Over the crater’s edge

This always happens at at least one of the 3000 Indonesian islands: volcano wakes up, produces puffs of smoke and tourists from all over the world arrive here with their photocameras. During the last years volcano climbing has been one of the most popular kinds of traveling. Both the famous Mount Bromo in the East Java and the wonderful Kelimutu at the Flores island are equipped with observation platforms and staircases. Local people are running around offering hot coffee. But what is most difficult is to wake up early in the morning: you will have to wake up at about 3 am and then make a 2-hour trip on a jeep accompanied by other extreme tourists. However, you don’t have to travel in a group – the other way is to rent a car with a driver.

Bromo

The trip starts at Surabaya - administrative centre of the East Java province – from which tourists get to the Cemoro Lawang village. Here they can rent jeep or a pony and in the morning they put on warm clothes and move to where the crater is. But Jeep will take you only to the observation platform, then you will have to make an unmounted trip through the “sandy sea” (which is in fact only 3 kilometers long). Then you will have to climb up the ladder that leads to the crater. Puffs of smoke rising from it look like they’re solid – it seems that you can touch them. Most tourists visit the observation platform only, others venture for an 11-km trip around the crater (during your walk you will enjoy stunning views). Local guides offer a 2-day trip to the neighbouring volcano, Semeru, but this needs a more serious training.

Kelimutu

But a raise on Kelimutu volcano which is in the Flores Island is easy and pleasant. Here you can hire a Jeep or a motorcycle. At dawn you will meet a guide and spend the following 1,5 hours on a mountain path which lies between bamboo groves, past rivers and waterfalls . At the mountain top there are three lakes lying in the extinct crater, which change colours depending on what mineral salts they contain. According to a legend, when people die, their souls get to the lakes: innocent to the turquoise one, sinful – the black, whereas brown lake is a kind of a purgatory.

What else can you see here?

In Surabaya you will find an excellent zoo where there are rare species of birds and orang-utans. You are also advised to visit the old, northern part of the city - Masjid Ampel Arabic district, Pasar Pabean Market and Chinatown with little temples on its quiet lanes.

Flores coast offers wonderful diving, especially in Labuanbajo. Here you can also take a boat and go to the Komodo island famous for its huge dragons.

Maumere is popular for its colourful markets with weird fruits, red cane-sugar and cocoa delivered straight from the plantations. There are also wonderful scarves and carpets with neat geometric patterns.

You should also visit Ngada heathen villages with stone altars and “ancestor” houses – either huts where men’s souls live or poles dressed in skirts made of banana leaves (where women’s souls live).

Prices here are really low. The most expensive entertainment is diving in Maumere which costs $50.

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