Part II - Mount Ijen
After the incident at Bromo, our driver was more careful and time conscious. We checked in at Arabica Homestay and was pleasantly surprised by the coolness of the temperature there. The next morning we were given a packed breakfast consisting of a hard boiled egg and toasted bread to eat on the journey to Ijen.
This is the starting point of Ijen hike. We had to sign an indemnity letter at the Ijen office before we start the hike.
This is a tough hike as the walk is almost 45 degrees uphill all the way. It took us about 90 minutes to walk to the peak. I had to stop about 3 times to rest my legs and catch some breath. On the way up, we also saw many of the workers carrying the heavy sulphurs down hill. Sometimes you will see the baskets of sulphur on the road. Be warned if you want to snap their pictures. Some of them do not like it, some will ask you for money for taking their pictures and some just gladly pose for you.
Halfway through the hike, you will come to this hut which is the place where the workers will have their baskets of sulphurs weighed and paid accordingly.
The scenery uphill is very beautiful. Unlike Bromo that is sandy and dusty, Ijen's air is fresh (before the peak, of course).
When you reached the peak, you will smell the sulphur. It was really a rewarding experience when you reached as the scenery and landscape was very beautiful. Just enjoy the pictures below and try to imagine the real thing that you will be seeing. It's awesome!
The Ijen crater.
I love this panaromic picture that I took of Ijen.
The sulphurs collected by the workers.
Tourists sitting around the crater admiring the views. We are not allowed to go down to the crater as it is very dangerous. You will see many workers carrying heavy baskets of sulphur coming up from the crater. Their job is very harzardous. Not only it is very heavy and strenous on their shoulders and back, if they are not careful, they will fall into the crater. Also, it is very unhealthy to be smelling the sulphuric air. This, is their daily life to earn a living.
A close up look at the sulphur. Despite warnings, there are just some tourists who are happy to take risk and go all the way down.
As we hiked down, there are still people who are coming up. We also saw a guy who was resting halfway and decided to give up the walk so we showed him the pictures taken and encourage him to continue walking. I hope he did!
Well, if you ask me to choose between Bromo and Ijen, it's quite an easy answer. Of course it is Ijen. I like it here because of the views and purer air :-). Also because of the cooling temperature.
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