Last night, at 0:30 am, I boarded my train departing from Solo, bound for Malang in East Java. As I made my way to my assigned seat, I found a stout woman occupying it. She shifted to the adjacent seat by the window. I had initially wanted that seat, but now I had to contend with all her refuse right in front of me—half-finished food on the floor and a bag of trash hanging on the seat ahead of me. “I should have opted for the minivan,” I immediately thought. It would have been more economical. It wasn’t until around 4 or 5 am that I finally managed to drift off to sleep.
At approximately 6:30 am, I awoke, and an hour later, the train pulled into Malang. Upon arrival, I negotiated with a bemo driver, settling on a fare of 30000 IDR, although it likely still carried a tourist premium. Nevertheless, it beat the alternative of paying 60000 IDR for the short journey. The previous day, with the assistance of Danny, I had arranged a hotel stay. He had booked two nights for me at Armyn Luxury Guesthouse on Jalan Telomoyo street.
Arrival in Malang
I had expected to keep myself occupied until 2 pm. Yesterday, the hotel had indicated that early check-in wasn’t an option. However, upon my arrival at 8:30 am, they surprised me by allowing an early check-in. Fortunately, I put my bags down, set up my mosquito net, and turned on the air conditioning. The room was pleasant, tidy, and the bed provided a comfortable rest. I paid 220,000 IDR for a two-night stay, which included air conditioning, hot water, a spacious bed, and a western-style toilet. Without hesitation, I decided to take a nap and slept until around 12 or 1 pm.
Following my break, I opted for a leisurely stroll in the neighborhood to find some breakfast. The heat in Malang was quite intense. After about 10 minutes, I entered a pricier local bakery. However, due to the scorching weather, I chose to return to my guesthouse. I stopped by a local supermarket to grab a drink. Once back at the hotel, I had my modest breakfast. I took some more rest and spent some time conducting research on the internet.
I discovered a scooter rental shop online and requested the receptionist to contact them. However, I was informed that they were currently out of mopeds and advised to call back the next day. Seeking alternative options, I asked the receptionist to contact another rental company, but she was unfamiliar with any. As an alternative, I requested her to call the local tourist information office (as I intended to visit them on a moped), but it turned out that I had the wrong number.
Well, that’s the end of my meticulous planning! Next, I expressed my desire to visit Mount Bromo to the lady at the reception and asked if she could recommend a company for the trip. She made a call to a particular company and handed me the phone. The person on the other end quoted a price of 650,000 IDR for the tour, with the pick-up scheduled for 1 am tonight. I agreed to the arrangement and assured him that I would be prepared. Unfortunately, the man provided little information about the hike’s difficulty, focusing instead on the places we would explore and advising me to bring warm clothing.
Evening
Feeling a bit more optimistic after making some progress, albeit without a moped, I strolled through the city. It annoyed me a bit that I hadn’t found a moped yet. During my walk, I stumbled upon a large supermarket just around the corner (exit the hostel, turn right, then left, walk 50 meters, and turn left again onto the main street). I regret not discovering this supermarket earlier since the hostel lacked a map of Malang, leaving me with limited options for the day. At the Giant supermarket, I stocked up on snacks and drinks, returning for another visit in the evening.
Throughout the day, I dedicated my time to working on blog articles, conducting internet research, and getting ready for tonight’s plans. I retired to bed at 9 pm, with my alarm set for 0:30 am. Although today was not particularly eventful, I look forward to an exciting day tomorrow.
