East Java, Indonesia : Hidden gem of South East Asia

My forever quote : Never stop exploring!

I'm glad that I've embarked on this journey to East Java, Indonesia. A trip in collaboration with Garuda Indonesia, Nuffnang Singapore & Ministry of Tourism Indonesia. Thanks to all of you who made it happen!

Indonesia, a Southeast Asian nation made up of thousands of volcanic islands, is home to hundreds of ethnic groups speaking many different languages. It’s is known for its beaches, volcanoes and jungles sheltering elephants, tigers and Komodo dragons.

Day 1: 

Changi Airport Singapore

Business class experience <3

Wefie time with my sweetie, @shennyyang

Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia'a National Airlines 

has undergone a remarkable transformation the last 10 years - fresh corporate identity, new aircraft fleet, in-flight product and service. They have also received a 5-star rating awarded to airlines at the forefront of product and service delivery (7th airline to earn this accolade).

Garuda Indonesia also won the ‘World's Best Airline Cabin Staff’ in 2015 and 2014, ‘World’s Best Economy Class’ in 2013 and‘World's Best Regional Airline’ in 2012 by Skytrax World Airline Awards.

First stop - Bali!

Lunch at Kuta Beach.

Fresh watermelon juice is always a perfect beach drink!

Love this combination. 

Here comes the yogis! 

@sheilamansy  @zoeraymondtan

Took their domestic flight to Bayuwangi after our lunch break at Bali.

Meet my sweet girl, Veronika 

Feeling Awesome with Garuda Indonesia.

It's also Liverpool FC’s Global Official Airline Partner.

I'm so happy in my very first jersey.

Checked in to Hotel Santika

A spacious, clean and new room.

Thanks for the welcome dinner by Ministry of Tourism Indonesia.

Thanks for the welcome dinner and goodies bag!

Got ourself into the jeep after 3 hours sleep in the hotel.

Our journey started at 1am. 

It was so cold and windy! I started to regret as I didn't really pack much of winter clothes.

I never know that Indonesia can be so cold?? 

It's like going for snowboarding or ski in Korea.

But trust me, you have to wear a proper hiking outfits here for Kawah Ijen with a PROPER pair of hiking shoes. The slopes are steep and slippery! A two-hour hike is required to reach the rim of the crater, followed by a 45-minute hike down to the bank of the crater. The blue fire is ignited sulphuric gas, which emerges from cracks at temperatures up to 600 degrees Celsius (1,112 degrees Fahrenheit).

It was freezing, dark, slippery.
It was not easy especially for a girl who never do cardio or exercise for so long.

But heads up, the sky amazed me and keep me going.

My very first time to see these amount of stars. I can recognise a few Astrology.

It was brighter and nearer when you see it in real.

Indonesia's Kawah Ijen Volcano, on the island of Java, has two of the most unusual occurrences on Earth. The first is an active solfatara that emits hot, flammable sulfurous gases. These ignite as they enter Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere and burn with an electric blue flame. Some of the gas condenses in the atmosphere to produce flows of molten sulfur that also burn with an electric blue flame. The flames are difficult to see during the day but illuminate the landscape at night.

Photo from google

The second occurrence is a one-kilometer-wide caldera lake filled with turquoise blue water. The color of the water is a result of its extreme acidity and a high concentration of dissolved metals. It is the world's largest highly acidic lake with a measured pH as low as 0.5. The cause of its acidity is an inflow of hydrothermal waters charged with gases from a hot magma chamber below.

Photo from google

@tippytapp

@randyys and I 

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Meet this sweetie, Brenda

Proud that I've made it to this stunning scene!

Here comes the photographer - Chuanren

Ijen plateau or known as "Kawah Ijen" is highly recommended to mountain buffs and hikers. The Plateau was at one time a huge active crater, 134 sq km in area. Today, Ijen is a quiet but active volcano, and the landscape is dominated by the volcanic cones of Ijen and Merapi on the northeastern edge of the Plateau, and Raung on the southwest corner.Kawah Ijen is best known for its blue fire. This blue glow, unusual for a volcano, isn't the lava itself, but is due to the combustion of sulfuric gases in contact with air at temperatures above 360°C.

The magnificent turquoise sulfur lake of Kawah Ijen lies at 2148 m above sea level and is surrounded by the volcanos sheer crater walls. The vent is a source of sulfur and collectors work here, making the trek up to the crater and down to the lake every day.


More detail, please visit : http://www.indonesia.travel/en/destination/293/ijen-crater

We are so glad that we made it!

Yay!

Hey Zoe! You're awesome!

=D

Photos credits to Chuanren, @purplelightvisuals

The view was stunning.
I'm glad that I breakthrough this, my very first hiking experience and have no regrets!
If I can do it, you can do it too!

Love this picture by @shennyyang

 It was super tiring and slippery! Proper hiking shoes is a must for this hiking trip.

Photo credits to @shennyyang

Sandy road and adventurous experience.

No regrets to Kawah Ijen.

We took our jeep down and ready for our dinner.

Checked in to Java Banana Lodge Hotel.

Love their ginger tea, especially for this cooling weather.

The room was cosy and comfy.

It was a great experience hiking up to Kawah Ijen. Although it was tiring, but totally worth it.

I would definitely recommend my friend to visit here.

Guess where's our next stop?

Stay tuned for my upcoming post -  [Part 2]

GARUDA INDONESIA PROMOTION Garuda x Nuffnang

Special Promo Price:	SGD $350 (all inclusive) flight ticket
Booking period:	From now till 31 October 2015
Travel period:	From now till March 2016
Destinations featured:	Departure: Singapore - Denpasar (Bali) – Banyuwangi Return: Surabaya – Singapore
Booking details:	Tickets are available for purchase at Garuda ticketing office (101 Thomson Road #12-03 United Square) or via the reservation hotline 6250 2888.
Promo code:	Please quote ‘GANuffnang’ when booking

LAND TOURS

Contact Trisno from Diorama Travel Management at: trisno@dioramagroup.net

ACE INSURANCE PROMOTION

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Promo available till 11th October 2015

Promo details: 20% off Single Trip Plan (not applicable to Basic Plan for Malaysia/Batam/Bintan) // 10% off Annual Plan