Mount Ijen

We woke again at 1am, this time we had to check-out of the hotel,

and bring our luggage along, as well as the hotel breakfast for later.

The drive to Paltuding post took about 2 hours.

We gonna climb another active volcano - Mount Ijen.

Here it is, entrance to Kawah Ijen. That's our local guide, Sanam.

Nopi will not follow us but he advised us that if we meet any situation oxygen is not enough, bend lower to get more oxygen.

That's the ticketing counter, our tickets had been prepared in advance.

Sanam explained that the climb to the peak of Mount Ijen volcano is about 3km.

It usually takes around 2 hours of climbing/hiking.

Starting the climb around 4am.

Only for the first 500km up to the first station, we had flat land. And then for the next 1.5km, it would be steep from stations 2 to 6. After the 6th station, it will be slightly flatter but zigzag route to the peak.

These "Lamborghinis" were there for the above "steep" reason.

It costs around IDR80,000 for a trip up. It takes 3 person to pull one up the steep slopes, two to pull in the front and one to push at the back. We understood from our guide that the prices will change along the way as the distance get shorter.

These carts were initially donated by a rich man to the sulphur miners, to help them in their mining.

As the miners do not earn a lot, they have come up with other uses to increase their earnings.

The sky was full of stars

We felt it after our 3-4 stations, and then we had to take a break every station as we were getting breathless going up the slope.

Our young guide makes us laugh a lot..

It wasn't an easy climb given the steep slopes and lower oxygen levels,

many had succumb to hire the "Lamborghini".

We did not take photo of station 6 as it was still dark.. but from then on, it was quite an

easy 1km hike up.

At 520am, we have not reached the peak.

Sanam then informed that we will not catch the sunrise as it was past the time.

The sun normally rise at around 515am.

Just as we approached the peak, Sanam passed us these masks in case the sulphur gas blow into our direction, it was better to put it on.

We actually could breathe better in those masks

Arrived at the peak, but we did not go to the left side.

There's still some way to go on the right for the crater view.

The wind has blown the gas to the middle.

And then to the left side of the crater, behind us

Selling sulphur souvenirs. Mount Ijen is also a sulphur rich mountain.

There's even vegetation on this mountain.

The gals were slower as one has injured the knee, another the ankle.

Sanam moving very fast as he wanted us to get the best view of the area, but the rest could not catch up, and so I also dare not walk too fast, in case the other 2 lose us.

We could see the beautiful blue crater once the fog gets out of the way.

The guide wanted to lead us deeper, around the crater, but the gals cannot walk any further.

This is beautiful too.. but there's a queue for it

That's the 6th station

Took photo of the same tree earlier, when it was dark.

There's a nearby waterfall that needs wading in the water, so the gals had decided not to go.

It was 830 in the morning.

We bid goodbye to Sanam and headed back to the post for breakfast

On the way again

Nopi saw me sounded disappointed we did not visit any waterfall, so he suggested this:

There is a nearby acidic waterfall, which water flow down from Ijen.

It's just a short walk in from the parking area.

Nopi found his friend

Had lunch at rest stop Utama Raya

And then we arrived in Surabaya where we will fly home the next day.

Regantris hotel Surabaya

After discussing, we decided to have dinner at the hotel and then foot massage and rest for the night.

We have also decided on the places to visit the next day.

30mins foot massage for IDR175,000