Surabaya, Mount Bromo

It was a trip I didn't plan for, got called up in the wee hours of the morning, packed my bags, and took the evening flight. Thanks to AirAsia's ID90, because without it, trips like that would cost a bomb, I would probably end up losing all my savings and live a miserable life. Spent a total for RM400 for food, fun,flight, and more fun.. There goes half my CNY and Birthday money collected. But definitely worth it.

Touchdown Surabaya, Indonesia

 We arrived Surabaya, Indonesia on Saturday night, picked up from the airport and headed off on a four hour drive over to Mount Bromo. It was one nerve wrecking experience, if you think the KL jam is bad, go to Surabaya and drive there. It was that time when you just want to count your blessings, being thankful that KL roads aren't as bad. The jam was terrible, learn to drive there, cut queue and use the opposite lane like a boss, and you can drive anywhere else in the world. True story. No, none of us slept in the car... only for awhile, at least.

The Sunrise

Cemoro Lawang, yes it's THAT cold.

Upon reaching this place called Cemoro Lawang, a village located on the north-east of Mount Bromo, we literally froze there, probably because we underestimated the Indonesian weather. We were greeted by the beautiful sunrise, the locals, selling gloves and snowcaps, I didn't want any until my Indonesian friend insisted we bought a pair of gloves, an hour later, I was very glad I agreed. We then rode on horses or.. ponies, across the sea of sand and reached Mount Bromo.

Marto and Manis the horse,pony. The two that accompanied me up to the mountain

Seated on the horse, and took this shot with ONE hand. gotta love my Sony TX5.

As we reached the top of the mountain, we were required to walk up to see the volcano, and looks can be deceiving, until you step your foot on the flight of stairs up the volcano. We nearly thought of  just walking back down and not bother going all the way to the top, because there was no proper support, it was steep, definitely not for someone who is afraid of heights, but we did it anyway. The scenery up there was, breath taking.. yah, I still had breath by the time I got to the top.

The Horror... was so scared I couldn't take a picture on the way up. 

View from top, to bottom. wasn't too scared already.

View after climbing up the stairs. 

Offerings ranging from flowers, fruits and anything
will be thrown inside. 

 People would normally give their offerings here, sit and chill here, watch the sunset/rise, everyone just.. waits around. Of course I didn't ask why on earth were they doing so, but I think it's just their liking of being together, sitting on high ground, just.. watching people.

Climbed back down, and took a group picture. From Left:
Jin, Cia, ChaCha, myself and Neoh

After taking tonnes of pictures (not posted here) and getting ourselves back unto lower ground, we rode our horses back to Cemoro Lawang and had a little picnic lunch, and that's till someone decided to suggest that we all go water rafting. Hesitated at first because I didn't change much rupiahs, but apparently it was only MYR50, I had enough, so I thought, okay, bring it on.. it was, one of those hardcore Sundays, and without sleep the night before, it was.. insane. But we survived nonetheless.

Picnic Lunch with the people from Jakarta, Philippines and Malaysia

On the way up hill! Oh and I must say this! Photobombing level: Elena.

The water rafting trip was something to shout about... okay, not really, but the trip there was fun, we sat a mini lorry through the bumpy road, and we went through muddy waters, and throughout the ride, we even went through a little village by the river.. where we saw villagers doing all sorts of daily activities ranging from washing their clothes, taking their bath, kids having fun in the water, brushing their teeth, and... AND!!! taking a poop. We saw, a person taking a dump in the river. It was that moment, when we didn't want to get into the water nor did we want to play a fool and sabotage the other raft.

When all fun was gone and done, we took another 4 hour drive back to Surabaya where we stayed at a friend's place. It was a great, short trip nonetheless, appreciated the time spent with a few good friends, experiencing new culture, new land just in a 3 day span.

Last meal at Surabaya, and till today I still miss this awesome goodness. Rawon.

It's times like these you wish you lived the simple life, truth is, we can. But we just don't want to work hard now, we don't want to save up now, we don't want to chase that seemingly Utopian dream. I'm in that category, sad to say, as much as I would love to just go live some place else, live like a queen and spend all I want, I first have to work hard, save up, and not go for supper sessions every night. It's then I   realize and I hope I do remember that, life is all about give and take, you give something, you take something. you sacrifice, you get rewarded. It's just a matter of how much effort I would like to put in.

But I guess, all that can wait, in the mean time I think I'll just work hard enough, pay my study loan, survive the current job I'm in, graduate in August, and just see where God leads me. I have many goals and dreams, but whenever people ask me bout what I'd wanna do when I graduate, I'd rather keep the real thing to myself and tell them other options which I am not really interested in.

Till my next post. and yes, I still blog, and for those who ask me, I find it a total insult. :(