20190809-D3 : Bromo & Orion & Crater Ash & ponies

Mt Bromo, Indonesia, 2800m High

8/8/19 - We arrived at our Bromo in the evening about 7pm.

Realised that highlands was indeed cold! 

Thank God we bought our red warm jackets at Bangyuwangi.  Not that expensive S$35 each.  Decided not to take a chance but there was also rental of jackets at this mountain for S$5. The Bromo Beanie was bought at S$2-50 each!

9/8/19 : Woke up at 2am! To prepare for our jeep ride (45 min ) to almost peak

Taking some shelter from the winds...

5am plus ....First glimpse of the horizon of morning dawn

By 6am...Oh gosh ! We were above the clouds at Bromo! So pretty!

No wonder freezing cold at 9000ft !

By 7:30 am...

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Down the top to the mid level ...to the Crater we came on ponies!

Full of volcanic ash on the ground..thanks to YN for the N95 masks!

At first we thought we could just take the ponies up to mid point where we can start trekking up.....so we dismounted except YN and J who went on...

See the car park in background? Then we decided to call for the ponies again..to take us to the base of the steps to the crater!

But we could not locate them..they looked alike and we cannot recognize their handlers :) all covered up...

So a different pony we rode for the second half...that was the issue for our return trip back ...there was a pony in haggling with the handlers ...lol...It was about S$15 -20 for the entire journey..but we had changed ponies at half way point!

Second thots?

Would I consider trekking up this crater again? Apparently Bromo is an active volcano and it spews out ashes abundantly once every 5 years or so.  For which then this period of few weeks would be closed to tourist...

I have been forewarn about these ashes...and thank God we rode on the ponies to help us save some time walking.  But the steps to the top of the crater was very crowded.  Caused some jams. Some even went down the slopes instead of taking the steps - the courageous ones...

Had to wash my shoes at the hotel.  So dusty.  Had a good shower too.

er.....think once is enough experience for me :) LOL

BYE BROMO!

Reflections:

Because we were at about 9000 ft above ground and the surrounding was still pitched dark at 4am...

I was awed by the numerous stars above!

And best of all, Orion looked big and clear! Even Jane could see it!

What an awesome star gaze!

John's Canon camera caught Orion big and clear! Whooo!!!

What a wonderful creator God we serve!