Mt.Semeru The Olympus of Java (part 3 of 3)

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Sunrise at Top of Mt.Semeru

A long walk to Jambangan Point

I was all by myself again. Going on the route like this is exhausting, especially when you are alone. Luckily the path is very clear. I didn't want to get lost in the wilderness with no supply in hand. I kept praying that bad thing wont happen to me. Some places in Cemoro Kandang looked dark, due to the canopy up on the top of the trees. This add the creep in this place. I continued with 50/50 chance to reach the destination, so I thought. Sometimes the path lead me to hike up to the hills, or down to small dried rivers. Well it's normal to an adventurer like me. What's not normal is that being alone on this place.

It took approximately one hour hiking Cemoro Lawang path. At the end, we will see the Jambangan point. They say when you reach Jambangan point, means that it's already close to Kalimati. You'll know you are at Jambangan point when you see a written sign on the tree. It is rather flat route, just winding a bit. The vegetation here is also different from the one in Cemoro Kandang. The place is full of bushes here and there. Sometimes the route comes to dark big bushes full of creeping plants. It is like we're entering a cave made of plants and bushes.

But when you are out of the bushes cave, the mighty Mt.Semeru will welcome you from distance. Such a stunning view. This is all I ever wanted. A clear picture of the volcano itself with some clouds passing, on part of the top of Mt.Semeru. I also met some other hikers here, we helped each other to take pictures. I was so damn lucky.

Posing at Jambangan Point

Distance view of Mt.Semeru

Breathtaking scene from the jungle

Tree Trunk Bridge

Kalimati, the Dead River

Once again you'll find jungle similar to Cemoro Kandang, at the end of Jambangan Point. It's only 15 minutes I guess, passing this Jungle and you'll find Kalimati. If you find a bridge made of tree trunk, then you are near Kalimati. Entering Kalimati point makes me feel numb all over my body. It's cold like hell. Especially when the wind is passing by, and will be worse during the night. 

I thought I should find the group whom Dana is leading. I searched for him and his other group member by the face, though it's hard to remember. I walked the area, corner by corner, only to find a heartbreaking result. It was almost dark, impossible to get back by this time. I cannot imagine being in Cemoro Kandang at night. 

Desperate by the search, I met again this guy from Jambangan point. He told me to come following him to the Sumber Mani to get fresh water. Sumber Mani is a spring, being the only water resource to the hikers. So I followed him. The route going to the Sumber Mani is the reason they call it Kalimati literally means the dead river. It is a pathway for the lava from Mt.Semeru when it erupts, looking like river, with no flowing water, then it become The Dead River.

On my way, once again, I met Dana. Thanks God, I said. He told me where his tent is, and invited me to join his group after I finished getting the water. It was the best feeling I ever had through the journey so far. I got relieved from the burden I had all along. As if my life is saved by this coincidental meeting. I got no worry no more. At Sumber Mani I met his other group member, and we've got along quite well. So I went back to the camping ground with him. One good thing about hikers campared to other type of travelers is that, they are always friendly and very eager to help others, even though they just met somewhere in the mountain. I got to know the other members, then we talked this and that. They were really nice to me. 

Being in Kalimati camping ground was the closest point with the Volcano. You can see its top very clear. The mighty volcano and the surrounding scenery is the whole picture I ever wanted to see. There was no ambition to climb up the top, it was enough seeing Mt.Semeru from that close. We can also find the Edelweiss plants among the bushes in Kalmati. Sometimes fogs came to the area, and covered it up all over the place. Making me unable to see in distance, so was the volcano. But when it got clear, photo session with the volcano as background is a must.  

At the nearby Sumber Mani

Path to Sumber Mani

Mt.Semeru from Kalimati Camping Ground

Hikers in Foggy Land

Evening with the Hikers

With Dana the Savior

Land Above the Sky

Some of the group members planed to hike the top of Mt.Semeru. Dana, on the other hand, was deciding whether to join them or to stay at the camp. I was full of desire to join them too, and some of them encourage me to do so. But my clothing at the time didn't allow me to do that. I didn't prepare myself for such effort, hiking the top of Semeru. My jacket was very thin made of thin cloth, and I didn't carry anything else but my sleeping bed. So I decided not to go. I couldn't imagine how cold is up there, if Kalimati is already this cold. So I let one of them carry my pocket camera to get great pictures from the top, and he did.

At night, the Kalimati camping ground was very cold. One guy said it was -4' Celsius. We could only be around the fire we made earlier covered in sleeping bed to get warmth. One other good thing here is that, we can see the stars clearly. Such a beautiful night I had. There was only one disturbance from other tent in distance. We heard a girl screaming out loud. She screamed like she saw a Ghost there. The guy near me said that she is being possessed by other being. It is common believe to Indonesian in places like this, is a home to spiritual beings, so that we don't do anything bad here. If not, bad thing happen to us.

They say that being up on the top of Mt.Semeru, is like being in heaven. They call it "Negeri di atas Awan" meaning land above the sky. Coz from up there you'll see the sea of clouds covering lower part of the mountain as far as the eyes can see. It stunning I would say, though I haven't experienced it myself. The pictures they brought back were the proof of that statement. While I could only see them lining up carrying headlamps. The sunrise considered as one of the most beautiful in the world. They got lucky as the sky was clear. So the sunrise they capturing was amazing. I, on the other hand, had a very good sleep, coz I could use all the sleeping bed they left behind.

Stunning Colors at Sunrise

Truly the Land Above the Sky

Surrounding Mountainous Area of Bromo Tengger Semeru national Park

Such Stunning Picture

The Golden Sunrise

This what we call "The Endless Beauty"

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Mt.Semeru The Olympus of Java (part 2 of 3)

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Hikers at the Oro-oro Ombo

The New Friends, or I would say The Saviors

The time I arrived at Ranu Kumbolo lake, it was already crowded with tents. Many kept coming to the camping ground and set up their tents. So exhausted with the journey, I laid my body down near the lake while waiting my friends to come. There I met a guy named Dana. It has become my habit that I talked to any person near me during my trip. Just a light chat would suffice, only to get rid of loneliness when I travel alone. Sometimes I don't even know their name, just remembering the face would be enough, coz I wouldn't think we would meet again.

But, this time is different, a funny story I would say. At first, it was just a one time chat and a little bit introduction of ourselves, normal. Things got different when among hundreds of hikers and campers, I met the same guy for at least three times, coincidentally. It's like we're destined to be together haha. No, I'm just kidding. Anyway, this one guy I met and his group, turn out to be Savior in my next story of hiking Semeru.

Oro-oro Ombo, the Vast Wild Savanna

The second day, many hikers continued their journey to the next spot called Kalimati. I was so eager to join them. But my friends didn't like the idea, they had bad experience in the past. Only then, they let me go. They remind me to get back on the evening, I agreed. I depart as soon as I got ready with the stuff I will carry. I didn't plan to stay overnight at Kalimati, that's why I only carry my sleeping bed, but not my tent.

Tanjakan Cinta is the first obstacle I had to go through, not to steep though. Only that, I had to be in line with others. As I said, hundreds of hikers continued their way in the same day, same hour. At top of Tanjakan Cinta, I enjoyed for quite sometime the stunning Ranu Kumbolo. Such a peaceful place. When I continued, I got another beautiful scene a head of me. It's Oro-oro Ombo, a vast prairie filled with purple wild flowers, turned out to be an invading species that originated elsewhere. So that, original species was losing the territory.

For me, it doesn't matter where the flowers come from. As long as it looks good, that's enough. The hills surrounding this vast savanna are filled with green forest. The sun shine brightly, makes the picture even more perfect. Ah, I can stay here for as long as I can. Just to enjoy the scenery and drink a cup of coffee. Such a perfect place with a perfect scene. For a second I thought, this look like those scene in Bollywood movies where the actor and the actress start to sing with their weird dance in a middle of a Savanna filled with colorful flowers. Yes, it looks like Kashmir valley in India.

Unfortunately, there are some spots on the prairie, where the man-tall plants crumple. This make me sad, those amateur hikers, when they tried to get a good angle for their photos, they break down the plants by stepping their feet on them. Also those who tried to make new route or shortcuts, such a dumb move. I think, the rangers should do something to stop this damage created by those irresponsible hikers.

Seeing many other hikers around, I forgot that I was in the wild. I heard that sometimes a leopard or a puma is seen hunting their prey on this prairie. For sure, human cannot see one if they are in hunt. The thick purple flower plant is as high as a grown up man. I wonder if there was any incident involving wild animals around here. Today is an exceptional I guess, the crowed may scare the wild away. But, what if there's a predator around?

So I woke up from my daydreaming about the dancing Bollywood movie and the leopard hunt. I had to continue my journey. My friend said it would take two hours. But, looking at the crowd and the energy I have from my breakfast earlier, I would say it will take longer. Despite, I want to enjoy being in the wild. Only that, I had nobody to talk to. It's okay, I'll be with myself for the next three hours. I guess!

Looking like Kashmir Valley

Oro-oro Ombo Far View

Invasive Purple Flower

Would you dance here?

First Step at Oro-oro Ombo

The Second Meeting in Cemoro Kandang

Walking at the Oro-oro Ombo for about 1,5 km is not that hard for me, coz the road is flat. The challenge came when we reach Cemoro Kandang, it's the next hiking route where we can see different vegetation. It's a jungle with less density of big trees. The road itself started to be steep. But not too steep, so it's fine by me. In the middle of my way at Cemoro Kandang, I met Dana, again. Here the chat became more intense, he offered me help when we reach Kalimati point later. I wouldn't say no of course. At this time, we introduced our name to each other, so that we won't be stranger again in the future. Cause help is all I need later on. 

So he continue the walk a head of me and become too far a head, I couldn't catch him up. I guess he's an experienced hiker. I, on the other hand, make a stop for many times. My legs got really exhausted, I can see that the journey is longer than I expected. I found myself get passed by many other hikers, as if I was at the end of the line. No, I won't give up, I had to continue the journey. Until I reach the destination. Kalimati I'm coming!

Scenery at Cemoro Kandang

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