Continuing me and my friend trip, we drive to Ijen Plateau that located in Sempol in Banyuwangi. We drive for seven hours in total. But we stop somewhere in Probolinggo to have some lunch as well buying flip flop for me. To tell the truth, I didn’t even brings sandals knowing that it will be three full days tour, hehehehe. After that back to the trip.
We all so exhausted on the way, but fortunately, we stop at Pasir Putih beach to have a short rest and break a leg. We walked in the beach and also playing on the water for a while and as usual, taking many pictures. From the regular one until the strange one (well mostly are strange photo). Mr Senior then telling us that the last three hour will be bumpy road. Gulp! We all thought that it will be normal, but in fact…. IT IS DISASTER!!!! The road like s**t. For some of my friend it is an opportunity to have some sleeps. Beside jumping everywhere, my friends so peaceful in his sleeps. Later he said that it’s like automatic massage, hahaha.
We arrive around 4PM at one of two homestay in Blawan area near Sempol Banyuwangi. It named Catimore Homestay. Nice place to visit I think. While it is actually still in development that time, other than that it is nice because it is so quiet and natural. With old Dutch building in front of it and coffee factory next to it. For some information, Sempol and surrounding is a wide Arabica and Robusta coffee plantation. We were given one big room with two big beds on the floor. It is becomes a little crowded because it is eleven of us and we all have different style. Like Anggit, Dwi, Mbak Jo and Galuh. Their stuffs is all about snacks. Then my sister Tia with her suitcase and full make up box. Hmmmmm, eleven persons like 100 persons in each kids, hahahahaha. Especially about Mayung who always been a subject for fun. It continues until dinner time that all of us making noise so almost all the guest in the hometay is complaining. hahahaha.
We all becomes silent suddenly (of course it’s about time to sleep anyway). Too tired of joking, we fell a sleep. In 5AM, we all wake up and preparing to go to Ijen crater. We take same road of bumpy road for 30 minutes then we arrive in the starting point at Paltuding. With high spirit we started tracking while seeing the activity of sulfur miners. Another information, they carry almost 90 KG of sulfur on their shoulders and they mining in the crater for twice a day. Usually they starts mining at 4AM, but some people also starts at 1PM. For all their hard work, they got paid only Rp. 600,- each KG. Can you believe it??
The road. It is not so hard and slippery, it’s just…. steep in some part. We all easily lost our breath. Of course it is our first time, so no surprise. But one of my friend, Fuad, he suddenly so quick. It’s because, he meet two French couple and he walk along with them. Another info, most tourist comes to Ijen crater are French people. After that three persons following him. It is me, Mayung, and Bayhaki. We also suddenly becomes fast. We arrived at the crater five minutes after Fuad. Oh my God, the crater is very beautiful. It is the lake inside the crater with green turquoise color and in the corner is yellowish with many smokes comes out. Down there in the edge of lake is the place for sulfur miners activities.
They using pipes to suck out the lake water (acid) from the lake, and it is very hot, then they pour it with water to crystallize it. Another reason they pour a water is to fasten the process of freezing the sulfur. After the color of sulfur turned to yellow, miners bang it and take it piece by piece. That what they carry back to starting point at Paltuding for further use. After all of my friend arrived at the top, we back again in business. Taking pictures insanely, hehehehe. Happily with this experience, we walk back down to starting point. In fact, going down is also not easy. We need to rely on our knee this time. Ugh… But really good for us to get more exercise, especially me, 85 KG, hahahaha. I think I have to do this more often.
After we get back, we rest a while in the coffee shops, talking, also exchange pictures and tell others the excitement while doing the tracking. But all happines gone when we back to car and drive back to Malang. The road in Licin area is…. TWICE DISASTER than the first one, Ouuuuuucccchhhhh. Then we all think that we will NEVER going back here.
Well it’s all about story that I can remember about our Outbound trips to Bromo – Ijen. If I remember those moments, I really missed all of them. Tia, Cita, Slamet, Ferdy, Galuh, Dwi, Mbak Jo, Anggit, Mayung, Fuad, and Bayhaki, hope we can do a trip together again one day.
