Program for DAY 6 of our circuit in JAVA : Ascent of KAWAH IJEN volcano - Discovery of Banyuwangi - Java National Dance Festival.
ON THE ROAD TO IJEN VOLCANO
Departure at 4:00 am to reach the starting point of the hike (approximately 1h30 of 4X4). Too exhausted, we didn't have the courage to get up earlier to go see the famous blue flames… But the volcano seemed EXCEPTIONAL to us all the same!
Before starting the climb, consider renting gas masks if you plan to descend into the crater (mandatory to withstand the sulfur vapors).
ASCENT OF IJEN VOLCANO
Then it will be 1h30 of steep climb to reach the crater. Take good shoes as the trail is very slippery.
Arrived at the top of the crater, the spectacle is striking: at the bottom of this rock cauldron spreads the lake of milky blue-green acid, while on the shore we see the yellow stain of a sky sulfur pit. open from which escapes a thick cloud of smoke.
I went down to the edge of the lake by a rocky path (30 minutes) where we meet the collectors and carriers of sulfur. It is necessary to avoid giving money without counterpart, I opted for the purchase of several pieces of sulfur directly to the carriers. They were happy and I felt a little less guilty… but I still felt pity and anger against this way of exploiting men. Do not hesitate to strike up a conversation when they pose and especially avoid taking pictures of them ...
FYI, the porters ask for candies or cookies (I don't know why).
When you come back down, remember to lift your head from time to time because there are plenty of monkeys in the trees, jumping from vine to vine: another beautiful spectacle of nature!
Visit of BANYUWANGI
Back in the late morning at Banyuwangi, we took a rickshaw ride and visited the local market. We found the rickshaws on the street opposite the main shopping center. The pedicab ride takes us through the old quarters and took us to a Chinese temple. Nice walk but difficult for rickshaw drivers. I almost wished I had done it on foot. But on the other hand, we made people who really need it work.
The local market is covered and very dark. It seemed to me to be of no great interest because there were few stalls, not very friendly, few smiles… in short, as soon as you enter, you want to leave!
We had planned to go visit a fishing port in Muncar but our guide suggests rather the national festival of the dances of Java. So bingo! We are invited as VIPs, seated among the officials to watch 1 magnificent dancers in traditional costumes perform choreographies in perfect harmony. We were even interviewed by a journalist eager for Western comments… An unpredictable, unexpected moment where we immersed ourselves in Javanese culture in an atmosphere that we adored! Thank you again to Daus for this magical moment!
TAKE A LOOK AT THE VIDEO: JAVANESE DANCES
Find out more by going to DAY 7: