Cold air penetrates into the body,
while waiting for The Dawn emerges from the East.
And after He arises,
smiles begin to show up
Watching Him embraces us with warmth from behind the grand wall
as we float over the sea of thick clouds.
That was how my family felt after visited Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, located in East Java Province, for the first time just for this magnificent and popular scenery from the top of Mount Bromo. Have you already visited this place? Last Christmas holiday, we got a chance to visit Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park and here, I will tell and provide you a complete guidance about activities that you can do in this national park.
A Tense, yet Unforgettable Roadway
A Hardtop Jeep
A trip to Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park from where we stayed, Huni Raya Hotel, Pasuruan Regency, East Java Province, takes about an hour with a ride. You are suggested to depart from where you are staying around dawn (00.00-03.00 local time), so that you can get the best seat to see the beautiful sunrise at the peak that day. And to prevent some wasted energy, you are suggested to stay in the nearest hotel/villa to the path of the peak. There will be another activities you must not miss after seeing the sunrise.
Furthermore, you should know that you are prohibited to bring your own ride and must ride a special ride, hardtop jeep, into this national park. Why? Because the field is so perilous, even when the day is still dark. Slopes, sharp turns, thick fogs, and others. But, you do not have to worry because the drivers there are well-experienced. In addition, you will experience some bouncing moments in this ride while on the way to destination.
Sunrise Sightseeing
After arriving at the peak, you must walk a little into the sightseeing spot. There are two spots that you can choose, Bukit Cinta and Bukit Kingkong. Bukit Cinta itself is located at 2.770 metres above sea level, also the main sightseeing spot in Bromo Peak. Why? In this spot, aside from seeing the sunrise, you can also see the magnificent scenery of Mount Bromo, Mount Batok, and Mount Semeru, and a wide sand carpet that is still covered by the sea of thick fog. On the other side, Bukit Kingkong is an alternative sightseeing spot when the main spot is crowded–on any given days. However, this spot is lower than the main spot, which is located at 2,600 metres above sea level, and the path toward this spot is slightly uphill.
According to locals, seeing sunrise at Bromo Peak is a rare chance. If the weather is not too cloudy, you can see the sun is rising beautifully―that makes the tourists feel astonished―and capture those moments in photos/videos. Believe me, tourists will be happy by experiencing this.
For your information when you are at the peak, make sure that you have already worn your cold-weather clothes (such as jacket, trainings, socks, hiking shoes, cap, and mask). At the peak, the temperature can reach around 5℃ at dawn.
Crater Sightseeing
Bromo Crater
After having an enjoyment at the peak, you can ride down through the sand carpet to get into the next activity there which is as amusing as seeing the sunrise at Bromo Peak, seeing the sulphur crater. There are two options to get there, walking or renting a horse-riding. If you do not want to get fatigued quickly, you can choose the second option. Renting a horse-riding there can cost around IDR 150.000 per person, including go-and-back ride and an owner that will guide you into the destination―which is in front of stairs to the crater peak.
Arriving at the destination, you have to climb up the stairs–250 steps in total. And because they are slightly steep, you are suggested to walk slowly. After you reach at the peak, you will be greeted with a vast view of sulphur’s crater, a view of Mount Batok that looks like a layered cake, a view of horses’ park-field, and a view of Luhur Poten Temple from afar. For your information that this temple is a worship center for Tengger tribes whose majors are Hindu and live around Mount Bromo.
Enjoying the Bromo’s Savannah
After being pleased with a view of Bromo Crater, you can continue your journey into the southern area of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, where in this area you will be welcomed with a wide and lush green grass carpet. Also, you will find a lot of hills that look like the Teletubbies’s–a child television series–ones if you looked from above, so it is not surprising that the locals called those Bukit Teletubbies. This magnificent and greenish view must you capture in photos/videos.
The Grand Bromo’s Desert
After having fun at the savannah, you can continue your journey into the last area in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park called Pasir Berbisik. For your information that Pasir Berbisik was already used as a filming location sixteen years ago with the same title. Though this area is just a vast desert, you can make your captures as creative as you can. For examples, taking a picture with a jeep that you have rented or imitating Syahrini, an Indonesian female singer, walking beautifully in the midst of desert and flip your scarf at the same time.
One of a destination bucket list if you are travelling around Indonesia. If you want to go to this national park, I recommend you to hire a local tour service. When you use a tour service, in addition of getting affordable prices, entrance tickets, renting a hardtop jeep, and accommodating a fully-experienced tour guide are included here. For your information that an entrance ticket into this national park can reach IDR 30.000 per person (for local tourist) and IDR 300.000 per person (for overseas tourist). Also, renting a hardtop jeep by yourself is far more expensive, because it can reach around IDR 600.000-IDR 900.000.
So, those are the excitements of travelling to Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. From the scenery, the excitements during journey, also the feelings when against the cold, all of these are worth trying. Honestly, we were not disappointed and wanted to go back here.
(Shannon Leonette Himawan)
