Grand Bromo Hotel Probolinggo

... Bintang beer that cost more than our lunch for two. We didn't care, we were desperate. Tune hotels, our new reliable favourite, had not allowed us to book online because we didn't have Indonesian credit cards so we had no reservation. Sure enough when we eventually hauled ourselves to the check-in counter at midnight it was full, so we checked into a pretty grotty place over the road and collapsed into sleep.

... I also noticed a family of 4 on one scooter. What was most shocking was that some parents had helmets on while their 6 month old and 3 year old didn’t wear anything. This wasn’t just a regular stroll in the park either. Cars, trucks, and other motorbikes were flying, honking, swerving everywhere. I would have to guess there are many fatalities throughout Indonesia. The forth thing I observed ...

... This is a normal and comfortable AC bus and this time it cost me 43,000. The locals paid 20,000 for their seats. I gave 50,000 and he gave back 7,000 and I tried to get the rest but he told me that for me it was 25,000 per seat. As you can see it doesn't really add up but at least it wasn't an outrageous lcost ike I have heard others have been charged or like the ride from Cemoro Lawang to Probolinggo.

... where to stand for the best photos!!) After the sunrise we had hot coffee and breakfast (Being that I was now part of a group breakfast was included!!!) and then continued on to the Mount Bromo crater known as Gunung Bromo which is 2392m high. ( I totally enjoyed seeing this area and recommend this tour to anyone coming to Java. It will probably be one of the highlights of your trip here.) The highest peak that you see in the photos is ...

... who the smokers were early on as me, Dan and Bryony held up the rear, whilst the super fit others practically sprinted to the top, shouting encouragement. It's times like this when you think to yourself 'why am i doing this? I could still be in bed, but no, I'm wandering up the side of an Indonesian mountain in the pitch dark guided only by the ****** light on the end of my lighter'. Still, once you get to the top and feel like you've woken up, it ...

... smiths are in abundance. A big export of the area is jewelry so the lady had to see it. With purse strings firmly tied (joke) she was let off on a tight leash to the shops. Needless to say she bought a small something, but was very restrained. Back to our digs to listen to the evening call to prayer competition - we were based in the middle of 4 mosques that compete for hollah's. It was quite amusing listening to them go at it. It was in Jogja (short ...

... gave us about two hours. Unfortunately we didn't see the museum or get a guide and so I felt like we didn't learn about the history of both the religion and the temple. A shame! We also were nearly scammed hear in 'Jogja' by the Batik art exibitions. They are everywhere and tell all sorts of lies, like they're the artist, just to sell them and lead you on by saying its the closing in a half an hour and closed for the rest of the ...

... a set of Hindu and Buddhist temples built in the 9th century AD. The main attraction is the Loro Jonggrang complex, which is a group of spires worshipping all three main Hindu gods: Wisnu, Siwa and Brahma (Javanese spellings). Unfortunately, the complex was significantly damaged in the 2006 Java earthquake and has basically turned into a massive archaeological recovery site. However, the spires are still mostly ...

... ich kenne Dich, od**?' War echt ganz cool, ** hat den Tanz für seinen Freund auf Video aufgenommen, d** da mitgemacht hat und danach ist ** mit mir durch den angrenzenden Teil des Palastes gegangen und hat mir bissl was **klärt. Wir haben Telephonnumm** getauscht und ich war schon raus aus dem Palast und hatte mich v**abschiedet (als ich seinem Onkel, d** Tante und Oma vorgestellt wurde, dachte ich ich v**schwinde lieb**....) kommt ** mir nachgelaufen, weil ** mir am ...

... A huge course of "Hallos!!!" and jumping up and down errupted. Too funny :-) Enjoyed the best breakfast at the hotel buffet on Wednesday morning... a fantastic tofu and green bean stir fry with rice - that I could get used to!! We took a jaunt down to the Paris Van Java (sp?) mall getting there before opening... As such, we were able to witness what we believe to be a morning tradition at an Indo department store - lots of music and praying upon opening of ...