Ngadisari > Bromo > Ngijo (59km, 5h10)

Really tough day today. The last one like this was when I was in New Zealand doing the Heaphy Track. I had to walk with my bike during a good 10km, onto sand, rocks and steep hills. I’ve finally reached the summit at 2722m (from what said the GPS). I was very happy to be there because of the view first, and secondly because I knew I would do some downhill for the rest of the day which is very cool :-).

Map.

Let’s start from the beginning of this day. As always the weather is pleasant and the sun was much quicker than me. I’ve know and maybe this is the worse, that steep hills are waiting for me for the next 6 km. Even, yesterday when I arrived to the village and was looking for a homestay, I met a group of French people who just came back from the Bromo Tour and a woman told me that the part from here to the top will be hard. I don’t care, I will make it even if I must walk on my knees!

Fortunately I do not have to go up to the top of this mount on the right hand side but “only” up to the left hand side.

This is a strawberry field :-)

There is two roads to get to the top: one steep for the cars that go downhill and a second one, more curvy for the one that go up hill. There is big signs that indicate the way but yesterday the driver chose the steep one to go up. I asked “Is it the right way?” and he answered “Ya, no problem”. Ok ok, if no problem, then no problem :-) This morning I chose the normal way which is much easier than the one Neto chose yesterday but I still have to push the bike sometimes.

Some different buildings.

The view and a rest :-)

Lots of fields in this area.

Rah, this one it too steep to cycle, again… Let’s walk.

The centre of the village is where the two big antenna are I guess. I’m not that far away!

When I arrived to the beginning of the village, a bunch of guys was waiting in the middle of the road. There was also a fence and a counter. What do I have to pay again. I stopped there and try to understood why, and how much I had to pay. The said “Bromo, blablabla”. There was a map of the National park and I explained to one of them that I did not want to visit Bromo but only cycle though the National Park. I don’t know if it’s because I was good enough that time but then the guy inside the counter said: “That’s ok, you can go, special for you”. Don’t tell me that twice! I came back to my bike and continued my way to the top. I know I’m not too far now when I see all those Jeep in the area :-)

Before entering to the National park, let’s have some breakfast. I’ve picked up nearly the first Warung along the way and got lucky because the food is very nice :-) Later on, when I was eating, Two guys and a girl, I guess Australian, came in. There were discussing about the food then asked me: “Do you know where we can get some food and beer in the SAME place? Ahhaha, white guys always want their disgusting beer. Sorry, I don’t like it. Men, you are in Asia and the Tea is delicious. Come back in your country if you can’t eat and drink local but expect the same confort you have in your country. No effort what so ever, seriously…

Here I am, same spot as yesterday and good news, I did not have to pay the entrance of the National park again which I was pessimistic about. Neto told me yesterday that the usual price is 220.000 but he could get it to 150.000 for me. Well, who knows. When I arrived to the counter I’ve seen the guy taking another set of tickets when he saw my face. The price of that new set had one more zero! and was 235.000IDR, something like this. I was ready to call Neto and give him the phone to get the same 150,000 as yesterday. I’ve showed him my bike saying: “the price is too expensive, I’m cycling you see? No pollution”. I don’t know if I was really good again but then the guy said: “This is ok, you can go”. Wow! I’m very lucky today (or very efficiently good, you choose ;-).

Same lookout at yesterday, same picture! :-)

I was down there yesterday and then walking up that thin white line, the stairs, up to mount Bromo, the huge light grey crater on the left side. Now, I’m not going to come back but will turn around (see the map up that page).

For now, I take the same road down the valley. There is a Indu or Balinese temple here. There are not often present at they are in Bali.

Wow! that is adventure! The sand is sometimes too deep to cycle so again, I’m walking.

Ground sample :-) Here it’s quiet good but sometimes it’s more like the background and I can’t pedal properly. I was lazy to swap my mountain bike tires…

Very nice but I don’t know if it another crater or simply clouds.

That’s an awesome view. It’s hard but I feel I’m travelling :-)

Naturally these Jeep do a perfect job. They don’t seem to struggle at all onto that sand.

Lots of car + sand = dust. I’m happy to have some protection :-)

And I’m turning slowly around Bromo which is on my right side now.

I thought the ground would become more ridable when I will reached this point. On Google map satellite view, it appeared like grassy but there was not enough details… Yes there is grass but not on the path…

Few! after maybe 6km nearly walking all the time, I got to a shed to have a break. People look at me astonished. What this white guy is doing here? And why? hahaa You don’t know yet? Because I like when life is a bit hard. I feel it’s more rewarding when you succeed :-)
I’ve met two guys on a scooter, from Borneo. The guy asked me to take a picture with me haha. Ok, ok, if you want :-) He said he doesn’t see many people like me here but when he took the picture he did not include my bike. Personally I don’t care but when he will come back to Borneo and will said to his friend that he met a cyclist in Bromo. How come they will trust him as they will only see a white skinny guy with no bike haha. Again, I don’t mind but it doesn’t sound right to me. It’s like people who goes in holiday and only take picture of themselves; “Look, I was here, and I was there, and I was here”. Taking picture of the landscape, what you’ve seen, the atmosphere, the colours, is much better to me that shooting yourself. Well, everyone is different, hey.

That break was good and I needed it.

Because it’s not going to be easier apparently.

When I look behind it reminds me what I’ve done already and I’ve done quite a bit already, maybe two third. I will make it!

Ah, finally, the path seems to become more suitable.

https://youtu.be/gzSeQLQRJ0g

Tough for a Jeep so tough for me! The road is mainly better but some time it’s style chaos.

Like this last part. The top of the hill is just there! It’s steep, too steep. I’m walking, pushing, swearing in english and French (I should learn some Indonesian as well). The dust is so thin that when my feet get covered, I lose my thongs… Rah! come on!

Pwah! Finally! Woohoo! Done!

Look, I’m already famous! Cesar of the best climb, pushing a 50 kilos bike and trailer in thongs. Foto, Foto! haha.

That’s the over side of the hill.

I’ve met a family of Switzerland here who asked me if I was going to the mount on the background. Well, no, I think I had enough for now :-) This one is more than 3000 metres high and I won’t try to go there, thank you.

It’s far away and it looks already massive!

2272m since I’ve stared climbing 3 days ago from the coast :-) My record until now.

I think a shower would be the best thing it could happen to me today. I used to be white then slightly tainted. Now I’m orange…

Now it’s downhill all the way, cool!

Wow! This is VERY nice.

It must be tough to work on this steep hill everyday. Good on them.

The road follows the edge of one of these hills. The view is impressive on both sides.

Am I going to dip in those clouds soon?

Rain clouds?

Nope, it’s only clouds passing by. I’m still about 2000 metres high, this is why.

And again, clouds are coming back.

I cannot stop taking pictures of this amazing landscape.

And can’t ignore the rubbish on the side of the road…

A village entrance.

Back in the fog.

The road turned out of the clouds and I’m now reaching a luxurious green forest.

Don’t tell me that the road will end soon and let the dirt coming back, please!

Wow! I used to be above those clouds few minutes ago.

Scooters everywhere like every time.

The road is getting better again, few!

A rest area. I had my lunch and met a nice guy and his family. He was speaking quiet well english and told me that Singapore and Jakarta have huge demand on Web jobs. Hmm, interesting. Maybe I could try something in Singapore.

Let’s go downhill again!

I’ve finally reach Malang area down in the valley and looked on google map how to reached a place situated at the northern side of the city. Yes there was road but I did not imagine that they would be build like this…

And it’s lasting quite a while now. I’ve done maybe 5-10 kilometres on this bloody shaking road. The worse is there is a village in the middle with a normal section of road. All the people who live there must take this road everyday… Wow!

Finally when I got really closed to the place I was looking for it happened that it was on the other side of an highway which I did not have any opportunity to cross… That’s bad luck. I’ve started cycling towards the city centre waiting for a “U-turn” but did not find one until 5km or something like this. I’ve decided to continue towards Batu where I would start looking for a spot for the night. I’m now in a place where there is some public toilets where I can have a half shower to feel a bit less dirty after that tough day.

This is how I’m organise the thing now. When it’s becoming dark, around 5:30, I stop to have dinner in a Warung and take to time to check on google satellite view where there is a patch of green grass like a football field. Last time it did not work but there is no reason why it would fail twice in a row. And I’ve found one 2km away from here! Let’s eat and sleep :-)