Confessions of a Nomad: Java - Island of Volcanoes

Right now we are relaxing in Bali, after spending a week and a half traveling across the Indonesian island of Java. We arrived in Jakarta on a flight from Singapore, spent one night in the hectic city, then took a train then mini-van taxi to the town of Cibodas. Cibodas is pretty high up in the mountains of west Java, with a cool climate that was quite welcome. We visited the city's famous botanical gardens one day with a Canadian couple we met in Jakarta. That same night we left our homestay at midnight to hike Gunung Gede, a volcano which is 2,958m high. The hike up was absolutely grueling (we started at 1,300m), half our group of 8 dropped out halfway, and we arrived at the top after 5 1/2 hours, just before sunrise. The summit was freezing cold, and we had to wear all our layers just to stay warm. The view was amazing and you could see for 50 miles or so towards central and east Java. We got really sick the next day, due to altitude sickness and sheer exhaustion, and spent two days recovering in our hotel room.

Cibodas Botanical Gardens was full of flowering plants

Erika and Josh enjoying the scenery

Josh got a lucky close-up of this dragonfly

Hairy caterpillars were everywhere in Cibodas

A scenic waterfall in the heart of the gardens

Just after we arrived at the summit of Gunung Gede

Sunrise over Java!

Just after sunrise it began to rain off in the distance, and we actually watched as rain slowly fell from the clouds towards the ground

Erika enjoying fried rice for breakfast (packed the night before)

Gede crater, with a small column of steam rising from its center

Erika surrounded by the steam from a hot springs river halfway up the volcano

Josh barely visible through the steam

Jungle mushrooms we spotted on the slow and painful hike down (we took an hour longer to get down than we did up)

A carnivorous pitcher plant we spied right off the trail

After we recovered from our hike up the volcano, we took the train to the city of Jogja in central Java. It is well known for its batik (dyed fabric) artists and silver jewelery. It is also the capital of central Java and home to royal family. The Kraton (palace) in the center of town is home to the Sultan and several thousand family members and servants. We spent 4 days in Jogja, mostly reading books and going for walks around the city. Josh finally trimmed his beard in Jogja, after 3 months of growth got a little out of hand.

Josh's beard before...

...and after. The trim cost all of 15,000 rupiah ($1.50)

The entrance hall to the Sultan's palace

The throne room used for coronation and wedding ceremonies

After Jogja we bused it 11 hours to Gunung Bromo in east Java. Bromo is one of 3 volcanoes contained within a giant crater about 10km in diameter. We hiked to the volcano during the night for another amazing sunrise. This was a much different hike from Gede. The hike was easier since there wasn't a lot of elevation gain, but difficult to find the way since we didnt have a guide, and were the only hikers (everyone else takes a jeep). It was dark when we hiked in, and the large crater was covered in a thick fog, which didn't burn off until after we returned in the late morning. We got a little disoriented at several points, but still managed to make it to Bromo crater rim for sunrise. The hike out was just as difficult, because even though it was light out, the mist covered the bottom of the crater and we ended up about 2 miles from our entry point when we made it back to the outer rim. In the end we made it on our own and were very proud of ourselves for having done so.