Ken Boddie

4 years ago · 7 min. reading time · ~100 ·

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There's no smoke without fire in Bromo-land

There's no smoke without fire in Bromo-land

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It was just after 5am on an April morning, it was cold, and the sun was struggling to penetrate a band of cloud across the eastern horizon. We could already see from our crowded vantage point, however, that the landscape beneath was going to reveal a special treat, as a reward for our pre-dawn reveille and bone rattling ascent (by 'jeep antik') of the lush green slopes below and now behind us. As we stared across the massive 7km wide abyss that is the Tengger Caldera in East Java, the small remnant crater of Mt Bromo, near its centre, was spouting a localised but steady plume of steam behind its larger (but now dormant) sibbling, Mt Batok, as though heralding the start of a new day, and hence fulfilling the task of its namesake Brahma (Bromo in bahasa Java), the Hindu creator god.  The extensive floor of the Tengger Caldera, beneath the eerily protruding tops of Batok, Bromo and the other volcanos within this post eruption calderic mass, was shrouded in a halo of low cloud, masking the sea of volcanic ash sand (lautan pasir) to which we were to later descend.

We had arrived at our first goal (this vantage point on the slopes of Mt Penanjakan, which is sharply sliced where it coincides with the rim of the huge Tengger Caldera) 

Flash back then some 10 days to the start of our journey which, after many months of planning and preparation, commenced with two plane rides from Brisbane via Bali, then onto Yogyakarta in Central Java, where my wife and I were to attend the Javanese wedding of our niece (see a later post on this). After expanding our party of travellers to 14 (all intrepid and unabashed, despite being mostly middle-aged), we set off from Yogya on a comfortable four and a half hour train ride to Surabaya. Of course there's nothing like an onboard snack to lift the spirits.

http://ken-boddie.squarespace.com

The author of the above, Ken Boddie, besides being a sometime poet and occasional writer, is an enthusiastic photographer, rarely leisure-travelling without his Canon, and loves to interact with other like-minded people with diverse interests.

Ken's three day work week (part time commitment) as a consulting engineer allows him to follow his photography interests, and to plan trips to an ever increasing list of countries and places of scenic beauty and cultural diversity.


Comments

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #33

#40
I doubt if I’ll be in Bromoland again sometime soon, Jennifer Leach-Trask, unless I drill a hole in what holds my bucket list. Thanks for your kind words.

Lada 🏡 Prkic

4 years ago #32

#36
#37 I removed by accident my reply to you while scrolling on my mobile. Here's again. Thank you for your wishes, Ken. Yes, family comes first. I managed to organise my time better and found some time for writing. I almost finished some of my drafts. beBee is my venting therapy. :) Thanks for the link. I'll try to catch up on your posts I missed. You're faster at writing than I at catching up on your posts. 🎣 😀

Lada 🏡 Prkic

4 years ago #31

#36
#37 Thank you for your wishes, Ken. Yes, family comes first. I managed to organise my time better and found some time for writing. I almost finished some of my drafts. beBee is my venting therapy. :) Thanks for the link. I'll try to catch up on your posts I missed. You're faster at writing than I at catching up on your posts. 🎣 😀

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #30

As you are so interested in volcanoes, Lada \ud83c\udfe1 Prkic, you’ll be blown away by the setting of Lake Toba in North Sumatra. It sits wholly inside an even bigger caldera, 100km long by 30km wide. I wrote about it some time ago at this link: https://www.bebee.com/producer/@ken-boddie/sunset-heralds-more-bang-for-your-crater I hope you may find time to read it if you didn’t catch this buzz first time round, but first and foremost, look after your mum.

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #29

#35
#34 I wish your mother good health and prosperity, Lada. Family undoubtedly must come first. Now, as for Bromo, it’s recent eruptive history appears to be a bit of a damp squib compared to the devastation caused by some volcanoes. Yet the size of that Tengger Caldera, in which Bromo, Batok et al are sitting, suggests that there must have been one helluva big bang way back in geologic time. 😳 ps Thanks for the profuse compliments.

Lada 🏡 Prkic

4 years ago #28

Ken, you're more than just an enthusiastic photographer and occasional writer, as you presented yourself. This post is an excellent read, not to mention amazing photos that tell the story for itself. It's too bad that the crater rim was closed and you couldn't take photos of the Bromo's crater. Volcanoes are fascinating in every aspect. I love to watch documentaries about lava chasers while streaming an erupting volcano. You have to feel so small and humbled by its power that leaves one in awe. Thanks for sharing the article about Yadnya Kasada (yes, I always open hyperlinks). :) The slopes of Mount Bromo are spectacular. By the way, I like your photo with the Canon camera. :) Keep chasing your creative side.

Lada 🏡 Prkic

4 years ago #27

#30
It's not only work-related, although I currently manage one demanding construction project. I also take care of my mother. So I had to reduce my online time.

Lada 🏡 Prkic

4 years ago #26

Ken, you're more than just an enthusiastic photographer and occasional writer, as you presented yourself. This post is an excellent read, not to mention amazing photos that tell the story for itself. I was also a bit disappointing when reading that the crater rim was closed and you couldn't take photos of the Bromo's crater. Volcanoes are fascinating in every aspect. I love to watch documentaries about lava chasers while streaming an erupting volcano. You have to feel so small and humbled by its power that leaves one in awe. Thanks for sharing the article about Yadnya Kasada (yes, I always open hyperlinks). :) The slopes of Mount Bromo are spectacular. By the way, I like your photo with the Canon camera. :) Keep chasing your creative side.

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #25

#31
Whatever you do, Claire, don't leave that bucket of yours anywhere you can trip over it. After all, Randall Burns almost kicked his a couple of months ago.

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #24

#29
Hope you’re not burning the candle at both ends, Lada.

Lada 🏡 Prkic

4 years ago #23

Ken, I am so busy lately, and I've drastically reduced my social media time. Hoping to read and comment during the weekend. Thanks for tagging. :-)

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #21

Lada \ud83c\udfe1 Prkic

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #20

#25
Jiminy? Which brings us back to Cricket. Look at it this way, Prav. Our one day event finished up as a tie instead of the anticipated win. This was due to the whole game being played as a power play, with nobody allowed in the outfield where all the action was. The pitch was a bit wavy and sandy and had been badly carved up by the local polo ponies. Furthermore, by the time we retired to the [Hindu] pavilion for post match drinks, the bar was closed. We did, however, start the day with an outstanding view of the pitch from high up in the stands. Sound familiar?

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #19

#22
well, Prav ... If Bromo needs a promo, That the tourists will desire, I can see that you’ll agree, When I say “no smoke without fire”.

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #18

#21
Thanks, Debasish, for your kind words and for sharing this buzz.

Debasish Majumder

4 years ago #17

excellent buzz Ken Boddie! enjoyed read and shared. thank you for the buzz sir.

Jerry Fletcher

4 years ago #16

#19
Ken, on that we can agree. And so it goes.

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #15

#18
I guess “familiarity breeds contempt”, Jerry Fletcher, or at least removes the WTF from the risk analysis. Although Bromo is fairly constantly active, it tends to vent its anger via regular outbursts of ash and steam rather than blowing its top or spewing lava. I’d feel safer being close up and personal with Bromo than chatting with some of the attendees at ‘anger management’ classes. 🤣😂🤣

Jerry Fletcher

4 years ago #14

Ken, Those of us that live on the "ring of fire" are both curious and fearful. I was on a golf course when Mt. St. Helen's blew. The sound went over us and we didn't know it had happened until we were in the clubhouse having a burger and a beer. We didn't believe the bartender until we walked outside and the mountain literally wan't there any more. The plume of ash looked like an A-bomb had gone off. That's as close as I ever want to get to one that is "acting up."

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #13

#14
No hail, snow or rain that day, Pascal Derrien ... only bitter cold, then sticky wet heat, and the delight of saddle sore numb nuts. 😳

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #12

#12
Thanks, Bill, but this was more of a jolly jaunt than a job. 🤣😂🤣

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #11

#11
I’ll give yiu a call, Prav, next time I need a Hindu mantra. Meanwhile I think you’ll find these Tenggerese dudes defy your standard deity devotion.

Pascal Derrien

4 years ago #10

Hail to Bromo what a trip 🤔👍

Bill Stankiewicz

4 years ago #9

Thank You again for sharing @Franci H!!!

Bill Stankiewicz

4 years ago #8

Great job here 👍👍👍

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #7

#8
Not sure if the Tenggerese actually follow a true Hindu culture, Prav, old mate. I understand that they have incorporated many Buddhist and Animist elements. “Like the Balinese, they worship Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wasa (roughly "Big Almighty Lord") for blessings in addition to other Hindu and Buddhist gods that include the Tri Murti (Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu) and Buddha.” It appears that they also partake in ancestor worship represented by small doll-like figures. I wonder if they ever put a shrimp on the Barbie?

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #6

#7
see ya later, alligator.

Paul Walters

4 years ago #5

Ken Boddie A fabulous and informative piece Mr Boddie . We will make a travel writer out of you yet!!! Off next week for the wilds of Botswana, Zimbabwe and the slightly frightening Democratic Republic of The Congo. If you don't hear back know that a crocodile ate me and that I went quietly

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #4

#4
Thanks, Franci. If you look at the link I provided you'll read that today's materials sacrifices reportedly link back to the legend of Roro Anteng and Joko Seger, who remained childless after many years of marriage. They therefore climbed Mt Bromo to ask the mountain gods for assistance. The gods granted them 24 children on condition that the 25th child must be thrown into the volcano as human sacrifice. Not sure what's worse, bringing up 24 kids or throwing one of them into a geyser for a hot bath. All goes to show, we should be careful what we wish for. 😧

Randall Burns

4 years ago #3

#2
LMAO! Ken Boddie That's actually great advice. Reminds me of an old saying; "Life is uncertain, eat dessert first"

Ken Boddie

4 years ago #2

#1
Hey, Randy, I’d punch a small hole in the bottom of that bucket and start working from the top down ... quickly. 🤣😂🤣

Randall Burns

4 years ago #1

Great adventure! Ken Boddie Alas just one more thing to add to my seemingly never ending bucket list

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