[TRAVELS] Kawah Ijen 2018 @ Banyuwangi, East Java
If you have read my blog since a long time ago, I have already been to Kawah Ijen on Good Friday in 2015. At that time, Charlene, Eugene and I were not prepared for the volcano hike as we only brought N95 masks with us. We did not know that we should have brought touch lights with us too. Although our guide gave us a touch light to use, it did not work very well as the lights shone from the torch lights were too dim. So back in Labour Day weekend this year, we were so prepared and got ourselves a torch light and oxygen mask each when I knew I was going to Kawah Ijen with Crystal and Marvin, . The reason why I accepted going to Kawah Ijen again is because I was anticipating to pay a visit to the crater this time!
I made a short video clip to commemorate this trip too! Pardon the soft voices in the videos as the winds were too strong but do keep your volume to a maximum!
Since I already took tonnes of photos in the previous Kawah Ijen entry, I focus a lot on the night hike itself and did not take a single picture of the journey up the volcano until I hit the peak, where we were admiring the sunrise. The night hike up the volcano was such a good exercise! There were many miners heading up the volcano with empty trolleys to carry hikers up the volcano. I did not remember seeing this before but perhaps because the torch was so dim that I did not notice. Two hikers had no choice but to take the “taxis” up the volcano since they were not feeling well. I believe it cost about 600,000 Rupiah (SGD$60) if you would like the miners to carry you up. Even on the way down, there were so many miners saying “taxi, taxi!”.
In my previous trip to Kawah Ijen, we went in April. It was not windy and cold when we hit the peak then. However, in late April this year, Kawah Ijen was so windy! This explains why you cannot hear the voices in the video clearly although I increased the volume to the maximum! Due to the strong wind not blowing the sulfur gas to our side, we did not have to put on our oxygen mask. By the way, the super long pictures (ie second to seventh pictures of this batch) that are longer than my usual pictures are taken by our dearest guide! I was amazed by his photos as it looks so magical in a way! The third picture looks like Crystal is jumping so high in the air. The forth picture looks like I am walking with strength! The fifth picture reminds me of Moses. Don’t you think Marvin looks like he is in power in the sixth picture? Lastly, Crystal looks like she is stomping with all her might in the last picture.
Back in late March this year, Kawah Ijen released poisonous gas from 19:00 to 21:00, which injured 30 people. The attraction was then closed until early April. We were contemplating whether to book our tickets to Surabaya due to the closure but after it opened, we just decided to go ahead with it. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to go down to the crater because of the explosion. I was so disappointed because my main reason to revisit Kawah Ijen is to head down to the crater and be mesmerized by the turquoise blue lake. Maybe next time then?
Yet again, people usually do not appreciate the greenery while hiking up the volcano since it is pitch black at night but on the way down the volcano, we are able to be look at nature and be in awe God’s creation.
The place that we were staying in prior to our Kawah Ijen hike was none other than the famous yet dirty Katimor Homestay. Since we were only sleeping for a couple of hours, we ignored whatever spiderwebs we saw and closed our eyes to sleep. Katimor prepared eggs and sandwiches for our breakfast. I brought the eggs up the volcano to have it during our break before our hike down the volcano as shown in the first picture. As for the sandwich, I only ate it after getting back to the car after our hike at around 9-10am. Please note that there is a mini mart at the break area that sells chips, noodles and such for those that did not bring any food but is starving. As for the portable washrooms near the break area, you have to pay about 2,000 Rupiah (SGD$0.20) per pax.
I think I saved a lot of money this time as compared to my previous trip to Kawah Ijen! This is because my sister-in-law went to Kawah Ijen with her high school friends in 2016 and introduced me the person who made all the arrangements for them. I contacted him and he charged three of us 870,000 Rupiah altogether and this includes accommodation and entry tickets to Kawah Ijen, Sukamade and Mount Bromos and a driver that will be driving us from Surabaya to Kawah Ijen, Sukamade, Bromo and back to Surabaya. Looking forward to update about Sukamade soon!
#490 Rumah Makan Tengger @ Pasuruan, East Java
I just came back from East Java on Tuesday and had lots of fun conquering two volcanoes and one turtle conservation with my best friend and buddy! So, we decided to hire a driver to drive us to those three places from Surabaya and back within 4 days. As we have to come back to the airport at Surabaya after our adventures, the driver suggested us to make Kawah Ijen our first stop since it is 7 hours from the airport. Marvin arrived at Surabaya Airport from Jakarta and he arrived when we were departing from Singapore so imagine how long he waited. He met up with the driver when we finally arrived at 9:05am and were going through the immigration and baggage collection procedures. We met up with our driver, Pak Koko and he helped us with our luggages to the car. He also provided us with a box filled with AQUA bottled water and gave us each a bottle to start our long journey. Around 12-1pm, we stopped by for lunch at Rumah Makan Tengger.
Rumah Makan Tengger
Jalan Raya Pasuruan – Probolinggo KM.5 No.1A,
Sambirejo, Rejoso, Pasuruan,
Jawa Timur 67181, Indonesia
+62 343 422464
When we first walked into the restaurant, it was empty and we had doubts whether this was indeed a hygienic restaurant. Trust me, you would not want to have stomach upsets during your hike up the volcano! However, after we have ordered our food, lots of people came in to have lunch. I believe that this is one of the eateries that drivers usually send their passengers to for a stopover between Surabaya to either Bromo or Kawah Ijen.
Since Crystal is relatively new to the Indonesian culinary scene, we introduced her to Gurame Bakar (4th picture), which is grilled fish topped with Indonesian’s oh so famous sweet dark sauce called “Ketchup Manis”. Ayam Goreng (3rd picture) is definitely no stranger to many people since it is readily offered in many eateries in Singapore and is basically fried chicken. We also ordered Nasi Goreng Petai, Nasi Goreng Kepiting and Kang Kung to share and preferred the Nasi Goreng Petai over the Nasi Goreng Kepiting since the petai adds crunchiness to the nasi goreng. The food was not too salty and seems like everyone’s favourite dish was none other than the Gurame Bakar!
Beverages wise, it is always safe to go with Teh Tawar (tea without milk and sugar) if you do not like your beverages to be sweet. I ordered the Jus Kepala (Coconut Juice) initially because the waiter mentioned that it is fresh coconut juice but was surprised to see green syrup in my drink so I immediately stopped drinking after one sip and ordered Teh Tawar. Marvin went with his favourite, which is HOT Orange Juice! Yes, you are reading it right (HOT Orange Juice!) He mentioned that it is his favourite drink in Indonesia as it helps to keep him cool when experiencing the humid weather. During our second visit to the restaurant, he feedback to the server that it is too sweet though. Crystal ordered my favourite Jus Alpukat (Avocado Juice)! Although Jus Alpukat is always filled with LOTS of chocolate syrup and condensed milk, the taste of the avocado juice is always so refreshing but I only stole few sips of it! The total bill came up to Rupiah 295,000 ish so we decided to give Rupiah 300,000 altogether, which amounts to Rupiah 100,000 each (close to $10 per pax). I found it quite worth it as the food kept us food until we arrived at Catimor Homestay at 7-8pm and fell asleep without having dinner.
During our last day after our Mount Bromo trip, we stopped by at this restaurant once again since it was on the way from Cafe Lava Hostel to Surabaya Airport. The time from Cafe Lava Hostel to Rumah Makan Tengger is about 2.5 hours away and from the eatery to the airport is about 2.5 hours away excluding the traffic conditions of course! We had a huge feast once again since Marvin always eats a lot due to his exercising regime! In addition to our favourite Gurame Bakar (fifth picture) and Nasi Goreng Petai, we also ordered Nasi Campur (second picture), Tahu Telur (third picture), Pepek Goreng (forth picture) and Petai on its own.
This time, the Nasi Goreng Petai dish was too salty and the beef in Nasi campur was too dry. I have tasted better Tahu Telur! as this dish was a little salty so perhaps it is not the eatery’s specialty. Marvin commented that maybe the chef is getting married as there is a saying that people who are getting married tend to put more salt to the dishes they cook. I found the Pepek Goreng quite crispy although it is quite dry and the Petai could have been cooked better since it is too dry as well! I guess Gurame Bakar still tops our list? This time, Crystal was influenced by Marvin and got the HOT Orange Juice as well! Again, they found it too sweet although they have informed the waiter to make it less sweet.
Opens daily from 6:00am to 8:30pm
Since we were in a semi backpack mode, this eatery is good enough as a nice stopover for lunch as we did not get any stomach upsets when we went there twice.
