4am start! as we jump in a jeep and drive across the lava valley floor up to the observation point. Abby and I grab a well needed coffee as the other people make their way up the hill. When we join them the sun is about to join us for the day.

We take dozens of photos of everything we can. It is quite amazing. When the sun has fully risen Gunung Bromo shares it’s glory with us.

The mountain behind has a little eruption of its own.

The jeep takes us back down to the crater floor

And we walk up to the craters edge.

The sulphur is truly overpowering and we use our clothes to help us breath.

Back at the hotel we shower, have breakfast and get ready to leave. We are sorry to say goodbye to Gunung Bromo and it’s ‘end of the world’ feel. But, I am freezing and want that Indonesian heat again.

We catch the 6pm (ish) bus from Kuta which drives through the night, taking the ferry across to Java. The bus drops us off in Probolinggo at 4am, outside a travel agents. I chat to the guy and he offers me the perfect package for us; a lift to the town of Cemoro Lawang today, and then tomorrow a jeep ride to the viewing point, then upto the crater edge, a lift back to Probolinggo and the bus to Yogyakarta.

A mini-bus winds through the steep hills of the volcano area onto Cemoro Lawang, passing through small villages. There are endless near vertical farms making use of the very fertile soil. When we get to the hotel we see the crater area, and the views are just stunning. The mountains within the crater seem very small. It’s not until later that we see vehicles on the crater floor than we get a perspective and realise the sheer size of the mountains.

The town definitely has a ‘off the beaten track feel’, even though there are regular visitors to the area. It is definitely different to the convenience of Kuta, and I like it.

The overnight bus was OK, but we got little sleep. After checking into the hotel we crash-out straight away.

I can’t help but stare at the amazing view of the crater. I take a quick walk and see potential, so I go back to the hotel and get Abs. We have a great lunch at a cafe and get lots of information from the friendly locals. We are excited about getting closer to the crater edge tomorrow. One of the locals tells us about how the crater erupts every 4 or 5 years, and is it is due this year.

Whilst we are back at the hotel thunder roars overhead, and we can’t help but smile at the thought of the due eruption! 😉

Up early and out doing various jobs, such as long overdue laundry (a massive bag for £1.50, bargain!), shopping for birthday presents for back home, tickets for Java tomorrow (we are going to Mount Bromo) and souvenirs (which we don’t get). We nearly buy very compact hammocks but decide that we probably won’t use them often enough.

After lunch we head to the beach. Today is perhaps the best weather we have seen in Kuta. The surf at Kuta beach is also the best I have seen here, due to the mild winds and reasonable swell. I engage in ridiculous and amusing negotiations with a surfboard renter, during which the guy insists the board is new, when in fact it is old and battered. I have a great surf though. I find a spot to myself, where bigger sets are making it hard work. My surfing in Portugal paying off here.

An early start to pack and catch the 10am bus to Lembar, from where we will take the ferry to Padangbai in Bali, and then onto Kuta.

The bus passes through developed areas of Lombok, classic rice paddies and across a range of roads.

Lombok has clear signs of the real, or old Indonesia, of which only fragments remains in Bali.

Our bus is stopped by the police, but they are only interested in seeing the drivers paperwork. We later pass through another roadblock. This must be the improved security I’ve read about.

We get to Lembar where we get aboard the ferry, which is pretty big. We are hassled by the normal range of vendors.

We settle into an outside bench which we have to ourselves. The ferry ride is fine. The weather becomes a little wet and windy, but the ferry doesn’t get too rough.

Back in Bali we take the bus back to Kuta, via Ubud.

Another relaxing day of good food, swimming, walking and relaxing. We book tickets for tomorrow to Senggigi in Lombok.