4/12/14 Kalibaru to Tanah Lot

Left Kalibaru at 8.00 about 1.5 hrs driving we arrived at the ferry. Left the van and walked onto the ferry, I heard some shouting over the side, there was a snorkeler in the water asking us to throw coins so he could retrieve them, it amused me for a while. It  took about an hour for the short voyage as we had to wait for a berth. Once ashore we piled into two vans for the long journey to Tanah Lot. It wasn't far but at 40km/hr average speed it was long. Our hotel was at Tanah Lot so we dropped our bags then headed down to the beach for the spectacular sunset over the temples, that least that was the plan, the reality was it was raining, it happens.
Tanah Lot is a strange place to stay, it is full of tourists and has a packed market place until just after sunset, then it empties fast, the shops close and it becomes a ghost town.

3/12/14 Kalibaru

Visited the Glenmore plantation this morning. This plantation was started by a Brit, sold to a Dutch family, overtaken by the Japanese and since the war owned by the government. The main industries are coffee, cocoa and rubber but also includes pepper, cinnamon, cloves. The machinery hasn't been upgraded since colonial times and it was good to see working antiques. Steam driven motor running a line shaft assembly, some with wooden pulley made with teak.
We sampled many of the locally grown fares, saw what Kopi Luwak looks like in the excrement stage and still tasted it later. The coffee has a bad name has since it is so expensive it has fostered a whole forced fed caged animal industry, so quiet rightly it isn't the most expensive coffee in the world anymore. We didn't really enjoy the taste that much as they put too much coffee in the cup.
After the tour back to Kalibaru where we wandered the streets for a while, swam for a while, slept for a while, watched TV for a while etc.. Lynette had a full contact massage with the bruises to show for it.

2/12/14 Mt. Bromo to Kalibaru

Headed out at 3:30am in old short wheel based F series Land Cruisers to drive the last hour to the rim of the original 5,000 meter volcano which blew apart long ago and at 2770 meters it overlooks Mt. Bromo which is still active. We sun was hidden by cloud, we still enjoyed a fine dawn. When we were all finished with our happy snaps, jump back into the Land Cruisers and drove into the old volcano to the base of Mt. Bromo. The 4x4 drivers and the local horseman have a deal going where they drive you some way from the base and then you are swamped by horseman offering to carry you up for 10,000. It took about 20 minutes to ascend to the rim by foot. At the rim was the sound of a waterfall, this is the steam venting, amazing, a bit smelly when the wind changes direction towards us but a good covering smell to release my own gas.
After we came back down we headed back to the hotel for breakfast then back into the minibus for the hour ride to the train. We had a three and a half hour journey to Kalibaru.
Kalibaru is a tiny town, not much exploring to be achieved, so executed by 3rd favorite pastime by sleeping the afternoon away. Woke up and did the washing.

1/12/14 Seloliman to Mt. Bromo

Went for a long walk, along an irrigation canal to begin with. A lot of work was put into this canal to divert the water to the fields and villages. We passed human scarecrows keeping the birds and monkeys out of the fields. The terracing on the steep hills is a feat in itself. We accidentally passed villagers bathing in the canal. One of the rotational crops was peanuts, they were harvesting these, we tried some fresh from the ground. Next we headed to the local Starbucks, a 94 year old woman keeps herself active by roasting and pounding coffee beans, producing about a kilo a day. We all enjoyed a cup, it was very smooth. We headed back to the environmental centre for lunch.
After lunch we were treated to a display on local medicines and the importance of, for the smaller communities. We enjoyed a freshly brewed beverage that was a cure all.
After lunch packed into the minibus for the three hour drive to Mt. Bromo, we went from sea level to 1,700 meters elevation. The accommodation at Yoshi's was quite nice, rooms are small but there is lots of communal areas. The restaurant is good.