Embarking on an epic adventure to Mount Bromo and the Rainbow Waterfall commenced today, exceeding my initial expectations. Rising at 12:30, I initiated the day with a refreshing shower, anticipating that I would inevitably get dirty and sweaty. By 1 am, I waited in the lobby for my tour operator, prompting the company to call the front desk within my hotel, instructing me to be ready outside. Around 1:10 am, the guide, Harry, arrived. After paying him the required amount, we proceeded to another hotel to pick up a couple, as informed by the company about the tour details yesterday.
The Dutch Couple
At the hotel where we were scheduled to pick up the couple, I found myself waiting for about 10 minutes while Harry went inside to fetch them. As it turned out, the couple had overslept and scrambled to get dressed in a hurry. When they approached the car, I observed that they were Dutch, and the girl promptly began speaking Dutch to me. In that moment, I realized my plan to play the role of an intelligent German guy who could interpret foreign languages was foiled. Nevertheless, I still harbored a desire to prank some Dutch people. This perceptive girl, named Nathalie, and the guy, Moreno, engaged in conversation with me as we arrived at Mount Bromo. They hailed from a village near the city of Alkmaar in the Netherlands.
The Journey to Mount Bromo
Harry chauffeured us for a two-hour journey to the mountain, and I passed the time listening to some music. Despite having enjoyed a restful sleep at the hotel, the long drive made me a bit drowsy again. The roads on the slopes were in poor condition, riddled with numerous potholes. I occupied the front seat of the jeep, finding it comfortable, while Moreno and Nathalie sat on a bench in the back. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for them.
Parts of our journey were shrouded in dense mist, reducing visibility to merely 3 meters ahead of us. The night further obscured our surroundings, limiting our view. After navigating through steep hairpin turns, we reached a broad dirt road in a flat area, marked by numerous potholes. It felt as if we were traversing a dirt desert. Within this expansive dirt expanse, we eventually reached the concluding road leading to a viewpoint, offering a panoramic perspective of the landscape. However, the persistent mist left me disappointed as I couldn’t discern anything beneath us.
Mount Bromo Outlook
We took a brief rest before ascending a stairway that led to the viewing lookout. I opted to rent a jacket for 20000, valid for only about 20 minutes or so. In hindsight, my advice would be not to bother with a rain jacket unless there’s a downpour, and even then, it must be returned after reaching the viewing point—simply not worth it. At the viewpoint, I captured some pictures and engaged in a conversation with Nathalie and Moreno, exchanging travel stories. They shared their experiences in Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia, displaying pictures and recounting tales from Bali as well.
After a brief five-minute hike, we reached the viewing platform. Fully equipped with hiking shoes, thermal clothing, a t-shirt, a small jacket, and now a raincoat, I couldn’t help but feel over-prepared. I was somewhat frustrated as the hike seemed too easy; in my mind, I had envisioned a more challenging ascent akin to the Kerinci trek. I had expected a climb over rocks and gravel rather than well-constructed stairs. To my surprise, it turned out that this was just a viewing point and not Mount Bromo itself. Our journey continued, now genuinely on the path to Bromo. The initial viewing point we visited happened to be the highest and most beautiful in the area, offering glimpses of Gunung Semeru (the highest volcano in Java) on clear days.
A Moon-Like Valley
We descended back to the valley, also known as the Sea-of-Sand. Just as we were nearly done with the hairpin turns, Harry proposed capturing some pictures from our current vantage point. We complied, and the vistas of the valley were breathtaking! The valley exhibited exquisite beauty. In the distance, we observed Gunung Batok, a dormant volcano. Adjacent to it stood the smaller Gunung Bromo, although it was not visible from this particular angle.
We got down to the Sea of Sands valley and took some more pictures there. Everything was recent lava from the 2011 eruption. According to Nathalie, it would take another 100 years before vegetation could grow here. The moon-like landscape was mesmerizing!
A Short Hike to Mount Bromo
After a brief ten-minute break, we returned to the car and resumed our journey to Mount Bromo. A one-kilometer walk awaited us from the parking area. As we stepped out of the car, an unexpected encounter startled us. Out of nowhere, a group of Indonesian men on horses surrounded us, creating a surreal scene reminiscent of a Western movie. They inquired if we desired a horse ride to Mount Bromo. This touristy proposition dampened my spirits. Given that the hike was just one kilometer to the mountain, we naturally declined. Their asking price for a ride hovered around 50,000 IDR. The walk towards the mountain proved to be easy and enjoyable, lacking any steep inclines. Along the way, we passed by a small temple named Pura Luhur Poten. Regrettably, it was closed on that day.
Following our one-kilometer trek, we ascended the stairs to the upper ridge of Mount Bromo. This brief climb was the only mildly strenuous aspect of our visit to Mount Bromo. At the summit of the ridge, a strong wind welcomed us. The panoramic views were breathtaking, and the smoking crater presented a magnificent sight!
The Eastern Ridge
I requested Moreno and Nathalie to capture some shots of me standing on the distant small summit. Departing from the primary northern ridge, I traversed the volcanic sand towards the summit on the eastern ridge. They patiently waited for my ascent to the summit and then took some pictures (below). The views from that vantage point were also spectacular, and at that moment, I regretted not having my camera with me. I was somewhat frustrated as other tourists unintentionally disrupted my photos by photobombing (due to my late departure from the main ridge, not being in front of them).
Returning to the primary northern viewing platform (the fenced protected area), I convinced Moreno and Nathalie to ascend the eastern summit and experience the view from there. It involved a bit of risk (you wouldn’t want to fall, of course), but by paying careful attention to your steps, nothing could go wrong. They agreed and enjoyed the view. Eventually, they signaled for me to join them, requesting that I take some cool pictures of them at that location. After capturing some final shots, we decided to walk back to the parking area.
Breakfast
Finding Harry sleeping in the car, we woke him up and headed to a nearby restaurant for a pleasant breakfast. It was a satisfying and straightforward meal. From this spot, we enjoyed a scenic view of the valley, Mount Bromo, and Mount Batok. Following breakfast, we set out to explore the valley.
We traveled for fifteen minutes, capturing some pictures of the valley along the way. The experience was fantastic. With the temperature on the rise, I decided to shed my thermal wear upon returning to the restroom at the parking area in front of Bromo. I had clearly overestimated the challenges of this tour, finding them to be quite manageable compared to Kerinci.
We proceeded with our tour, and Harry took us to another section of the caldera: the savanna. As we explored, Harry humorously began singing the Teletubbies song, as the landscape somewhat resembled the Teletubbies hill.
Rainbow Waterfall
After fifteen minutes, we resumed our journey toward the Rainbow Waterfall, our ultimate highlight for the day. Ascending again, we exited the crater valley. As we progressed, we found ourselves on an elevated road offering breathtaking views on both sides. The adjacent valleys were truly picturesque! It was akin to being on a bridge, providing an expansive view of the area. Recognizing my interest in the landscape, Harry recommended that we walk the final 100 meters to capture some photographs. We followed his suggestion, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
After a brief 100-meter stroll, we re-entered the jeep and proceeded to the Rainbow Waterfall. We reached our destination fifteen minutes later. Feeling somewhat fatigued, Moreno and Nathalie inquired if I was certain about wanting to see it. I affirmed, and after a momentary pause, they decided to join me. Opting to skip it would have meant missing out on this spectacular waterfall, the largest I had encountered thus far, surpassing even the one I experienced a few days ago in Solo.
The most gratifying aspect of this encounter was the near absence of other tourists. We explored the Rainbow Waterfall for 15 minutes, and all of us got drenched from the mist of the waterfall. After ascending the stairs, we made our way back to the car and commenced our journey back to Malang.
It would take about one hour to reach the waterfall. En route, I captured some pictures to preserve Indonesia’s traffic and scenery. It’s amusing to witness people, including children, traveling on mopeds without any protection. I recall discussing this topic with a man in Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia. Now, it all appears quite normal to me. In just ten minutes, around 30 children passed our jeep without wearing any helmets at all.
Back in Malang
I returned around 2 pm and made a quick stop at the Giant supermarket for a drink and a snack. Following that, I checked with the reception about my moped. I planned to explore the neighborhood tomorrow and needed the bike for that purpose. The company had instructed me to call back, but despite several attempts in the afternoon, their phone number was unreachable. The receptionist sent a text message to the company, but I remained skeptical about the situation. Organizing a moped should be a quick task, not an all-day affair. I headed back to my room to relax. Around 5 pm, I decided to take a nap. I texted Moreno, asking if they’d be interested in having dinner together. Since their hotel was a mere 5-minute walk from mine, and I knew the way thanks to Harry’s guidance, it seemed like a convenient plan.
In the evening, I reached Moreno’s and Nathalie’s hotel at around 8 pm. We opted to stroll back to my neighborhood, where the restaurants were concentrated. Our choice for dinner was a western restaurant, and the food turned out to be decent. I ordered a mushroom soup and a wiener schnitzel. While dining, we noticed a prank program on the restaurant’s television. In my opinion, Indonesian pranks outshine the western ones. The program was filled with mischievous entertainment, such as throwing a large living snake over a toilet cubicle while someone was seated inside, capturing the person’s reaction on film—utterly hilarious. There were also scenes of men standing in front of a urinal, only to have an ostrich suddenly unleashed behind them. It was a wild program, but I couldn’t resist laughing, haha. And what made it crazier was that these were all real animals!
Final Tips and Goodbye
Nathalie and Moreno proved to be wonderful company. After the restaurant, we headed to their hotel (see the first two pictures below). They generously shared a wealth of information about Bali with me, and I am truly grateful for that. At their hotel’s reception, I inquired about renting a moped, and the lady assured me that she would call me tomorrow morning to finalize the details. It felt satisfying to know I would finally have a moped.
Around 11 pm, I bid them farewell. Moreno and Nathalie were heading to Yogyakarta the next day. I planned to stay for one more day and depart in the evening. While walking back to my hotel, I realized why it was so quiet there at night—the entrance was blocked off with a barrier. As soon as I arrived, I retired to bed, looking forward to the exciting plans for the next day, thanks to Moreno and Nathalie.
