Java
We woke up early and left the hotel by 6 am. It went pretty smooth. In 20 min we waved down first Bemo ( local mini bus) to G....... From there it was easy to find the ferry, which cost 50 cents and was the cheapest transport I took in Asia. Hour later we were docking in the Java.
It was 8 am and the train we wanted to take to Brumo was leaving 8:30 am. We made it!
We walked to the train station and while buying our tickets we realized that it is only 7 am of local time. Java is has one hour time difference. Great! We could have slept extra hour.
We left our backpacks at the train station and went to get some local coffee and walk around this dusty town.
We were both excited to be taking the train, spoiling our self with fist class tickets. 5 hours train ride through lovely country side, rice fields with volcanoes in the background. The view was better than I thought it would be.
We were on time and got of in the little town of Probolingo. Getting Bemo from here to bus station was easy. Sure enough we got tricked into getting a ride up to Bruno in private car instead of taking the public bus. The Bemo dropped us of on the wrong location... which happened to be in front of the tourist office. The usual scam.
Our driver was speeding up the steep hill, cutting the turns like a pro he was. Soon enough we climbed up in elevation and the scenery changed drastically. We were driving through little mountain villages which reminded me so much of Nepal.
Finding accommodation was easy enough, there are only few budget options. They are not cheap. Our simple room was $40!
We put some warm clothes on and went out exploring. We made last minute decision to push to go to mt. Brumo for sunset. The hike was good hour each way, fist long walk across the sand valley and than steep climb up the steps to the rim of he volcano. We made it up just in time to see the sun set behind the mountains.
The rim of Brumo was an surreal place. All grey and smoky, with low clouds covering the tops of the surroundings hills. Spooky but beautiful. We didn't have too much time to play up there. It was getting dark soon.
We were trying to plan our next morning. The sunrise from the view point is The thing to do.
Somehow the idea of driving up in a jeep in a traffic of other tourist didn't seem appealing, and for the hike to the view point we would have to be up at 3 am.
After dinner we came up with a plan just skip the sunrise and enjoy a nice hike up to the view point at 6am, when all the jeeps will be already at mt. Brumo.
It worked out. We had the view point for our self. Looking over to Brumo volcano I could see about 50 cars parked down there. How happy we were to have gone there for the sunset when there was nobody there.
We got back to the hotel just in time for breakfast. We decided to leave the same day, taking public bemo down the mountain, than catching 2 hours bus to the second biggest town of Java Surabaya and fly from there ( flight for $40). It would save us 12 hours on the bus trying to go overnight to Dempasar.
The transfer was rather easy. The plane had a delay, but we were in our hotel in Dempasar by 1 am.
That was our fast but nice trip to Java. Indonesia is so big and my visa are running out !
I sad good byes to Pam the next morning and headed towards the Gilies. It took a bus to Panang Bay. Small harbour town, with friendly people and cheep accommodation. There is a nice blue lagoon beach and good snorkeling of it. I was only going to stay one night, but met one girl who told me about a old wrack that is amazing for snorkeling and it only takes 2 hours on the motorcycle.
I decided to rent a scooter and head to explore the next morning. She was right. The wrack was great spot! Lots of fish and everything only few meters bellow, great visibility. There were lots of divers bellow, almost too many.
I took the long coastal way home, visiting small town of Amad, and than following the coast up north. The road was narrow, but with no traffic and the views of small bays with fishing boats were stunning.
It was lots of driving for one day, so I treated myself to Balinese massage in the evening. Than nice dinner and early bed.
I woke up at 1 am, feeling all itchy. I knew what it was.... bedbugs again! Small blood suckers all over the bed. I killed some and collected few into a zip lock to be able to show the guy in the reception why I am so upset.
I decided to sleep on the front porch. Not exactly the most comfortable place, with its tiled floor. But at least nothing was biting me.
I woke up early, cranky as can be.
My boat to Gillies was leaving at 9 am and I finally decided to got to Gilly T, the biggest island, with the most affordable accommodation.
I slept the whole hour on the boat. Time to get off. Dirty harbor, tuns of people and annoying tots were my first impression. I didn't like it.... I didn't like it a LOT, so I waked back to my boat and forced them to take me to the next island.
Gilli Air was much better. Smaller, chill and beautiful.
I found a nice place with a porch and garden and the most comfortable bed with no bed bugs. Oh heaven!
The snorkeling of the shore is pretty good. I am happy to have my own gear and go in few times every day.
It takes about hour to walk all the way around the island. White beaches all around. You can see Lombok and the other Gillies not far away. Little restaurants with some good food are welcoming you to stop and chill.
Today is my last day ( day 3) on the island. I could stay here much longer, but Lombok is only 25 km away and is calling my name.
We woke up early and left the hotel by 6 am. It went pretty smooth. In 20 min we waved down first Bemo ( local mini bus) to G....... From there it was easy to find the ferry, which cost 50 cents and was the cheapest transport I took in Asia. Hour later we were docking in the Java.
It was 8 am and the train we wanted to take to Brumo was leaving 8:30 am. We made it!
We walked to the train station and while buying our tickets we realized that it is only 7 am of local time. Java is has one hour time difference. Great! We could have slept extra hour.
We left our backpacks at the train station and went to get some local coffee and walk around this dusty town.
We were both excited to be taking the train, spoiling our self with fist class tickets. 5 hours train ride through lovely country side, rice fields with volcanoes in the background. The view was better than I thought it would be.
We were on time and got of in the little town of Probolingo. Getting Bemo from here to bus station was easy. Sure enough we got tricked into getting a ride up to Bruno in private car instead of taking the public bus. The Bemo dropped us of on the wrong location... which happened to be in front of the tourist office. The usual scam.
Our driver was speeding up the steep hill, cutting the turns like a pro he was. Soon enough we climbed up in elevation and the scenery changed drastically. We were driving through little mountain villages which reminded me so much of Nepal.
Finding accommodation was easy enough, there are only few budget options. They are not cheap. Our simple room was $40!
We put some warm clothes on and went out exploring. We made last minute decision to push to go to mt. Brumo for sunset. The hike was good hour each way, fist long walk across the sand valley and than steep climb up the steps to the rim of he volcano. We made it up just in time to see the sun set behind the mountains.
The rim of Brumo was an surreal place. All grey and smoky, with low clouds covering the tops of the surroundings hills. Spooky but beautiful. We didn't have too much time to play up there. It was getting dark soon.
We were trying to plan our next morning. The sunrise from the view point is The thing to do.
Somehow the idea of driving up in a jeep in a traffic of other tourist didn't seem appealing, and for the hike to the view point we would have to be up at 3 am.
After dinner we came up with a plan just skip the sunrise and enjoy a nice hike up to the view point at 6am, when all the jeeps will be already at mt. Brumo.
It worked out. We had the view point for our self. Looking over to Brumo volcano I could see about 50 cars parked down there. How happy we were to have gone there for the sunset when there was nobody there.
We got back to the hotel just in time for breakfast. We decided to leave the same day, taking public bemo down the mountain, than catching 2 hours bus to the second biggest town of Java Surabaya and fly from there ( flight for $40). It would save us 12 hours on the bus trying to go overnight to Dempasar.
The transfer was rather easy. The plane had a delay, but we were in our hotel in Dempasar by 1 am.
That was our fast but nice trip to Java. Indonesia is so big and my visa are running out !
I sad good byes to Pam the next morning and headed towards the Gilies. It took a bus to Panang Bay. Small harbour town, with friendly people and cheep accommodation. There is a nice blue lagoon beach and good snorkeling of it. I was only going to stay one night, but met one girl who told me about a old wrack that is amazing for snorkeling and it only takes 2 hours on the motorcycle.
I decided to rent a scooter and head to explore the next morning. She was right. The wrack was great spot! Lots of fish and everything only few meters bellow, great visibility. There were lots of divers bellow, almost too many.
I took the long coastal way home, visiting small town of Amad, and than following the coast up north. The road was narrow, but with no traffic and the views of small bays with fishing boats were stunning.
It was lots of driving for one day, so I treated myself to Balinese massage in the evening. Than nice dinner and early bed.
I woke up at 1 am, feeling all itchy. I knew what it was.... bedbugs again! Small blood suckers all over the bed. I killed some and collected few into a zip lock to be able to show the guy in the reception why I am so upset.
I decided to sleep on the front porch. Not exactly the most comfortable place, with its tiled floor. But at least nothing was biting me.
I woke up early, cranky as can be.
My boat to Gillies was leaving at 9 am and I finally decided to got to Gilly T, the biggest island, with the most affordable accommodation.
I slept the whole hour on the boat. Time to get off. Dirty harbor, tuns of people and annoying tots were my first impression. I didn't like it.... I didn't like it a LOT, so I waked back to my boat and forced them to take me to the next island.
Gilli Air was much better. Smaller, chill and beautiful.
I found a nice place with a porch and garden and the most comfortable bed with no bed bugs. Oh heaven!
The snorkeling of the shore is pretty good. I am happy to have my own gear and go in few times every day.
It takes about hour to walk all the way around the island. White beaches all around. You can see Lombok and the other Gillies not far away. Little restaurants with some good food are welcoming you to stop and chill.
Today is my last day ( day 3) on the island. I could stay here much longer, but Lombok is only 25 km away and is calling my name.
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