During our fall break from school, we decided to take a quick trip to Bromo, a mountain/volcano. Bromo is located on the eastern half of the island of Java. After about four hours of travel we passed the sign marking the end of central Java and the beginning of east Java. Five hours later we were out walking on a sea of gray sand from one of Bromo’s previous eruptions. At the center of this enormous sand pile was the crater known as Bromo and along its edges steep cliffs that seem hold the sand in.
As the sun went down, so too, did the temperature. Suddenly for the first time, we felt really cold in Indonesia. We decided to go to bed right after supper since we wanted to get up early to enjoy the sunrise. At 4 AM we piled into an old jeep that took us 4 km to the base of a lookout point. From there we journeyed on foot up a steep sandy trail that eventually became just a long stairway. After 200 steps we reached the lookout point and waited for the sun to rise. I was glad that we had chosen to buy stocking hats as souvenirs. Not only was it cold, it was also windy. Gradually, more and more people joined us at the lookout point. Most of the people were European. A gentleman from France took our picture.
After enjoying the sunrise we head back down to the jeep. Our next stop was the crater. After a 15 minute ride, our driver deposited us about 3 km from the crater. It is amazing how far a kilometer feels when you’re hiking up a steep sandy hillside in the higher altitudes. It took a number of rest breaks, but we eventually made it to the crater rim. The view was wonderful but a bit frightening. The rim was only 1-2 meters across and covered in sand. Looking down into the smoldering crater, I thought to myself, “only in Indonesia”. In Indonesia, everything that you do as at your own risk. Standing on a thin sandy rim looking down into what appeared to be a bottomless pit made a shiver run down my spine. So, we took pictures and headed back down the crater to the jeep.
Fifteen minutes later we were ordering hot coffee and tea with our breakfast at a small restaurant located on the steep hillside bordering the sand sea. As we ate, the wind picked up outside turning the sand sea and crater into a cloud of dust. I was glad we weren’t still on the rim of Bromo.
Twelve hours later, we pulled into our driveway in Salatiga. Home sweet, home at last. Twenty-one hours in the car for a glimpse of more of God’s creation. After a hot shower and a good night’s sleep the trip felt worth it. I had ever stood on the rim of a smoking volcano before. I had never contemplated how much force it would take to pulverize a rock mountain and reduce it to just a sandy crater. Indeed, God has made an amazing world. Blessings to you in whatever part of the world you live. Jeff
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