Ijen Crater

The very first climbing experience in my life is this one. I never thought that I could make it before since when several friends discussed to climb a mountain I didn't put any interest on. But weeks behind, of course after those busy months and short holiday, me and several college-mates decided to climb Mount Ijen. The elevation is 9183 feet.

At first I thought it was so dangerous, because of the eruption of Mount Raung which in same stratovolcanoes group in Banyuwangi Regency. That eruption was made me stress due to the on-off-airport. I almost stuck here and didn't have holiday if I can't fly to my hometown. Not only that, the flight was so scared, wind blew so hard and it worried me. After years of traveling by plane, that was the first time I want to cry and can't see the window on board.

Days before, we checked the weather report from Indonesia's BMKG (weather department) via their official media, and also searched many informations about the route etc. We wanted to make sure that everything good even some of us have went there before. Beside wide turquoise-colored acid crater lake, it has a blue fire which already mentioned by National Geographic. This is the reason we chose midnight tracking from Paltuding posts.

We departed from Surabaya around 08.30 am after a little real drama happened, and had traditional breakfast in Sidoarjo around 09.30 am. Then we passed many cities before we stopped by for having lunch in a beach that located somewhere in north-east of East Java province. The beach named Pasir Putih (white-sandy-beach).

Then we continued to Banyuwangi cities. Well actually there are two options for reaching Paltuding. The first one is via Situbondo then Bondowoso. But according to the information we got, the main road was in terrible condition. But the government prepare another road with satisfied condition which we were opted (via Kecamatan Licin). After passed the Ketapang port in Banyuwangi we drove straight into an intersection then we turned right as written in sign board. There was so many sign board, and google maps was still working. We stopped by at a gas station for resting, praying and taking a bath. Then we continued our trip. At first we passed many villages, until everything just dark, the only light is our car's lightning. And when we looked at our car's rear glass, it was so dark and so scared. The road was not really wide, uphill, and tortuous. I prayed all the way.

We arrived at Paltuding around 07.00 pm and after parked our car, we looked for shop around to have dinner. Many shops were closed, and we had Indomie and egg for dinner. Yes, because it was the only one menu they offered. Cold weather and Indomie, is kind of great collaboration.

Well, at first I was not really interest with that famous blue fire and didn't have any idea why we have to take midnight tracking. The one and only reason that came across my mind was because we chasing the sun rise. So after dinner, we had a little sleep inside our car before they opened the track.

About 01.00 am we started walking from Paltuding with many international and domestic tourists, even we met some kids too! My friends were putting attention on me, they really worry but I said that I've prepared my self and I was okay. They said the tracks is 3 km long but I didn't think that it was in horizontal way, but in vertical yes!! I assume that the angle of the track is around 25-30 degree. And we had to walk in midnight where the only lightning is from our own flashlight. The higher we walk, the lower temperature we got. In the halfway, I started up to silent. I wanted to cry. I was thinking where on earth I am, how can I go home and I really need SAR. I hold my friend's arm and kept moving uphill. Well, they thought that the person should get concerned the most is me, but in fact was not. There were still another who more tired than me.

At 03.30 am, we arrived at Ijen Crater. Everything was so dark, flashlight everywhere. And if we wanted to see that famous blue fire closely, we need to walk down around 1 hours and put special gas mask because of sulfur toxic. Then I said big no. The temperature was around 7 degree Celcius or even lower. And if we want to see the sunrise clearly we had to walk uphill around 45 minutes, and I was thinking that I couldn't. All I want was going home and screaming MAYDAY loudly. My friend, Abah, who was the leader of this trip asked the condition each of us. And some were sleeping. I tried so but it was so hard. I still wide awake and sat on sulfur rocks, and my body started to shiver. I really scared that I would got hipotermia, really I still want to live for years forward. I kept praying, Abah telling me many stories, but I didn't know, I couldn't use my mind and all I replied was the word "ya". I saw a bonfire, then I walked close to. My body still shivering.

Then around 05.00 am, behind the cliffs, I saw the thing that I waited...

The sun rise from behind the cliffs.

This spectacular-incredible-scenery was enough to paid off my struggling of climbing.

The squads!

Looks who just so confidence to take selfie, the Indonesian singer Tulus look alike who famously called Abah.

Intan, Feriska-my friend's girlfriend, and my self standing on sulfur rocks. 

My Channing-Tatum-look-alike friend!

Around 07.30 am we started to walk downhill to Paltuding. And of course after took enough photos.

This sign board was at Pondok Bunder (2214 mdpl), halfway to Paltuding.

This is my mount-adventure. And still consider to have another or not. A short advice for whoever wants to climb, just do some exercise such as running or jogging a week before as adaptation for your body.



love,

clara

Rafting with Songadventure

Exam weeks have already over, and my college mates decided to have a short vacation before we all start our internship. This maybe a very brilliant idea to take out rafting as the final choice to spend the rest of our free time. We can let our stress out, enjoy the scenery, a refreshing day! Well actually I never do a 'real' rafting before, and it was my first time.

We chose this rafting service named SONGADVENTURE which reccomended by a college mate. Weeks before we booked for eighteen people, so they have prepared everything when we arrive. On last thursday, around 7am we departed from Surabaya, had our breakfast at a streetside traditional food in Sidoarjo, then continued our trip to Probolinggo.

They welcomed us with welcome drink which very 'village favorite', wedang jahe at their base camp. We got short preparation before we moved to start point. They provided pick-up cars to drove us there, but we still need to walk around 1-2 km to reach the riverside. The river itself named Sungai Pekalen. And it all began here!

Riznanda, Vinesia, me, and Hakara who is the youngest and so Chaning Tatum look alike.

These guys were my team on board, minus Aldi Kim. 

Look at our flip flop, they are SKYWAY, favorite local brand for 'sendal jepit'.

Chaning Tatum (look alike) was wearing flip flop brand Skyway! What a funny headline...

It was totally amazing! The scenery was spectacular, we crossed several bat crave, and waterfalls.

We really felt the feeling when the falls drop the water into our body. And screaming when we hit the rocks.

All rafting squad took a pose in front of the waterfalls.

The very unforgettable moment is when my boat was not stable so it just reversed. Our guide was tried his best to make it stable, and the MAN OVER BOARD just happen. I got hard impact on my face, and it still bruise now. The SAR team helped us to get back to boat and we could continue our adventure.

My team on board, Hakara, Vinessia, Aldi Kim, and Riznanda with guide Mr. Edi (center).
He said that we are a compact team because the 'man over board' happened to all of us and we prevented 'Kim over board'.

It was spectacular, and SEE YOU ON OUR NEXT ADVENTURE!!!


xoxo,



clara

Love your life, love the nature

What do you think about the green environment? Guess that mostly people gonna say that they love it, but in fact they don't act like they love. It should be not just a word, but supposed to be a real act. 

My technology institute is one of the greenest campus in Asia. There are birds singing in the morning, the dew on the leaves, good air to start the day. Also many green grounds can be found, fens, bikers, even they provide special pathways for the bikers! The trash is divide into several trash bins to ease distinguish the recycle process. Because we love the nature! Every year when the new academic year start, they have an event for the new freshmen which is plant 1000 seeds around the campus. These can be found in Tenth of November Institute of Technology Surabaya.

In term to admit my naval architecture friend's request, me and my best girl, Nona Theresia did this photoshoot. The concept is about Eco Campus. And it was really a short photoshoot that I've ever did, finished less than an hour!

My photographer friends, Rabhi dan Riznanda. Yeah, we both just help them for their portofolio about Eco Campus. It's not focus on the model, but the nature. So me and Thea just donned daily campus apparels without any make up on. 

Sure, it was a very simple outfits that day. My girl was wearing her batik tops with blue jegging and booties. I felt a little bit cold, the temperature was quite low for Surabaya, because everybody knows that Surabaya is famous with it's hot condition!! I was wearing socks with my Kickers flat shoes and leopard sleeves top with black jeans, the maroon bag was Mango. At least those items was enough to comfort my self.

Let's love life by love the nature too. Start from yourself about the most famous 3R, reduce, reuse, recycle. I am recently to start collecting the plastic bottle, separate them from my trash bin, so the scavengers will get the bottles easily. It is a simple way to help people also love the nature. That's all the best shoots from the photo shoots last week with no filters.