Mount Bromo, East Java Pt 3

They say, save the best for the last. Truly enough, our final destination, the inferno on earth, volcano.

The jeeps parked about 1km away from the mountain. We were asked to walk or take the horse. I think this was good though what they really meant was to help the local horses to find masters to rent them. For Rp300,000 they will take you 2 ways.

Also they were plenty of locals selling shirts. I bought mine much earlier, 5 for Rp100,000. Here you can get 6 for Rp100,000. I heard someone get it for 7 if you know how to sweet talk.

After walking so much I couldn't find the strength to continue so I paid for a horse-ride. And this was my first!

The jeeps parked and we were shooed away to walk.

OK I can do this... not!

The horse and the masters.

My ride, Josh. 5 years old male. Been on this job for 2 years. And he can work until 50 I was told. He never stopped at one point I was sure he almost collapsed scaling the route consider my weight and he was very small. But you know, horses are one of the wonders of the world, they never stopped and never gave up! I pity you Josh but at the same time I was amazed by your strength.

The temple. We were told that on specific times, rituals were conducted to appease the spirits of the mountains. The crowds were huge. Among the sacrifice thrown into the pits were chickens. Were there cattles too? This, I am not sure.

These flowers were also used to be thrown into the volcano. Make a wish. Notice that they were moulded into animal figures?

We were now at the base of the mountain. The horse ride stops here. Can you see the temple? Then, can you see the jeeps parked? Yes that was how far we have to walk if you don't want to pay for the horse ride. My suggestion is, just pay for the horse ride.

Arrgghhh.... stairs!!! It took countless stops before reaching the top.

 Finally! I tell you, it worth all the pains (and money).

If you fell down, that's it. It will becomes your grave. And who knows if it explode your burnt remain will be thrown out?

OK... time for self indulgence. 

Another one. What? Not good enough?

With the local. And you already know my friend, Riduan.

The revellers doing their ultimate thing, photographing.

THE END!

Wordless Wednesday: Jin di Mount Bromo

Jari?

Mount Bromo, East Java Pt 2

After the breakfast, we were taken to the "savannah".

It was actually a flat land surrounding the craters most of it were ashes and volcanic dust. However at the other side of it, there was a flat land with bushes and grasses. As it was during the hot season, the plants were yellow and rusty.

I found out later that when the volcanic activities were present, there were also "ash dunes" in which (I think), the gas escaped from the soil in high pressure, pushing also the ash on the surface. It was like a volcano without the lava but with ashes.

The surrounding was serene and can be eerie if not for the crowd that I went together with. I cannot imagine if at that moment the volcano erupted. We probably have just minutes to run to the near hills where the lava cannot reach us.

This was super cool. Jeep catching up with other jeeps.

The tracks were quite tricky. Our jeep was stucked in the ashes a few times.

Time for self indulgence.

The sun was shining bright but the temperature was quite OK. No need to throw away the jumper yet.

Self indulgence for the umpteenth times.

We were cringing and making jokes with this signboard. Or was it just our luck that the volcano didn't erupt that day? Some of us smoked like there were no tomorrows despite the warning.

Our group of merry men and women.

This was not Indonesia. This was more like Mongolia or other strange places.

Of course we cannot resist group photos!

To be continued...

Mount Bromo, East Java Pt 1

The Mount Bromo hiking program looks like this:

1. Visitors must reach at the final bus stop (some small town) before 3am.
2. At 3am, you will hop on a jeep to Mount Bromo.
3. You will reach there close to 4am. You may want to do your Fajr solat.
4. You will do the hiking to the viewing spot before sunrise, because the objective is to see sunrise over Mount Bromo.
5. If you don't like the idea of hiking, there are also horses for rent. Cost about 50K-100K Rp. Hiking will definitely test your endurance as the environment was cold and perhaps also, lack of oxygen (or maybe dust) that may effect the quality of the air you breathe.

Waiting for fajr solat time.

The craters.

Another view.

When the sun has appeared fully, it is time to get back to the jeep for another site visit. Notice the horses for rent.

Notice the sand (+ maybe volcano dust as well).

See the dust? 

The jeep convoy since we are 40 people altogether. 1 driver and 5 passengers each.

Our next stop is of course for breakfast. We thought we already had it enough but it was only the beginning. More fun ahead. To be continued.

Sunrise at Mount Bromo, East Java

No this is not a painting. The craters. One of it is still alive (far left), last erupted in 2010.

Wordless Wednesday: Lari

Mount Bromo, Indonesia 4th October 2012.

New friends

Riduan and Eko.

One of the good thing in attending conference was that you are going to get new friends. Riduan and Eko, both are doing their PhD in Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia. The former is a UTHM lecturer doing his PhD in Project Management while the latter is an Surabayan, doing his PhD in Geotechnical Engineering. Since my PhD was also from Australia, we were like brothers. Australian alumni.

One of the key advice I gave to Riduan was to make sure that he visited Sydney (he has never been there even though finishing in January 2013!) and also to make sure that he bring back at least one BBQ grill set. Otherwise, you cannot call yourself as an alumni ;)

Shamelessly, we use the advantage of Eko, being a local, to take us to shop and dine in Surabaya. We went to the infamous Ampel, a shopping district and Mirota, a shopping centre for batik. Later we dine at Bumbu Desa.

Well bro Riduan and Eko if you read this, nice to know you. Please keep in touch. I hope to meet you guys again at UTP's ESTCON 2014.

The dishes to choose from.

Attending APSEC-ICCER 2012

Official website ASPEC-ICCER 2012.

Alhamdulillah, I have presented two technical papers on this conference, held at Mercure Hotel, Surabaya, Indonesia. The conference was joint organize by UTM and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Indonesia. FYI, I am a graduate from UTM for my bachelor and master degree. This is to my advantage as I know the majority of the UTM academics attending the conference, ex-lecturers and classmates. I feel like I was at home.

There were 5 keynote lectures which was the highlight at any conference. The best was delivered by Prof. Ir. Dr. Wahid Omar. The topic was on his team's experience managing RM1 billion of developing new buildings in UTM in JB and KL. The team consists of faculty members of UTM. One of the advantage is that the data that they received, they can analysed academically. The perceptions can be verified. One of the key findings was that the consultants and contractors involved in the projects were indifferent when sustainability was taken into considerations.

I was in the team with Prof Omar when I did my MSc. I am glad he still remembers me. We chat like a long lost friend.

The stage for keynote lectures and one of the paralel sessions.

My two papers. One of it is considered to be included in UTM's technical journal, I was told.

One of the keynote lectures.

Gala dinner on the first night.

Me in action.

Receiving the certificate of presentation right after the lecture.