Travelistar: Mt.Semeru The Olympus of Java (part 1 of 3)

Top of Mt.Semeru

The Folklore Narrative

Once upon a time, The Gods of heaven decided to create an Island on the vast ocean. This Island they called Java. The island was created beautifully, considered as one of the most beautiful creation of all. It has many magical creatures in it, that no other places have. The river run long from the upstream to the sea, jungles and forests grew among these rivers. The inhabitants live peacefully, they live like there never threat comes upon them. Savanna, valley, waterfall and many other magnificent landscape you could ever imagine exist on this very Island. Because the island is the reflection of Heaven itself, where Gods and Goddesses live.

There was only one problem prior to its creation. The Island is floating free on the ocean. This makes everything in it shaken and unbalance. So the Gods were planning to nail the Island with a mountain. They decided to nail Java with Mount Meru in India. As the Gods carried Mount Meru in the air, part of the mountain crumbled. These collapses created the mountain range on Java Island from west to the east. The top of Mount Meru itself fell apart and become Mount Pawitra (Penanggungan), another beautiful smaller cone shape volcano in East Java. So the Gods put Mount Meru on the eastern part of the Island to nail and balance Java. It is now called Mount Semeru.

Until now, some Javanese and Hindu people in Bali still believe that on top of Mt.Semeru is where Gods reside in. They do ceremonials and rituals on the Balinese Hindu Temple located on the slope of Mt.Semeru once in a while. This to worships Gods and asking for the blessing on their live.

Location of Mt.Semeru on Java Island

Mount Semeru Today

As the highest point in Java (3676-asl), Mt.Semeru has become one of favourite mountain to hike for Indonesian hikers. And since the movie with the title "5 cm", a movie about the trip of 5 best friends hiking Mt.Semeru, released, many more hikers hiked the top of Semeru. It was then became popular among Indonesian kids, hiking Mt.Semeru was never for professional hikers again. Even middle school kids did that.

The journey to Mt.Semeru, especially when you aim the top, takes about 4 or 5 days. The top has not always the goal for the hikers, many spots we can enjoy along the way. It was in 2013 when me and my high-school fellas planned for Ranu Kumbolo, a stunning lake on Mt.Semeru area. As the date was set, we depart from Surabaya City in the middle of the night. The route was going to be Surabaya-Malang (Arjosari bus station), Malang - Tumpang (nearest point using public transport), then from Tumpang point we ride big truck to Ranupani. Going to Ranu Pani we could see picturesque of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. Lush jungle with the loud noises of its Tonggeret insect, and beautiful landscape of Mt.Bromo along the way. Has become great attractions on our journey.

Ranu Pani is the last point before continue hiking and considered as one of the highest village in Indonesia (2100-asl), located as part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS). Ranu means Lake in local language. So its name is based on the lake of Pani located nearby the village. It is a beautiful place I would say, the area is full of green forest and villager's vegetable farms. The lake itself is a quite and peaceful place, it is good to live in such place for sometimes. Say to escape from the crowd and busy big city we live in.

Welcome to Ranu Pani

Breathtaking View

Fern trees along the way

Trees covered in Moss

Taking a break

First glimpse of Lake Ranu Kumbolo

Journey to Heavenly Lake Ranu Kumbolo

Once we reached Ranu Pani, we then continue the journey in about 4 to 5 hours walk. That is why we started the journey in the middle of the night, so that we could start walking in the morning. To do this, we had to exercise our body before we decide to go hiking. If not, there should be trouble on our way. Especially to our legs, this because walking on such road takes large amount of energy. Things could be complicated when we exhausted along the way. So, well preparation prior the journey is a must. What we need the most are water and snacks to regain energy and freshness.

We are now in the middle of nowhere, once you enter the path, there's no way back. Luckily the pathway is in good condition. We walked up and down the hills, sometimes on the ridge with deep chasms on both sides. Some places were full of big trees covered in moss on its trunks, and the canopy of this primer jungle evaded us from the sunlight. It is beautiful in a scary way.

There is one spot where many fern trees grow everywhere, as if we are in Jurassic World. Fern is considered as ancient tree. The tree is a surviving tree from Jurassic era when Dinosaurs roam the earth. Some of them are as tall as coconut tree. This peculiar tree only grow in high altitude such as mountain range. You can find this tree across Indonesia, as far as in Sudirman mountain range in Papua. The species that is found in Papua even more ancient than this one, since it is a very remote area where no human inhibit the region.

There are four respective resting posts in our journey to Ranu Kumbolo lake, these posts are for us to rest during the walk. If the sun has already set, we can set camp here, for the posts are built in less dangerous areas. The most challenging path is the one after the third post, it is very steep that we had to climb uphill for about 100 meters. So exhausting and energy draining. Next road will be easier and already close to destination.

From the fourth post, we can see Ranu Kumbolo lake in far view. It is breathtaking as far as the eyes can see. Only one more step to reach the heavenly lake of Ranu Kumbolo. The lake is surrounded by hills in all direction. The common camping ground is the one nearby the "Tanjakan Cinta" literally mean love steep, a steep path to low hill going to the magnificent prairie, Oro-oro Ombo.

Ranu Kumbolo is where the hikers stay for a night before continuing the journey on the next day. It offers a breathtaking view, the hills around protect the area from destructive wind and other natural disasters. The lake is so calm, and deep in the center. The "V" shape in between hills as background of the lake offers stunning panorama during sunsets and sunrises. At dawn, the surface of this calm water are fogging. The haze walks through the water, triggers mystical ambiance to emerge. There's nowhere else can bring such feeling. Cold and silent, like the atmosphere we see in Silent Hill.

At night, sometimes, the temperature could drop below zero degree Celsius. The air is freezing and the grass covered in frozen dew. It looks white all over the place. If you are lucky to get clear sky during your visit, you can enjoy milky way in the sky. It is something we cannot get in cities. Such a romantic scene to see the stars at night with our love ones.