Gunung Bromo

Probolinggo is our next destination, or Problemlingo as we rename it (almost affectionately). Our mission to look into the crater of the Bromo volcano and cross the sea of sand.

Six hotel rooms later (grime, leaking toilets, more grime, building sites, plague of Mosquitos and cockroaches) we settle on Hotel Ratna and a second floor £7.24 room including breakfast.

A minibus takes us to the bus station where bartering begins. There's only us on the minibus and its a stunning journey. As we climb the temperature drops and we start to see different crops to the usual rice. Lots of cabbages mainly. It's strange as vegetables are not a big feature here.

At the top, our first view of the Tengger Semeru National Park is jaw droppingly amazing. The caldera (plateau) happens when land collapses following a (or several) volcanic eruption(s) and the emptying of the magma chamber below which is no longer able to support the ground above. This particular caldera is ringed by 3 mighty smoking volcanoes with Bromo sited within. It is completely flat and covered in volcanic ash, an expansive grey sea. It is an amazing sight to behold. At the entrance to the park is a status board red, amber and green when translated mean watch out, standby and alert respectively.

The walk to the Bromo crater takes approximately 1 hour and it's a sudden steep climb, but so worth it. It is quiet at the top, the sunrise tourists all gone and its a great place to be alone with your thoughts. Sadly the usual Indonesian garbage is still ever present. I throw my posy in the crater as an offering to the gods to placate the volcano, hopefully it will work, at least until we leave town!!