User:MerecaJimaxi

Experience Visit Indonesia Island

After a bad first impression, hopefully the good vibe came back.

Arrival at the Inn Baru, 9: 30pm, we asked a receptionist about renting an automobile with driver early each day, and he kindly called a friend, who came after a couple of minutes to organise this trekking for individuals. In the room almost ours, 2 german guys were talking about Kawah Ijen, so we convinced them to join us (and reduce the purchase price per person!) in the early morning: wake up at 4am, 2h driving through the jungle on the disastered road, and then 3km walking into the crater on a extreme path. It is important to obtain there so early, when the crater remains to be in the shadow from the mountain and the sulfur smokes may not be too deep, otherwise you can't go all the way down to the mine and see the attractive acid lake. Incredible to see this sulfur miners carrying 75kg on their back all the way down to the factory, twice day.

After this great daybreak, we went back to be able to Banyuwangi, to the train station, hoping to take any train to Surabaya. Unfortunately, when we arrived now there, we were told the fact that next train fo Surabaya wasn't before 10pm this day... it was 11am.

So we took any bemo to Banyuwangi Tourism Information center. In front of this building, a group of small indonesian wearing traditionnal clothes asked us to consider some pictures with you. (I must say that people were the only tourists in the city, and everybody in the streets were investigating us like we had been aliens, we were taken within pictures and insistently stared at everyday... I think I understand now the pityful life of your Hollywood star. Believe me nobody desires to live such an dreadful experience...)

Then a Tourist Information center staff, unexpectingly speaking a tiny french, gave us a lot of informations about the urban center, and invited us to find out the great parade organised with this very afternoon for this Indonesian Independance 65th House warming. We followed him, and found ourselves sitting inside official tribune, with snacks and normal water! We didn't understand everything but the speaker even announced our presence towards the crowd.

The parade was quite nice, with traditional dancers as well as musicians, and costumes from many of the indonesian islands.

After this moment of celebrity, we went back into the train station to begin a 7hours trip in an exceedingly uncomfortable et too sizzling train, to Surabaya, 2nd big city of Java.

Not a real overnight train with couchettes needless to say.

No real Dining Car or truck, but a real kitchen car where cooks prepare yourself noodle soup and fried grain (nasi goreng) and sell plates within the wagons.

The noodle soup seemed to be absolutely delicious, one of the best I have ever had.

Find out also about at Tour destination tips and Accomodation tips