THE THREE ALPHA TRAVEL

Cianjur is famous for its rice and its beautiful girls. It is a sprawling centre and it is close to Cibodas – a place admire its botanical gardens and to start the climb of Gunung Gede; a nearly 4000 meter volcanic peak. Its local delicacy is the lontong, a dish of concentrated rice in coconut sauce. But all those reasons to visit this non-touristy town would not be enough for me to be here if it wasn’t for Yudi.

Yudi is a Javanese teacher (amongst other things) that has lived a lot of years in New Zealand. Coming back he wanted to do something for his community so he started his homestay programme. Having a network of friends and family houses, Yudi offers accommodation and three meals a day for the price of 12 USD. This is a very modest amount, taking into consideration that the experience includes teaching in schools, rice field or recycling station work and a visit to a different sight everyday. He has just finished writing a book that will be published this month – I will not be here to celebrate it but I wish him the best of luck with his venture.

The interest of the people to meet foreigners is really big. I have been both in a primary and a high school and the experience made me re-think my career (if any so far ). Depending on the way one travels he or she will experience things for the first time or not but one thing is for sure; the appreciation of home cooked meals and mingling with the locals. Also many travelers have this experience at the beginning of their visit to Indonesia, coming from Jakarta. For me it was my last stop and I reckon it helped me look back and evaluate my degree of experience and the proximity of what I lived to the real lives of the Indonesian people.

All in all it is highly recommendable. I know there are more people in Asia doing the running the same programmes so I suggested to Yudi the networking of all these efforts. Whatever attracts travelers without having a commercial outlook needs to be supported, especially in Southeast Asia. So go for it if you are in Java. And while at it give Yudi and his team my regards. I hope we meet again!

PS: Yudi’s email is westjava2002@yahoo.com for anyone interested in visiting or just helping out.

Java is the powerhouse of Indonesia so even before I visited it I knew I should avoid the cities. All Javanese cities are big due to the concentration of people looking for job opportunities. Its nature though is far from forgettable.

Arriving in Java from Gilimanuk in Bali, I had the luck to meet a gentleman that was taking the same train as me. By that time I did not know I was taking that train but having company helped form my decision. My first stop was Probolinggo and the train travel was my first taste of train transport in Indonesia (very sociable indeed). Also in Probolinggo I had my first experience of a becek (a tricycle taxi). Cemero Lawang was to be reached the next day – the village near the Bromo volcano.

Gunung Bromo

Both the village, the walks around it and Bromo volcano has been great! There I had the luck to meet two French guys who were to be my companions for the next trek, Francis and Mathieu. With Francis we start 02:30 so to reach the viewpoint on sunrise. By myself I walk until the lips of Bromo volcano and back. Great stuff and my first active volcano visit! Next was Bondowoso – my thought was to continue West but unexpectedly in the same hotel we find Mathieu that has already gone a day before! The guys are talking about the Ijen volcano; hold on… I did not know it even existed – so I change my plans; I will go back to the East with them to climb it. Such is the beauty of independent travel…

Ijen

To arrive to Ijen, we have to go through Senpol, a village in the area of Blawan, famous for its Javanese coffee variety. Too bad I have stopped drinking coffee a long time ago – the tea is equally nice though. In Senpol we stay in Katimore Homestay and after having walked a bit near the village we are to climb Ijen starting very early (again) in the morning. At 3:45 we commence the climb (3 km to the top). When reaching it, a rainbow is formed – a reward for our efforts? Ijen is a major sulfur extraction point. The people carry 75-kilo burdens on their shoulders – the climb up and down the volcano, then down the mountain to where we started. What a job! I try to lift one of them and it is impossible!!! On the way back we begin to walk to Blawan (a 17 km distance). Somewhere halfway we will be picked up by a cabbage track. After this it’s back to Bondowoso – the main hub to continue travelling. I do Bondowoso – Jember – Surabaya – Yogyakarta in one go and the guys continue to Bali. Safe travels to them!

Yogyakarta, Malioboro Street

Yogyakarta is the biggest city I have visited in Indonesia – not big at all compared with the other cities. I like it very much here and I walk a lot through the small streets that somehow remind me of Beijing and its “hutongs”. From here I will visit Borobudur and Prambanan and feel the hottest weather Indonesia has to offer with 38-39 degrees Celcius. I make up the rest of my trip – four days in Singapore and of to the Malaysian Borneo for a good twenty days. Sounds good to me!

My final stop is to be Cianjur at which I arrive through Bandung, changing trains. The reason of my visit to this completely non-touristic town is Yudi’s Homestay programme. But for this a special mention is worth it on the next post. Until then, be good!

Hitching a ride...

This is from Blawan going to Bondowoso… we did it on top of a track full of cabbages – not the best thing for your back

If you wanted to know if I am OK in my health this photo will reassure you that YES I am better than any other time in my life. Be good now… ciao!