Foto: Sunrise at the Bromo volcano (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Indonesia - Knock knock. “It’s three o’clock, Sir!” I’m woken for the sunrise at Mount Bromo. I quickly dress—Karin warned me it would be crowded today, as it’s Sunday and many locals come up for the sunrise. In the dark, I see a stream of headlights snaking up the mountain. Despite leaving half an hour earlier than usual, most people seem to have left even earlier. I hop into a 4x4 and descend into the valley. My driver Ekko clearly knows the route. Dozens of mopeds and pedestrians share the dark, dusty road. Mopeds without lights cling to the Jeeps’ beams for guidance but struggle in the soft volcanic ash. On the other side, Ekko deftly steers through sharp bends, quickly gaining altitude. At one point, he mutters “Full, full” and parks on the roadside—both sides are lined with parked Jeeps. I join the throng walking uphill. Mopeds ferry people further up for a small fee, so I guess it’s still a long way to the top. At 2,600 meters, it’s a tough early-morning climb. Slowly, I work my way up the last 1.5 km, passing more than 200 Jeeps. If each carried five people, the top must be packed. Indeed, the lookout platform is crammed. I squeeze into the back rows, hoping to glimpse the sunrise. Luckily, most local tourists are relatively short, so I can see over them—though dodging dozens of raised cameras is tricky. I estimate around 2,000 people are here, with maybe 50 Western tourists. An orange glow appears on the horizon. The valley wakes up beneath a layer of fog. I see two mountain peaks, which I assume include Bromo. Looking right, I spot the peak of the active Semeru volcano. Occasionally, it releases a puff of smoke. The sunrise is stunning. As many people leave, space opens up for better photos. From here, I finally spot the Bromo volcano below Semeru—magnificent. The contrast between the volcanoes and low-lying mist is surreal. On the way back, I search for my Jeep amid the chaos. Honking vehicles try to squeeze through the crowds. Thankfully, Ekko is already waiting and waves me over.
At Borobudur
Indonesia - Today I’m going to visit the Borobudur temple, one of the seven new wonders of the world. It seems like one of the highlights of this trip. I leave Yogya by bus. It’s rush hour. Countless motorbikes weave through the city. I quickly understand why—a ...
Dolphins at Lovina
Indonesia - At six o’clock I meet Robert again on the beach. The sun has not yet risen, but a glow already hangs over the sea. I help Robert and the skipper push the fishing boat into the water. I step in to go dolphin watching. Fellow travelers who went yesterday ...
Face to Face with Orang Utans
Indonesia - I’m getting ready for a long trek through Gunung Leuser National Park. This is one of the last places where orangutans still live in the wild. Until a few years ago, the orangutans were fed twice a day, but efforts are now being made to phase this out ...
Mountain biking around Ubud
Indonesia - In front of the hotel, I meet Eddy, who will guide today’s cycling trip from Mount Batur back to Ubud. First, we take a bus northward. Even far outside the city, I see woodcarving workshops and stores—I can’t imagine many buyers still come here. ...
Sulfur carriers on the Ijen volcano
Indonesia - At four in the morning, my alarm goes off. Today I will climb the Ijen volcano, an active volcano north of Ketapang. Jeeps are waiting in front of the hotel. I join a rather quiet driver. He drives out of Ketapang heading north, taking about two hours ...
The colorful lakes of the Kelimutu volcano
Indonesia - The Kelimutu volcano, located on the island of Flores in eastern Indonesia, is famous for one of the country's most fascinating natural phenomena: three crater lakes, each with a different, ever-changing color. These so-called “Lakes of Kelimutu” ...
The impressive Komodo dragon
Indonesia - The Komodo Islands, located in eastern Indonesia between Sumbawa and Flores, are among Southeast Asia’s most fascinating and rugged natural areas. They are part of Komodo National Park, established in 1980 to protect the unique flora and fauna, especially ...
The island of Gili Air
Indonesia - Gili Air is one of the three Gili Islands located off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia. Together with Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno, it forms a tropical paradise in the Indonesian archipelago. Gili Air is the closest to Lombok and is known for ...
The Prambanan Temple near Yogyakarta
Indonesia - Today I leave Yogyakarta and head to the Hindu Prambanan temple, located 18 kilometers outside the city. This temple, from the same era as Borobudur, was severely damaged during the 2006 earthquake. The main temple, dedicated to Shiva, largely collapsed. ...
The Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls
Indonesia - The Rinjani Waterfall, often associated with the famous Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls, lies at the foot of majestic Mount Rinjani on Indonesia’s Lombok island. These are among the island’s most beautiful natural attractions, deeply connected ...
The traditional Bajawa villages on Flores
Indonesia - Deep in the mountainous interior of the Indonesian island of Flores lies Bajawa, a town known as the gateway to some of the most authentic and best-preserved traditional villages on the island. These villages, inhabited by the Ngada people, offer a rare ...
The view over Pulau Padar
Indonesia - The view over Pulau Padar – also known as Padar Island – is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and breathtaking panoramas in all of Indonesia. Located in Komodo National Park, between the larger islands of Komodo and Rinca, Padar is known for its ...
Washing elephants in Sumatra
Indonesia - My alarm wakes me just before seven. Today I’m going to wash elephants – an experience I’m really looking forward to. Suka greets me enthusiastically when I arrive at the restaurant. It’s about a half-hour walk to the elephant camp. The elephants ...