Surabaya - Ijen Sulfur Lake

After visiting the beyond awesome Madakaripura Waterfall, we travelled from Bromo to Ijen by car. Took us around 6hours to reach Ijen @.@

Arrived and checked in to Arabika Homestay. It was around 7 at night and the surrounding is so dark. Arabika Homestay, without doubt, the place is surrounded by coffee bean plantations!

We slept around 10pm that night and being wake up by the guide at 12am in the midnight @.@ Morning call by knocking the hostel door again...

By 1am, we are ready at the starting point to hike up to Kawah Ijen. We spent 2hours for the 3km distance, due to the super low temperature and steep path @.@ We hike in dark, with the help of our headlamps :)

From Wikipedia:

"West of Gunung Merapi is the Ijen volcano which has a one-kilometer-wide turquoise-colour acid crater lake. The lake is the site of a labor-intensive sulfur mining operation, in which sulfur-laden baskets are carried by hand from the crater floor."

We are going for the blue fire!! Sulfur's flame in the air creates fire in blue colour which can only be spotted in dark. That's why we have to be so early.

 Here is it!!! The blue flame :)

We spent 3hours sitting (freezing) there, and when the sky turned bright, we finally had a clearer view of the acid crater lake!

 Miner in action. Their work is low-paid and dangerous. Most of them work without proper protection equipment which brought to respiratory problem. With around 70kg loads on their shoulder, they have to walk 3km down the mountain for weighing.

Have to be extra careful with your steps. 

 Sulfur blocks in the basket ready to be delivered down to the mountain.

Oh ya, there are sulfur being molded into small cartoon shape, sold as souvenirs by the locals at affordable price but not sure that whether they can be bring up to the flight??!

Having our way down to the mountain.

Surrounded by volcanoes ^^ Temperature turned from unbearable cold to pleasant, thanks to Miss Sunshine :)

 Traveled back to Arabika Homestay and have our breakfast at mountain-view cafe lol :P

End this post with a gas tank :P This gas tank is used together with the heater in our bathroom lol :P

Reminders:
i) Shoes with good gripping is preferable.
ii) Face mask is needed since stingy sulfur smell might make you uncomfortable.
iii) Sweater, wind breaker, gloves....A MUST to prevent you from turning into an ice stick lol ;p

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