Want to go somewhere exotic and not so ordinary for the weekend? Don’t want to take too much time out for leave and don't want to spend a pretty penny? Want to explore the gorgeous nature of your own country but you’re not totally prepared to roughing it?
Well, here’s an idea!
Preparation (one week in advance):
Click on www.airasia.com and book airtickets JKT-SBY-JKT leaving on Friday at 3.30 pm and coming back on Sunday evening. Price variable, depending on time of booking. It is advisable to get the late afternoon flights just to be safe so you can still catcth the train even if the flight is delayed. If you take the evening flight and it is delayed, then you’ll be in real trouble!
Call a friend in Surabaya or Aneka Travel cp. Mbak Ira 031 592 9000 to buy tickets for SBY-Banyuwangi leaving on Friday evening. If you go through Aneka Travel, they will surcharge you IDR 15K per ticket. Mutiara Train Executive Class is an affordable IDR 55K per one way.
Call the Ijen Resort and Villas 0333-429000 fax 0333-420800 and speak to Pak Djoko or Pak Dewa to negotiate and book a room for a night (check in Saturday, check out Sunday), pick up service at the train station (75K per pax) and transportation to the Ijen Crater (600K per car). Ask them as well to buy the return Banyuwangi- Surabaya train ticket leaving on Sunday morning. Room Rates: Standard 425K net, Deluxe 600K Net and Suite 1 Mio Net. It is worth the money to get a deluxe room. Note: Do not book through the website as you will get the more expensive rates. Also keep in mind that they do not accept any credit cards, so bring enough cash to pay your bills! www.99bali.com/hotels/ijen/
Things to bring:
If possible, travel light with a backpack only as you will be getting in and out of several modes of transportations. Bring 2 pairs of jeans or cargo pants, a couple of shirts, trekking or sport shoes, a warm sweater or jacket, a swim suit, sandals, jammies, ipod, camera, suncream, sunnies, socks, ear plugs, eyecovers, good books, insect repellent, playing cards, first aid and vitamins.
Arriving at Surabaya at 4.30 pm, take a cab and go directly to the luxurious and historic Majapahit Mandarin Oriental Hotel (formerly the Hotel Oranje, located at Jl. Tunjungan) www.eastjava.com/hotel/mandarin/ for afternoon high tea at their lobby lounge and jump in their beautiful lap pool for a swim (75K) or try a therapeutic massage at the Majapahit spa while waiting for dinner time. Around eight o’clock, you can dine at the famous Sarkies Seafood Chinese Restaurant in the hotel or get out of the hotel and head to other venues. My recommendation is Ayam Goreng Pemuda or be adventurous (smirk) and head on over to Tunjungan Plaza where you will be spoiled for choice. Choose, 1, 2, 3 or 4! After dinner, it is advisable to go the supermarket and stock up on water, drinks and snacks for the train journey. Use this time as well to pick up your train tickets either bought by your friend or the travel agent.
After dinner, make sure you arrive at the Gubeng Station plenty of time to board the Mutiara Express train at 10.30 pm.
Leaving at 10.30 pm on the dot, the Mutiara train is usually packed, some by domestic and foreign tourists who wish to go to Bali by taking the ferry at Banyuwangi. The Executive Class is quite comfortable with adjustable comfy seats and footrest. This is where you will be needing your earplugs and eyecovers to be able to catch some zzz’s! It’s also very chilly, so take advantage of the warm covers and clean pillows available for rental during the 6 hours trip.
Stepping off at the Karangasem station (one station before the terminus) at 4.30 am, you will be picked up by the Ijen staff with a 4x4 vehicle to go directly to the resort which you will arrive an hour later. Ijen Resort and Villas is located in the midst of nowhere, set in a stunning backdrop of rice paddy fields and mountains. The rooms are airy and good sized, each with breathtaking views. The only cringe I have is that the rooms are not equipped with minibars nor coffee making facilities.
After checking in and a quick shower, enjoy their homemade breads and american style breakfast at their stylish coffeshop, and leave the resort by 7 am to head to the Ijen Crater. Do pack your sunscreen, sunnies, camera, water bottles and first aid. Dress in loose fitting clothes, trekking shoes, cap and a warm sweater or jacket!
Arriving at the foot of Kawah Ijen or Ijen Crater about an hour later, pay your entrance fee (15K) and start the ascending 3 km climb towards the crater. The climb can be quite steep and rough at times and can be covered within 45mins to an hour by a fit person, or about an hour and a half by most people, like me! You will need to be in a moderate fitness level if you want to be able to do this trekking without getting breathless.
Once you do get to the top though, you will be engulfed in the dramatic volcanic scenery and jaw-dropping sights. And all your pain for the last hour and a half is forgotten! Ijen Crater is the world's largest highly acidic lake and is the site of a labor-intensive sulfur mining operation in which sulfur-laden baskets are hand-carried by the locals from the crater floor. A spectacular turquoise blue lake fills the bottom of the crater of Ijen. Words are not enough to describe the beauty of this place.
http://www.eastjava.com/books/ijen/main.html
After spending some time at the top and start descending, you will probably arrive at the foot of the mountain by around 11 am. If you head back directly to the resort, you will arrive in an hour’s time, passing by scenic coffee and clove plantations, and village farming life sceneries.
Back at the Resort
Arriving back at around noon, take a quick shower, book a massage for later in the day and enjoy a nap before heading down to the restaurant for a late lunch. The resort offers both European and Indonesian dishes and the taste is quite ok, but comes with a staggering tag price. But since there are slim pickings of restaurants within the vicinity, you might as well enjoy it. Nasi Rendang and Chicken Curry are both good choices for 75K a pop.
After lunch, spread out your books, ipod and sunscreen at the poolside and enjoy your massage while basking in the scenic paddy fields and mountain, and the carp pond right under your nose. And the check out the bale that overlooks to the ocean when the weather is clear, on the back part of the resort.
In the evening, enjoy a leisurely dinner and a game of cards. Take note that this resort does not have a library nor any recreational activities on site, so do bring your amusements! Retire early, as you will need to wake up at 7 in the morning the following day.
After breakfast the following day, leave the resort by 8 am to be able to get to the station and board the train that leaves at 9.15 am heading back to Surabaya. I do not recommend having your lunch during the ride but just wait until you get to your destination because the food on the train is pretty ordinary.
Sidoarjo
Stepping off at the Sidoarjo station at about 2.15 pm, explore the town on a becak and buy your fruit hand (buah tangan) at the ubiquitous toko oleh-oleh along the main road of Jl. Mojopahit. Get your kerupuks, petis udang, bandeng asap, wingko babat and even crabs for the loved ones at home!
Afterwards, have a late delicious lunch at Lesehan Joyo located at the Taman Pinang complex, serving tasty ayam goreng dan bakar, ikan gurame bakar bumbu and many more. If you still have time, spend the afternoon checking out the newly built and splashy Shopping Mall outfitted by a Borobudur Department Store.
In the early evening, head off to Surabaya Airport and catch your flight back to Jakarta.
Total cost per person for the trip: 1.9 mio. Number days of leave taken: Half day. The experience of being able to climb the Ijen and see the turqouise blue lake in the crater: Priceless!
Ain’t an Ijen weekend getaway grand?
Both pictures downloaded from websites above. My pictures coming up!
