My week end trip to East Java,
Enroute stop for a coffee break and local refreshment which is provided by local villager inside the open traditional hut in the middle of rice field. The weather was very vivid because of the sunny day. It was 32 degrees but wasn't felt that hot, wind blowing, green paddies surrounded, water irrigation, birds, buffalo on work and so many others exotic moment sending a natural breeze.
Afternoon arrived in Gilimanuk Harbor; our coach just entered the ferry gate then flowed above the Java straits. It took only 30 minutes to cross the straits. Welcome to Java Island, children jumped from the ferry to the sea, they swim that good. People dropped some coins to the water, and suddenly children dive… ups and coins has been on his mouth… it was the first unique excitement while helping children to earn some money using their aptitude.
We proceeded to Kalibaru, the region which is avowed as one of the essential plantation area in Java Island, tobaccos, coffee, coco, tropical fruits etc. Checked in to Kalibaru Cottage, The special Kalibaru charm cottage is apparent in the short journey to the resort. The bustling street change to charming country road and peaceful villages. Surrounded by coffee & cocoa traditional plantation, Kalibaru cottage an accommodation which is carefully designed to fulfill guest privacy, as well as enjoy natural stunning beauty of lush and landscape gardens. Here the climates are bit colder around 20 to 25 degrees, fresh and green…. We arrived bit late at Kalibaru, so that we only did a very short village and plantation trip, to see various plantation and such local activities as brown coconut sugar processing, farming, coffee making process, rubber traditional fabric, and to see evening people various activities.
Early morning proceeded to Ijen Plateau, passed the Gumitir hills, and some villages in Java. On the way to Ijen, we had such an opportunity to see a huge tobaccos plantation, local morning activities and secondary rain forests. We started our leisurely 1,5 hour 3km trek up to Ijen crater (2300m). At the top we enjoyed panoramic view of the forests below and walk to the blue lake situated to a crater spouting sulphuric fumes into the fresh and cool air or watch workmen dig into the solid sulphur rocks. Mt. Ijen is a strato type of volcano, with its blue crater lake as its magnificent typical and located in 2145 – 2386 M above sea level.
Trip back to Banyuwangi we preceded through another side route. The path road is much trekky and the forest is much greener than the opposite where we came through. It took 1,5 hours to get Banyuwangi where we were stop for lunch.
Well, it’s now we get another power after fill energy (lunch) to my body. We were ready to go for another ultimate trip, Alas Purwo, the Sacred Forest. It is believed as the most mystical and sacred forest on this area, where the religious people usually doing meditation to fill their needs, magic power, lucky, and other mystical needs. No wonder in some parts of this forest we will see some people with long hair, bear and mustache, and also very skinny with a strength sight inside the cave..
It took 2 hours from Banyuwangi to this place. We first will meet a 13 kilometers teak forest to get inside the Alas Purwo. We drive very slow, because the coach that we used was not convenience for that stony road, so it takes 2 hours to get the forest from the main road passing the teak forest. Arriving at the first gate forest we were already bit tired. The forest police explained about some interesting site that actually can be visited, caves, banteng bull meeting point, beach where we can see the turtle, the sacred temple inside the forest, and some others. We had a very limit time, and then decided to see the beach. I was very impressed to see the white sandy beach which is looked very beautiful. I was thinking to run, yell and swim, since I see how wonderful place. However it was not possible, we had no change and we were in hurry. We arrived upon sunset, and then we used this moment to take some pictures. Then back to Banyuwangi. It was dark already, three men in the dark of forest. We looked around; suddenly we see some animal ran in front of the car. We were bit lucky in that very large forest we had an opportunity to see some wild animal, beer, green snakes, some kinds of birds, black monkey, lizard, etc.
We arrived back to Banyuwangi at night already, then decided to have dinner and look for accommodation for overnight, then come back to Bali in the next morning……..
