Mount Bromo : A Peak of Spectacular Tengger Caldera

Mount Bromo is the most famous mountain on Java Island. It is an active volcano and part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. Mount Bromo is only one of many peaks inside the massive Tengger Caldera, but it's easily recognizable as the entire top has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white sulphurous smoke. Mount Bromo is about 2,382 meters above sea level. It is a vast mountain. An eruption of massive proportions blew off its top leaving a huge caldera in which two peaks are located. One is the active volcano of Mount Bromo and the other is the non-active of Mount Batok. The inside of the caldera, aptly dubbed the Laut Pasir (Sea of Sand) is coated with fine volcanic sand and the overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly, especially when compared to the lush green valleys all around the caldera.

As time goes by the caldera has been filled with grey sand and this expanse is known as the Sand Sea. It is about 10 km. Across the Sand Sea is Mount Batok with its almost perfect cone. To the south, Mount Semeru, the highest mountain in Java provides a fining backdrop for this unearthly scene. While crossing the Sand Sea, low-lying fog which often envelop the caldera's floor, adds to the mystery of the surroundings. As the temperature drops several degrees, the combination of cold air and the strange echoing of horse's hoofs create a fantastic sensation of walking across a huge frozen lake. Temperatures at the top of Mount Bromo range about 5 to 18 degrees Celsius.

Something make the area unique is that it is a volcano inside a volcano. The base of the mountain actually rises from an old volcanic crater of the bigger Mount Tengger. Another unique feature about Mount Bromo is a reminiscent of a moonscape rather than anything related to the earth offers such breathtaking experiences, like observing sunrises and gazing into the volcano's crater. Even the journey to the crater is an exciting experience in itself. Before arriving at the Mount Bromo visitor needs to get across the Sea of Sands (Lautan Pasir), another unique landmark of the national park. Mount Bromo is also well known for spectacular sunrises.

Mount Bromo was traditionally visited by the Buddhist Tenggerese to celebrate ceremony of Kasodo. The offering ceremony of Kasodo is held each year by Tenggerese on the 14th day of full moon Kasodo (Tenggerese Calendar). Inhabitants of Tengger Mountain gather at the rim of Mount Bromo's active crater to present annual offerings of rice, fruits, vegetables, flowers, livestock, and other local products to the God of the mountain. As adherents of religion combining elements of Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism, they ask for blessing from the supreme God Hyang Widi Wasa. According to legend, this practice started as the King Joko Seger and Queen Roro Anteng prayed for children, and in return, promised to sacrifice the last child. The Queen had 25 children, but refused at first to sacrifice the last child. When threatened by the gods with fire and brimstone, the queen finally did perform the sacrifice. As the child was being thrown into the crater, the voice of the child was heard ordering an annual ceremony to be performed at the volcano.

A Hindu temple is situated at the foot of the mountain, from which 250 steps lead to the edge of the crater.

Location of Destination
Mount Bromo is situated within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, about 145 km south of Surabaya, capital of East Java Province, Republic of Indonesia

Route to Get Destination
By plane to Sukarno-Hata Airport (Jakarta). Then by domestic flight about 70 minutes from Sukarno-Hatta Airport (Jakarta) to Juanda Airport (Surabaya).
Then by bus or train for 2 -3 hours from Surabaya to Probolinggo.
Then by minibus about 1 hour from Probolinggo to Ngadisari.
Then it will take about 2 hours on foot, or about an hour and a half on horse back, from Ngadisari to Cemorolawang and Mount Bromo.

Best Time to Visit
May to October, on dry seasons

Accommodation for Traveller
Bromo Cottages, Java Banana Bromo, Lava View Lodge, Cemoro Indah

Kelimutu : Mount with 3 Different-Colored Crater Lakes

The land of islands in Indonesia serves the travelers with the best of the landscapes to choose forms its vast menu. The land is blessed with numerous natural wonders ranging from the stretch of sandy beaches to the snow capped mountains. The land is blessed with some of the views of volcanic craters and the active volcanoes. Kelimutu Volcano is one of those which attract thousands of visitors to enjoy the impeccable beauty of the crater. Mount Kelimutu is a natural wonder and one of most mysterious and dramatic sights that can be found on top of this mountain. It has a unique and spectacular view on its three crater lakes with their respective colors. These colored lakes change colors on a regular basis. The latest colors (late 2004) were said to be turquoise, brown and black. The Lake on the western direction is called Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is commonly blue in color, the other two which share a common crater wall are Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched, or Enchanted Lake) commonly displays the green and red colors, respectively, although lake colors vary periodically.

Three crater lakes are located on the eastern summit of Kelimutu which is at an altitude of 1.631 meters. Each of the lakes has a distinctive physical structure, a unique geochemical and hydrothermal regime, and a particular historical sequence of color changes controlled by changes in physico-chemical conditions. The details of the lakes are:

Crater I : Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of old people); 300 m x 280 m diameter; Depth 67 m; Blue color.
Tiwu Ata Mbupu, is the western-most lake. This crater is structurally different from the other two in that the pit crater it is in is itself located in the center of a larger crater. Small landslides constantly add to the steep rubble slopes along the lake's shore, and large boulders periodically drop into the lake. Shoreline of this crater is coated with a film colored in different shades of red, orange, and yellow depending on how thick it is. Gypsum crystals grow in the cracks of the crater wall in the first few meters above the prosent water surface.

Crater II : Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai (Lake of young men and maiden); 430 m x 300 m diameter; Depth 127 m; Green color.
Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Tai, is adjacent to Tiwu Ata Polo and is the deepest lake. Subaerial fumarolic or hydrothermal activity is implied by a large thermal plume in the center of the lake which slowly convects the water. A fresh supply of yellow froth (probably the same type of elemental sulfur found in the "cool acid-brine" crater lake at Kawa Ijen) is brought up by the plume and pushed out toward the crater wall. A particularly large cover of this froth has accumulated at the base of the north wall. During rainstorms the froth is scattered by inflowing water and landslides, though some of it may be disappearing altogether.

Crater III : Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched lake); 380 m x 280 m diameter; Depth 64 m; Red color.
Tiwu Ata Polo, lies on the southeastern side of the volcanic peak. A thermal plume in the northwest part of the lake indicates underlying subaerial fumarolic or hydrothermal activity. A white froth is present on the lake's surface around the plume when the convective activity momentarily increases. Rock debris is often carried into this crater during rainstorms by water draining the volcano summit around the lake. Two peaks abutting the crater rim help stabilize the east and northeast crater wall, while further around to the southeast a dip suggests a possible one-time overflow outlet. Such an outlet would have fed the river Ria Mbuli, whose upland source is in that area.

The visitors can enjoy the sight of active disturbance in the two eastern lakes mainly because of the sub aqueous fumaroles. These visitors in the past have even been enthralled by the minor eruptions from the volcano. Stationed on a 1639-meters-high Kelimutu volcano and a compound summit of 2 kilometers the Kelimutu Volcano is a beautiful treat to the eyes.

Types of fauna living around Kelimutu are deer (Cervus timorensis), pig forest (Sus sp.), red jungle fowl (gallus gallus) and hawk (Elanus sp.). Moreover, kinds of flora that can be found around Kelimutu are ‘Kesambi’ (Schleichera oleosa), casuarinas tree (Casuarina equisetifoia), and Edelweiss.

Location of Destination
Kelimutu is located 66 kilometers from Ende, Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province (Lesser Sunda Islands), Republic of Indonesia.
(It is located on 8.75 S, 121.83 E to the equator).

Route to Get Destination
By plane to Sukarno-Hata Airport (Jakarta). Then by domestic flight about 2 hours and 20 minutes from Sukarno-Hatta Airport (Jakarta) – via Juanda Airport (Surabaya) – to El Tari Airport (Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara Province).
Then taking air transportation from El Tari Airport (Kupang), to Ende District approximately 40 minutes.
Then by public transportations to Kaonara Village, about 93 km away or 3 hours. Then by walk to the location for around 2,5 km.

Best Time to Visit
April to August

Accommodation for Traveller
Some lodgements are supporting facilities around the location. The surrounding village are also good places serving as bases for visits to Kelimutu, particularly those who wish to have a more leisurely pace and enjoy the views along the road between Ende and Maumere, or spend more time in Kelimutu.

Others
The villages around Mount Kelimutu are also known for their excellent weaving-all hand-made, still using natural dyes.