20190810-D4 MADAKARIPURI waterfalls after Bromo

10/8/19 : Left Bromo mountain and set off to this Madakaripuri Waterfalls..

• It was another adventure! Caught us unprepared...we had to remove our shoes and wear slippers
• We were told to buy RAINCOATS...cos we were told we would be wet
• We had to pillion ride on the motorbikes for about 2-3 km from where we parked to get into this waterfall...ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM...
• We had to walked for another 30 min before we finally arrived at the first part of the waterfalls...admiring the green foliage... on bike and foot... was great

And the best was the waterfalls!

Only E & I decided to continue inwards to view this awesome waters with our guide...had to climb a small part of the rocky wall to get over to see the big waterfalls...breathtaking!

With E and guide's broken slippers, it was nevertheless - WORTH it all!

140m height and 20m deep in water!

****************************

6pm- Arrived at our Kampung Lumbung Boutique Hotel in Batu, Malang

Really a traditional wooden house concept.  Doors had the wooden padlock. Lights were so dim :) But the environment was rustic.

Weather was cool cos Batu, Malang sits on a hill.

Great satay hunting? Well, we did try them:) Their lamb satays had not lamby smell!

Reflections

Our local tour guide Yoyo told us that in the past the vehicles could be driven near to the waterfalls.  However the local mayor decided to let the locals be more gainfully employed.  

• So, the motor bikers were introduced so that the younger people can be Gojeks
• They also trained their farmers to be tourist ambassodors where they get to earn extra income after their farming ended at 10am in the morning. They help to lead the tourists to the inner part of the waterfalls.  They were rotated for this job.

What a community to improve the local's livelihood.  President Jokowi's press for improved infrastructure in from East to Central and West Java is commendable.  

• The Dutch came and gone in Indonesia. 
• In Bangyuwangi, we saw the first Dutch sugar cane factory.
• Mt Igyen, where the Blue Fire trek was so popular to Europeans was due to its founder who was a French.
• In Surabaya - we visited the 150 year old Catholic Cathedral, built by missionaries.
• And today in the city of Surabaya, we saw their newly opened 6th Mall (last year) which joined with 5 other malls! Much bigger than our Vivocity. And it boast of so many global brands.  (Imperial Treasure, Ka Soh Fish, Breadtalk..some of our local brands)

This trip ended with me thinking about our beloved Red Dot.

Even Surabaya - its second largest city is moving on...

And now, Capital City Jakarta may be relocated from Java to Kalimantan ( rising sea level and floods and traffic congestion and earthquakes issues?)

What can little Red Dot offer to Indonesians in the future?