sea level, with the occasional volcano looming up.

We have also become good at sleeping on the train so the 7 hours journey flew by

At Surabaya, the train changed direction and we had to rotate our seats!

It was dark when we reached Probolinggo, our station for Bromo.  But before we could even order a taxi, a man approached us offering us a taxi to Bromo.  Our accommodation had tipped him off.  The taxi driver stopped to pick up his son and then we headed uphill on surprisingly decent roads to Bromo.  Our ears popping now and then as we climbed.  Again, the road was lined with shops and places to stay.

There was some difficulty locating our guest house but we were issued into a brightly coloured room with two beds and an en-suite.  Simple, rustic, clean but not the self- catering accommodation we had booked!

11 hour journey today from Merati (Yogja) to Bromo.  Arrived late when it was dark, clouds rolling in and 2900m up. 

It was now 8.30 and we were advised to make our way to dinner in a nearby restaurant as soon as possible. Entering the restaurant, it was clear a tour party was in, singing and dancing.  We were offered a table outside where it was quieter.

We ate gado gado ( a salad with tofu and peanut sauce), chips and Bintang.  Then back to bed.