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104 Travel | Bromo
© Valentino Luis; © Ahmad Syukaery
1
The sound of a breaking branch startled me from my sleep.
A flashlight I’d hung at the centre of my small tent swung in all 2
directions. This, I thought, was the northern wind blowing
a ‘good morning’ greeting my way. I reached for my phone and
tapped on the screen. 5.44am. Perfect timing.
All my senses were awake within seconds I was not alone. My friend Nico Fisher
of pulling down the zip that had kept me had the same goal in mind. And with
enclosed from the elements all night. hopes of getting up close to the 10km-
Fog was spilling over the caldera down diameter caldera, we decided not to head
below, while the surrounding mountains to Penanjakan on our first morning,
seemed as though they were floating on despite it being Bromo’s most popular
clouds, their every curve on display. sunrise viewpoint.
Upon arriving at Cemoro Lawang around As the morning slowly came into full swing,
sunset the previous day, I had scoured locals began to descend to Segara Wedi,
the mouth of the caldera in search of level offering visitors horse-riding services.
ground to set up camp. I had chosen a site Watching them from my campsite, catching
with the full intention of witnessing the sounds of their horses, my mind drifted
magnificent views of the galaxy up above to stories of how life in Tengger came to be.
and to catch the caldera before sunrise. 1 A typical morning image from Penanjakan viewpoint.
The cold weather pierced my bones, With the spread of Islam across Java, the
but I held onto the promise of Hindu Roro Anteng, daughter of the 2 Locals offering horse rides to take tourists
Mt Bromo’s surreal landscapes. Majapahit king, decided to leave home with to the crater of Mount Bromo.
© Valentino Luis; © Ahmad Syukaery
1
The sound of a breaking branch startled me from my sleep.
A flashlight I’d hung at the centre of my small tent swung in all 2
directions. This, I thought, was the northern wind blowing
a ‘good morning’ greeting my way. I reached for my phone and
tapped on the screen. 5.44am. Perfect timing.
All my senses were awake within seconds I was not alone. My friend Nico Fisher
of pulling down the zip that had kept me had the same goal in mind. And with
enclosed from the elements all night. hopes of getting up close to the 10km-
Fog was spilling over the caldera down diameter caldera, we decided not to head
below, while the surrounding mountains to Penanjakan on our first morning,
seemed as though they were floating on despite it being Bromo’s most popular
clouds, their every curve on display. sunrise viewpoint.
Upon arriving at Cemoro Lawang around As the morning slowly came into full swing,
sunset the previous day, I had scoured locals began to descend to Segara Wedi,
the mouth of the caldera in search of level offering visitors horse-riding services.
ground to set up camp. I had chosen a site Watching them from my campsite, catching
with the full intention of witnessing the sounds of their horses, my mind drifted
magnificent views of the galaxy up above to stories of how life in Tengger came to be.
and to catch the caldera before sunrise. 1 A typical morning image from Penanjakan viewpoint.
The cold weather pierced my bones, With the spread of Islam across Java, the
but I held onto the promise of Hindu Roro Anteng, daughter of the 2 Locals offering horse rides to take tourists
Mt Bromo’s surreal landscapes. Majapahit king, decided to leave home with to the crater of Mount Bromo.
