Kawah Ijen (Id) - a photo on Flickriver

Kawah Ijen (Id)

The Java Jaunt, part #2: Kawah Ijen.

Bali is the ideal island for stress relief. Seriously. Its beautiful beaches, jaw dropping reefs, spectacular surf breaks, Lychee Martinis, temples & shrines, banana pancakes, black rice pudding, … So much beauty, in stark contrast with freezing & cold Kazachstan. Vishnu had joined our path, no doubt about it.

After one week it was time to hit the road. Heading West, to Java. The bumpy ride that’s called Adventure immediately started at the port. There are less tourists in Java, so drivers and scammers eagerly jump on any occasion they can take. ~~Taxi, sir?~~ How can we get your money, sir? It’s advisable to have a strict plan if you’re travelling Java. Any confusion/doubt will lead into an opportunity to take you elsewhere. Bargaining is a much intense process than in Bali, and most of the drivers have little knowledge of English. Anyway. Back to the plan.

I had seen pictures of an amazing active volcano in East Java. Research informed me the volcano was kinda hard to reach, and you need to be in good shape to go all the way. The death of a French photographer who slipped during the hike a couple of years ago made it even more harder. Nevertheless, I was determined to see it.

A young boy in his early twenties agreed on taking us to the mount Ijen in his 4x4. What followed was a 3 hour back-breaking ride into the mountains. Halfway the ride we got stuck in a landslide. Locals pulled us out. When we reached the last control post we eagerly stashed some Coca Cola, banana’s and food, and started the steep 2 hour hike to the crater rim. On foot, because there’s no other way to reach the summit.

Meet the Kawah Ijen. An active stratovolcano of the Ijen Plateau. The crater houses the world’s most largest acidic lake, with a shocking pH acidity of 0,5 at its center point. Fall in and you dissolve. Instantly. Active vents at the edge of the lake contain elemental sulfur. The escaping volcanic gasses are channeled through a network of ceramic pipes, resulting in condensation of molten sulfur. It’s this sulfur that gets broken into large pieces and carried out in baskets by miners. Some of these miners carry loads up to 100 kilograms on their back, working amidst the pungent and irritating sulfur smell. Unreal scenery.

Next up: The Java Jaunt, part #3: Gunung Bromo. Being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Taken on: December 7, 2010

Tags:

Kawah Ijen

Indonesia

Miners

Sulfur Vents

acidity

acid lake

Java

Mount Ijen

Ijen Plateau

Stratovolcano

volcano

active volcano « less

Sets appears in: • Kawah Ijen (Id)

Groups appears in: • Volcanoes • Story Telling Photos more » • Volcano's • East Java - Jawa Timur • De Doka • Volcano Photography • "Urban Wandering" • Great World Landscapes • inconnu//unknown • Kawah Ijen (East Java) « less

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