Mount Bromo & Ranupani Village - Kembara Jawa Timur Part II

A scenery OTW to Ranupani Village, we'll be back for Mt Semeru :D

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Kembara Jawa Timur Part I - Mount Bromo from Mount Penanjakan
Kembara Jawa Timur Part II - Mount Bromo & Ranupani Village
Kembara Jawa Timur Part III - Bromo from Gardu Pandang & Madakaripura Waterfall
Kembara Jawa Timur Part IV - Kawah Ijen - A mountain of surreal pain and beauty
Kembara Jawa Timur Part V - From Kalianyar Village to Papuma beach
Kembara Jawa Timur Part VI - Human interest around Surabaya

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After spending a few hours at Mt Penanjakan (until every tourist gone back already), we went straight to Mount Bromo area. The jeep stop a about 500m distance from the crater and then we continue on foot. Some of us opted for horse riding towards the crater.

One thing that our authority should learn from them is how their local government distribute the wealth of tourism.The villager provide the accommodation, built some stall/warung for breakfast & lunch. Others provide the transport (jeep) from the accommodation to the Mt Penanjakan & Mt Bromo .. and then at Mt Bromo the jeep can only send to a certain distance only so villager with horse can provide horse riding services... everyone get a share of the cake..

In Malaysia how they do it? They simply privatised everything (accommodation,food catering, local guide & even porter) (read: MONOPOLY) to a single company that will dictate exorbitant price making local hiking far more expensive than oversea hiking.

Upon reaching the crater, instead of hiking the Mt Bromo crater, i with Jasni decided to venture to another part of the area. We scout the canyon like area between Bromo & Batuk. After spending around an hour in Mt Bromo area, we proceed to Ranupani Village. Ranupani village is the highest village in East Jawa. Residing at 2100m, it is the starting point to hike Mt Semeru. I always dream of hiking Mt Semeru but this hiking trip is simply not for beginner. We were told that hiking Mount Semeru is among the toughest hike compared to other more famous volcano mountain in Indonesia. Well, next year we target to hike Mt Merbabu (& most probabily Mount Merapi as well) followed by Mount Jade in Taiwan and then a repeat of Mount Rinjani. If all successful then can start thinking of Semeru hike in 2012 maybe. :D

The canyon like area between Mount Bromo and Mount Batuk

Horse rider at Bromo

Ranu Ranupani Lake

Regulo Lake

Ranupani is just an ordinary village. Located strategically at 2100m above sea level provide it with agriculture advantage coupled with its fertile land. There is two small lake here, name Ranu Ranupani and Regulo. Both are just an ordinary lake. Unlike Ranu Kumbulo Lake which is really beautiful with majestic scenery. I take this opportunity to snap some macro picture here.

Ranupani village boy, every boy bring sabit with them as they need to cut grass to feed their livestock

Before going home, we ate lunch at one of the houses in the village then proceed back to our hotel. I promised myself this would not be the last visit to Ranupani village, but we'll return to conquer Mount Semeru later... insyaAllah.

The Bromo jeep

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Mount Bromo from Mount Penanjakan - Kembara Jawa Timur Part I

A villager carrying grass with Mt Bromo, Mt Semeru & Mt Batuk as background (IR)

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Kembara Jawa Timur Part I - Mount Bromo from Mount Penanjakan
Kembara Jawa Timur Part II - Mount Bromo & Ranupani Village
Kembara Jawa Timur Part III - Bromo from Gardu Pandang & Madakaripura Waterfall
Kembara Jawa Timur Part IV - Kawah Ijen - A mountain of surreal pain and beauty
Kembara Jawa Timur Part V - From Kalianyar Village to Papuma beach
Kembara Jawa Timur Part VI - Human interest around Surabaya

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In early April 2010 I join the Luarbiasa expedition to Jawa Timur. Our main destination is Bromo and also Kawah Ijen. I have always wanted to go to Kawah Ijen since i saw interesting human interest picture taken by a fellow fren Arey.

Our journey started from Surabaya. After landing we being picked up by our loyal yet humble & honest guide, Mas Kaboel aka Aruna Asa. Our first stop is Ibu Nuraini restaurant at Sedati, Surabaya (nearby the airport). My fellow friend had some fond memories of this restaurant since it is among the main pitstop whenever they visit Jawa Timur. The main popular dish in this restaurant is its Rujak Cingur (dish make from cow nose). After booking hotel at a nearby hotel for our stay later, we went straight to Bromo. The journey is quite a long one taking about 6 hours (if not mistaken).

Since we charted a mini bus (it was only 9 of us.. yet we charted this mini bus for comfort) , we need to change the bus midway as the bus cant go further through the steep road. We check in to a posh hotel Cemara Indah Hotel in Cemoro Lawang. It was among the most expensive hotel within the area (300,000 rupiah per room per night) but it is well worth it as it located just beside the crater overlooking Mt Bromo,Mt Semeru and Mt Batuk.

Ibu Nuraini preparing the rujak cingur herself

After arriving, we had only few hours to sleep as we need to start the journey to Mount penanjakan at 3:30 am. Mount Penanjakan is the main view point of Bromo. At 2770m, it provide excellent view of Bromo, Semeru and Batuk. The jeep bring us very near to its view point location. Just need to hike the cement staircase for 15 minutes and you'll reach the view point.

Mount Bromo is a very popular tourist destination in indonesia. The mountain is located witin the Bromo-Semeru-Tengger National Park. Bromo & Semeru is one of several mountain within this park and Tengger is the people tribe that exhibit this land. Some of the main mountain include

-Mount Bromo (2392m)

-Mount Semeru (3676m)

-Mount Batuk (height not sure but similar height to Bromo)

-Mount Penanjakan (2770m) - the main view point of Mt Bromo

Some of the pictures taken while we were in Mount Penanjakan

Mt Bromo, Mt Semeru & Mt Batuk during sunrise from Mt Penanjakan (IR)

Our humble guide, Mas Kaboel pointing to Mt Bromo from Mt Penanjakan during the sunrise

Bromo in B&W

Group photo at Bromo (IR)

After spending few hours at Mount Penanjakan , we proceed to Mount Bromo itself. I'll continue this entry in second part of Bromo.

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Sungai Timun, Linggi - Tasting freshwater lobster & smoked sembilang fish

On the way from my hometown Malacca to KL, we stop by this fisherman jetty at Kampung Sungai Timun, Linggi which is famously known for its freshwater lobster (udang galah). This area were once highlighted in Majalah 3 documentary. Bought half kilo of live udang galah for RM25. My son damn scared when i put the plastic bag of the live lobster beside him.. hehe..

Panorama picture of the river at the Jetty

Apart from freshwater lobster, Sungai Timun is also famous for crocodile sighting and fireflies (kunang-kunang). Its pristine mangrove swamp that fringes the river definitely a perfect habitat for both creatures. The last survey by Perhilitan count the number of crocodile at Sungai Linggi (which Sungai Timun is part of it) at 3000+. The number might has dwindled by now but their number is still significant.

I arrive at this jetty at around 5 PM, take a look around for 15-20 minutes,chat with an elder who is fishing for lobster with his son (got few tips for lobster fishing also.. :D) , before heading back to KL. Planning to revisit this place next time maybe for fireflies sighting and also fishing :D.

After exiting this place, we bought a kilo of smoke sembilang fish by the roadside for RM16. Managed to get around 14 sembilang fish. Judging from its look, my wife said it is keli.. not sembilang.. from its taste i said its not keli.. and finally when we reach my father in law house, he said it is sembilang laut not keli. After being smoked their look seem similar. :D

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Some other link about Sungai Timun

http://kota.pid.net.my/article.cfm?id=12
http://jelajah-xplorer.blogspot.com/2010/02/quest-for-udang-galah-sungai-timun-and.html

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How to reach Sungai Timun

-Easiest way is by from Pedas Plus Highway exit. After exiting Pedas, take left (go towards Pengkalan Durian). At the end of the road (at Pengkalan Durian) you will reach a T junction.Take left towards Linggi. Drive slowly and lookout for the junction to Sungai Timun on your right. There is supposed a large billboard about Jeti Nelayan Sungai Timun. The road towards this jetty is currently under upgrade exercise. After several kilometers you will see the jetty area on your left. 

You can also exit earlier at Simpang Ampat if you are coming from south but the journey through kampung road is much longer (i think it is almost  2x longer than from PEDAS exit).  From Simpang Ampat exit, take 9 o'clock (left) at the round about. At the first four-way intersection, take right. From here you just need to go straight passing through Kampung Brisu, Kampung Lendu, Lubok Cina,Kampung Sungai Jerneh and Kampung Pengkalan Pauh. After Kampung Pengkalan Pauh, look out for the Jetty Nelayan Sungai Timun on your left. Follow the new road for few kilometers and you'll see the jetty are on your left.

Please note that since you using kampung road, there is a lot of sheep, goat and buffalo wandering around by the roadside so becareful.

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