Mt Bromo
My excitement continued to escalate as I traveled along a tight, twisting road that cut a suede through the thickening fog that had engulfed the stunning Mt Bromo region. As the miles drifted by, the temperature continued to drop. Yet, not even the cool, moist winds that now lashed my face could dampen my anticipation for an encounter I had been looking forward to for as long as I had been coming to Indonesia.
For me, Mt Bromo is an icon, an illusive beauty that needed to be felt, a hero with a fickle personality. I know it's not a challenging mountain to access; there are no real tough climbs, yet to seek the rewards I desired would take time and patience, something my friends may tell you I can be just a little short of at the best of times.
As I pulled up and climbed off my bike at the first world-renowned lookout, I could almost taste the passing moist air that had blanketed the valley floor. The constant cloud cover was moving quickly yet showed no sign that it would be clearing anytime soon. Smiling at the view I could not see, I concluded that patience might become this trip's most valued practice.
As the temperature dropped with the setting sun, I took one last look at the mist-cloaked view before climbing into the lumpy bed and drifted off to dreamland with the hope of a stunning morning ahead. It felt like just moments later when the shrill of the alarm rang out. Sitting bolt upright, I quickly swung my feet over the edge of the bed and rushed to pull back the curtains. It took a while before my sleepy mind could register what I was looking at, but as the fog of sleep lifted, I was greeted with the view of a dense night sky illuminated by what appeared to be thousands of stars above.
In a heartbeat, the tiredness of travel left my body as my weary limbs gathered all I needed for a day of play in a mountainous wonderland. I jumped on my scooter and descended to the valley floor to be met with a low-lying cloud that further enhanced this mesmerizing landscape. The headlight struggled to make a dent in the cloud as my ride slivered through the black sands, making my way across this other world landscape.
It quickly became apparent that I was not the only person taking this journey today as I struggled through a dense traffic jam of old Toyota four-wheel drives. By the time I reached the best sunrise vantage point, I was a little taken back by the crowds. It was busy, very busy. Taking a deep breath and remembering the patience lesson, I slithered my way through the crowd and arrived at what I considered the perfect location to experience a majestic sunrise at Mt Bromo.
Warming my hands against the cold, I waited for the first blush of color that would ignite the clouds above the crater rim. Conditions were perfect, and I found myself smiling, knowing that what I was about to witness would be very special. I didn't have to wait for very long as the sun dramatically rose above the horizon, revealing Mt Bromo as the divine centerpiece in a wondrous landscape.
Time seemed to slow as the sun climbed higher, allowing its warm grasp to reach out and touch the crater rim. It was beautiful, like old friends meeting after a long time apart. This new dawn seemed to breathe new life into this stunning sleeping giant. The view was breathtaking and timelessly peaceful as the endless sea of warm clouds surrounding the mountain created a view of rare beauty.
I stood there in awe, trying vainly to capture what I felt in a single photograph. I am not sure I succeeded, but in the end, that matters little as this sunrise journey will be a life moment I will never forget.
After watching this early morning light show for an hour, I realized that I was now standing by myself, experiencing this endless beauty as if it were a private show. I wondered where everyone had gone. What could be more compelling than a graceful daily event that words struggle to describe? It made me smile to realize that I was fortunate enough to sit there for as long as I wanted. To connect to a place of immense energy beyond the boundaries of time, and at that moment, I felt like a wealthy man with little to prove.
Feeling intoxicated with joy and wonder, I slowly made my way back towards the valley floor while the mountain life surrounding this special place woke from its slumber to begin the rituals of living. I spent the rest of the day exploring and playing in the fine dust that, for me, might well have been gold dust, such was the richness of every step. Walking the crater rim was surprisingly powerful, as the sound and energy of what lay below hit you like a shock wave of reality. In many ways reminding me that we are all just visitors here, and we should all respectfully appreciate the privilege of being allowed to visit.
The rest of the day felt like a divine dusty dream as I wandered through the valley, heading in any direction my heart desired, constantly stopping to admire the ever-changing yet seemingly familiar surroundings. It feels so subtle, but every step in this rich environment is unique. A simple rock or a blade of golden grass can become somewhat spellbinding in the endless sea of fine black sand. Time felt like a foreign anomaly; it was irrelevant. On that precious day, there was nowhere on earth I would rather be, and fortunately, there was nowhere else I had to be.
An old saying suggests you should never meet your heroes. Well, I am glad I didn't listen and took the opportunity to spend some time with one of mine.
Thank you, Mt Bromo. Your power, beauty, and grace are stunningly mesmerizing.
