Mount Bromo (from Sanskrit / Ancient Java: Brahma, one of the Main Hindu Gods), is an active volcano and best known as a tourist attraction in East Java, Indonesia. As a tourism destination in Indonesia, Mount Bromo is attractive because of its status as an active volcano that is still active. In addition, the Kasodo tradition of the Tengger tribe really gives us a spiritual and mystical experience.

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Bromo has a height of 2392 meters above sea level, located in four regions, namely Kabupaten Probolinggo, Pasuruan, Lumajang, and Malang Regency. Mount Bromo shape mesh between valleys and canyons with the caldera or the ocean of sand covering around 10 square kilometers.

Pura Poten of the Tenggerese photo by blueplanet_2009

Bromo is included in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. It has a type of sub-montane ecosystems, montane and sub-alphin with hundreds of years old large trees. Some plant species found in the National Park include jamuju (Dacrycarpus imbricatus), mountain pine (Casuarina sp.) Eidelweis (Anaphalis javanica), various species of orchids and rare species of grass (Styphelia pungieus).

There are approximately 137 species of birds, 22 species of mammals and 4 species of reptile in this national park.

View in Bromo National Park Indonesia photo by chmod999

Protected rare animals found in this national parks, among others, mongoose (Pardofelis marmorata), deer (Cervus timorensis), long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis), kijang (Muntiacus muntjak), red jungle chicken (Gallus gallus), leopard (Panthera pardus), ajag (Cuon alpinus), and various species of birds such as alap-alap birds (Accipiter virgatus), hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros silvestris), bido serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela bido), black thrush (Dicrurus macrocercus), Scaly-breasted falcon (Haliastur indus), and grouse that live in Ranu Pani, Ranu Regulo, and Ranu Kumbolo.
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Tengger Tribal communities in the area of the Semeru and Bromo Mount in East Java holds Yadnya Kasada or Kasodo cerermony every year. This cultural event is a worth event to witness among ceremonies like Sekaten and Ruwatan. For this year the rite were held at Friday (9/4/09). They held the initial ceremony that is called Piodalan, a purification ceremony for temple Pura Luhur Poten located in the Tengger Sand sea (desert) as one of the preparation procession of Kasodo.

The Kasada ceremony is held at the temple which was under the northern foot of Mount Bromo and continued to Bromo mountain. It was held at midnight until the early morning of each full moon around the 14th or 15th day of the month Kasodo according to the Javanese calendar.

Kasodo Ceremony photo by Docae

Led by a number of shamans pandhita, the Tengger people gathered at the temple to pray. Various offerings (sacrifice) placed on the altar, including holy water or tirta that will be used to wash (purify) the temple and the Tengger people at the end of the ceremony.

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Water is taken from three springs, the Widodaren in the sand sea (lautan pasir) of Tengger, Madakaripura Waterfall in Lumbang-Probolinggo District, and Watu Plosot on Mount Semeru. The ceremony to get the water is called Mendak Tirta, mendak means to get, tirta means water. This ceremony is held a day before the Piodalan ceremony.

At the end of the ceremony, the Tengger will throw their offerings/sacrifices into the crater of Mount Bromo, located about 400 meters from the temple.

The Legend of Kasada

Kasodo ceremony is derived from the legend of Rara Anteng and Jaka Seger. They are believed as the first people of Tengger. This legend took place when the king Brawijaya took the throne. Rara Anteng was Brawijaya daughter.

Though Rara Anteng and Jaka Seger have already married for long time, the couple had not been blessed with children. So, they went up to Mount Bromo to pray to the gods asking for a child.

The God blessed them and grant children but in one condition that the last child has to be sacrificed to the crater of Mount Bromo. Finally, Rara Anteng and Jaka Seger blessed with 25 children.

Kasada Rite photo by Docae

To keep their promise, the couple took their last child to be sacrificed to the crater of Mount Bromo. Shortly after, the boy’s voice from inside the crater said that they asked to hold a memorial ceremony every month Kasodo on day 14th. In the Tengger calendar, Kasodo is the last month (the tenth).
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For many surfers, G-Land at Plengkung, East Java is the best place for surfing. If you skilled on the surf board, the G-Land’s waves will give you a challenge. The tubing waves for 3 to 5 meters high, 2 kilometers long surely the best to ride. The following videos shows how the waves in action.


Great waves of Plengkung beach at East Java

Video of G-Land great tube Waves

Before going to G-land you have to see above videos as a proof that the place really has great tube waves.

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Madura is an island at East Java Province that has explorable unique traditions. The local government should improve facilities including resort or other property to make this island a travel destination.


Beach at Madura Photo

Sambilangan Beach

Sambilangan beach is located about 7 km south of the city of Bangkalan, at Sambilangan village, district Bangkalan. In this beach there is a lighthouse built in 1879, inaugurated by William III. The lighthouse which has 90 meters height, where tourist can see the ‘traffic’ of fishing boats and merchant ships in the Strait of Madura. Beautiful sunset can be enjoyed on this coastal land.
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Karapan Sapi

Karapan Sapi Photo

Karapan Sapi is a traditional cow racing competitions. Karapan Sapi existed before the XV century AD. In this race, a pair of cows pulled that kind of wooden trains (where the jockey standing and controlling the cows), racing against other cows. Track races are usually around 100 meters and the race can takes approximately ten to fifteen seconds. Several cities in Madura holds the race August and September each year, with the final at the end of September or October to get the Presidents Cup.

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From now on Hawaii is not the only place for surfing. Indonesia has hidden surfing paradise with magical huge waves. Now, surfers should consider a surfing place in Indonesia named Plengkung or it is known as G-Land. The beach is located at Alas Purwo National Park, Blambangan, Banyuwangi, East Java.

Plengkung or G-Land is a hidden paradise of surfing in Indonesia. It has extreme waves of three to four meters high, very ideal for you to perform your style in surfing. Adroit surfers will really enjoy the wave. International surfing competition had been held at this place. The best time to surf is May – October. You may see the G-Land videos to evidence the waves.

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How to get there?

1. From Bamyuwangi to Kalipahit (35 km) by bus, Kalipahit to Pasaranyar (3 km) rent a car or motorcycle, Pasaranyar to Trianggulasi (12 km) by car, Trianggulasi – Pancur – Plengkung (7 km).
2. Banyuwangi – Benculuk (35 km) by bus, Benculuk – Grajagan (18 km) by bus, Grajakan – Plengkung by speed boat.

All image courtesy of Dinas Pariwisata Banyuwangi

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Photograph by: flydime

Ijen Crater or Kawah Ijen is another volcanic tourism attraction in Indonesia. The place is located at Bondowoso Regency, East Java. On the elevation of 2,368 meters, the place is really giving beautiful natural panorama. The crater itself is a lake with green water which has zero pH (acidity), capable to melt one’s finger. The temperature is about 200 Celcius degree.

The best time to enjoy the view is at morning, when the yellow sun light glows the yellow water and shines the surrounding mountain like mount Merapi, the sister of Mount Ijen. Morning haze is creating a tranquility that we don’t get at the metropolitan towns. At 2 pm, the crater is closed for the reason that the thick smoke from the crater that is poisonous.

Visiting Ijen crater is more interesting if we observe the local people doing their daily job as sulfur miners. Why is it interesting? Because the miners only use traditional tools and they should carry chunks of sulfur on their shoulder. Its weight is about 85 kilograms; they should walk up and down the caldera to deliver the sulfur to Pos Bundar, a place to weighting the chunks. The miners get wages IDR 300 for one kilogram. In a day they usually carry 85 kilograms.

Visiting from Bondowoso route, the tourist will travel across a coffee plantation. It has god view either. the green of arrabica coffee trees are really an exciting scene.
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How to get to Ijen Crater
There are two alternatives route to get there, the first is from Banyuwangi to Licin – Jambu – Patulding. Its about 38 kilometers from Banyuwangi, but the road is bad. The second is from Bondowoso – Wonosari – Sempol – Patulding, about 70 kilometers with better road. It is suggested to go from Bondowoso.

Where to stay
It is suggested to stay at the closest hotel in order to catch the morning view of Ijen crater. If you like a place like plantation, Perhutani coffee plantation provides guest houses for rent.

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