Travelistar: Venturing the Fairy Tale Land, Bromo (part 2 of 3)

The vast Savanna and the caldera rim on right

The Majestic Landscapes

There are three different landscapes we can explore here at the core area of National Park. First is Mt.Bromo and the other volcanoes at the canter of caldera, second is the Sea of Sand or people prefer to call it the Whispering Sand. I didn't get why it is called so, until I was here myself. There was, however, the sound of the wind coming through me with flying sand, as if the sand storm occurs, only that it sound so loud, not like whispering sound. I wonder, why don't they call it the Screaming Sand instead?

The third jaw dropping landscape is the Savanna area, which the scene is very contrast to the earlier one. If the Whispering Sand consist nothing but grey sand dune, here we can see a vast Savanna both on the plain and the hills to the caldera rim. It's like a huge green carpet covering the whole picture. There are also hills where people call them as Teletubbies Hills, referring to the similar landscape image from a children television program namely Teletubbies. It's like a compound of hills on the side of the main hills at the Savanna area.

Hardtop car parked outside the fence

Mt.Bromo on the left and Mt.Batok on the right

Indonesia's Largest Sand Dune, the Sea of Sand

The Whispering Sand

We went through those area with some epic pictures. The pictures that wont happen twice. Thank God there was no dark cloud or rain in the area. Everything looks perfect. Another good thing was that, there were less tourists visiting this place. A large number of tourist visits the National Park in daily basis, both locals and foreign tourists. Makes it the most visited volcano compound in Indonesia. At this particular day, when Indonesia's Muslim celebrating their holiday, there is only few people visits Mt.Bromo.

There are shops made of non-permanent tents nearby those three area. We can enjoy the scenery while drinking a good coffee or snacking around. Just to make sure to keep the place clean. Indonesian tourist is famous with littering habit. This we can find anywhere. I couldn't get more angry seeing those f*cking people throw their trashes anywhere they like. Even when they drive a car they just throw their trash off the car's window on the street. So unbelievable.

We stopped at the savanna for quite a while. there are many spots to get a good pictures. My friends drank their coffee while I ate some snacks. Horses are also available, if we want to climb up hills nearby, to enjoy a better view. It is green as far as the eyes could see. The hills covered in green carpet are breathtaking. Some pine trees are scattered around the hills. Makes it even more beautiful.

The Savanna block

Horse and beautiful green carpet hill

The main hill at Savanna

Caldera rim at the background

Time ticking fast, we need to get back before the sunset. A long journey is still ahead of us. I thought we'd return to the road we took before. I was wrong. We, actually, continue the ride approaching the caldera rim. I didn't know that there is a road going up the rim. This is the way where people going to Mt. Bromo from Malang territory. The road is in a good condition made of asphalt. It is not as steep as the road we took before. So, riding on this road is quite fun. Another jaw dropping scene accompanying us a long the way. The green carpet looks even wider than we see in Savanna area.

The Giant Caldera Rim

It is grandeur by design, I felt so small by looking at this scene. The caldera rim is made of mountain range that create circular wall, crafted beautifully, decorated with clusters of tree on its side. Yellow and purple flowers grow everywhere along the road. At this moment, I remember my dream I was telling you before It is the same scene. I wonder how my dream and this journey are connected.

We stopped again to get some pictures. I had never enjoyed Mt.Bromo like I did back then. Everything looks beautiful. I was so lucky to have such journey. I don't think there is an exact word that can describe what I was seeing. All I want is to do the journey all over again.

As we reached the top of the hill. We met a couple of Bule talking to the boys. It's funny how the bule respond to the questions of these children. I think the way Bule respect to other is much greater then the way we do. They tried to respond to silly questions with broken English, in a polite way. Sometimes I can see them laugh together. Then it was our turn to talk to the Bule, they said that the weather here is quite hot compared to one in Europe, they are from Poland. But for Indonesian, especially those who live in hot city like Surabaya, it is cold.