I'm gonna tell you about the nature. I bet you must've got what I mean if there is Peaks under the theme Nature. Yup, it's all about mountains. I would like to share what mounts I've ever been. Just so you know, all is in Java. And you will find the beauty of Java once you read this article. I wanna share my picture actually, but, sadly, the pictures were LOST like ^&*^%^$ and I was just so disappointed. Anyway, this is the true story so let's start the foot steps from the Eastern part of the Island.
Ijen Plateau
I went there in 2006 and I was drop-dead excited! Ijen plateau has a sulfur crater and it is just....big! The smell of the sulfur. The gas, I mean, is so "unique but perilous". There is certain time the tourist can reach the peak and enjoy the crater. Usually in the morning and before noon and afternoon they cannot reach as the gas spread out like crazy so you'd better off stay away otherwise you'll dye slowly. Ijen plateau is located in Eastern part of the island. 2-3 hours from Jember (my journey then started from the small town). On the way there we will enjoy the coffee plantation, the cocoa plantation, lots of mango trees (every house has at least a dozen of mango trees. Even in grave yard there are mango trees! Bless for the dead!), monkeys, jungle, edelweiss, and the low temperature for sure. You know what, it was just at 6 in the evening and we could see the Milky Way in the sky. BEAUTIFUL! And DAMN COLD! My palm was like frozen and blue. You can stay in cottage or build your own tent. The crater can be reached on foot for about 45 minutes from the camp center. You can see deer and birds on the way there. The climb usually starts in the morning. Most of the visitors are from European countries.
Panderman Hill
Located in East Java's tourism epicenter Kota Batu, small town with a huge exotic places to explore. The Panderman Hill is one of them. The hill is one of the Apple City's landmark, besides Mt. Arjuno. I've been there in 2009 and I spent 2 days 1 night to get to its peak. We built a camp the night before we started climbing to the peak. From the peak you can see:
1. Mt. Arjuno in the North-West
2. Mt. Semeru in the East
3. Mt. Kawi just right behind the hill.
4. the city view of Malang, Batu and the surrounding. Overall, it was beautiful!
Tangkuban Perahu
It's in West Java Province. The view of the crater is GORGEOUS! There is like traditional market where you can find souvenirs (from key-chains to like-Siberian-hat) and traditional sweets from Garut (a region in West Java) named Dodol Garut. Just like the previous ones, the temperature in Tangkuban Perahu is just as low as when the autumn strikes after the summer waved goodbye.
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But, trust me, all you'll see is like in the picture. Way more beautiful than in the picture. I couldn't even believe what I saw then was real and I was like "Oh my goodness! What the hell is right before my eyes here?!". Anyway, I have the picture of mine with my friends taken when I was there (the only photograph I could find. What the...)
All the spots (the mounts) are accessible even in some cases, like in Ijen Plateau we will find it a little bit difficult as it is removED area and is for conservation. You can GET THE PACKAGE FOR FREE (camp in Ijen, rafting, visit Coffee plantation--there is LUWAK also!) since every year there is IJEN FESTIVAL held in Bondowoso (the nearest regency from Ijen Plateau). It is between June-July and the participants are from different countries. You can keep getting update by following their twitter of Facebook page (just google it. Haha). I once got the "golden ticket" to Ijen Festival but SADLY I HAD TO CANCEL MY PARTICIPATION AS I HAD MY THESIS TRIAL ON THE SAME WEEK. Bl**dy hell!
How to get to Panderman Hill? It's easy. Just go to Kota Batu (25 km north-westward from Malang, East Java) and you can charter the car to get you to the nearest village (I mean, the closest one to Panderman Hill). Then you start walking and walking through the pines woods, take a break and build a camp in the camp center (it's COLD but you can see falling stars! Pays off!) then you can start climbing in the early morning so you can have SUNSHINE ON ITS PEAK.
How to go to Tangkuban Perahu? You can charter a van from Bandung (the capital of West Java Province) to Lembang. Everybody knows what and where Tangkuban Perahu is, so, just be easy! :)
Soooooo,
come over here and EXPLORE JAVA!