Bye Bye Bali, Hello Java

We spent 2 nights in Tulumben and did some more diving. We did a morning dive and a night dive on the Liberty wreck and both dives were really great. We saw bizarre spanish dancers and huge bump head parrot fish. We also did another dive in the coral garden and watched various things including our dive master's mouth being cleaned by cleaner shrimp.

When we left Tulumben we cycled across the top of Bali on a very flat road to Lovina, where we stayed for one night. It was very touristy so we just relaxed around the pool, which we had to ourselves, before a massive thunder storm. The following day we cycled further across the top to Pemuteran. The hotels were quite expensive (for us) but we got a very good deal on some diving at Palau Menjangan national park. The diving was very easy and relaxed and although it wasn't as amazing as Komodo we did enjoy it. We also visited a turtle hatchery, made a donation to the conservation project and saw lots of very cute tiny turtles. They work with the locals to potect the eggs and release the hatchling.


Next we cycled to Gilimanuk, the port where you get the 30 minute ferry that takes you to Java. Nic spotted this sign:


We arrived in Java and because of the hour-change we left Bali at 10 and arrived in Java at 9.30. We cycled to Banyuwangi and got very lost trying to find the train station. Luckily a wonderful man on a motorbike offered to show us there. We followed him for miles and ended going down a small road through paddie fields. When we arrived we offered to buy him a drink or pay for the fuel but he said that that "it made him happy just to help us".

We thought that we would have to spend the night in Banyuwangi but there was a train due in 2 hours that would take us to Probolinggo. This was an economy train i.e. mega basic but beggars can't be choosers so we got tickets (about 3 pounds for 2 people and 2 bikes for a 7 hour journey). We were the only tourists on board (surprise!) and we spent the first 4 hours in the guards van with our bikes, as there were no free seats. It was very hot and stuffy but it was fun to look out of the windows and chat with the chaps, including the police man, on board.


We arrived in Probolinggo at night but we managed to find our way to the hotel. Even in the dark people spotted us and shouted "Hello Mr" "Hello Tourist" etc.

The reason for travelling to Probolinggo was to visited Bromo, one of Java's many active volcanoes. We organised a 2 night trip and travelled up to 2000 metres through mind-blowing scenery. They seem to be growing crops in every available space even if the ground is vertical. Also the ash, which has been blowing out of Bromo for the past 6 months, makes everything look grey. Very surreal. We arrived in Ngadisari and put on lots more clothes. It was a strange experience to be cold in Indonesia and have blankets on your bed.

The following morning we got up at 3am for the sunrise. It was well worth it. There are 3 volcanoes, Bromo is on the left smoking away and the largest one behind it is Semeru. This also had a belch whilst we were watching.




We thought that we wouldn't be able to walk to Bromo, due to safety reasons, but luckily we could. We looked into the crater and heard the booming and crackling, which was quite scary. The scenery was very end-of-the world.

In the photo below you can see a Hindu temple that is covered in ash:



The red one is our jeep:

The following day we made our way down back to Probolinggo and then had an 11 hour journey to Yogyakarta. The transport is very cheap in Java so we decided to have some luxury and get our own air-conditioned mini bus. Heaven!

The traffic was totally crazy, as one would expect in a small island that has 140 million people. How our driver drove for so long with only a one hour break in the middle I don't know. Anyway, he got us to our hotel in Yogya safety at 10.30 pm and it was a relief to get there.