On this day of my birthday, it was a day rather under the sign of rest than this 10th of the stay. On the menu, "finding" an open agency to be able to go to Mount Bromo. Thing done (with Bromo Holidays near the bird market), we took a package including the 4×4 with driver, he did not speak English, but that will not really be a problem.
We did the math to see if it was worth taking this tour, which ended our journey on Java, taking us to Bromo, Kawah Ijen and then including the ferry to Bali.
And the result was yes, in addition to having an interesting price (900.000 IDR each = 74 euros at the current rate) including the rental of the vehicle (which normally costs 350.000 to 400.000 per day or even just half a day, I have seen).
So yes it was not a tip top vehicle (a bit soft for a 4x4) but hey. Then, the night in Bondowoso plus evening meal and breakfast, water, access to the national parks, the ferry from Ketapang to Bali, in short rather interesting.
Once we had chosen our package, we just had to wait... The departure was the next morning, but at 1am! Finally, we met at 1am for a concrete departure at 1:30am... Given the circumstances, it went without saying that we were not going to book another night at the hotel. So we checked out and had our luggage kept at the reception.
Then we more or less wandered around, because when you have nothing special to do, waiting until 1am can be long...
And that day, I didn't take any photos, at least not with my camera. That's the famous "no photos" day.
To finish, we will spend 5 hours in an open cyber café, then, we will go to the local shopping mall, I really liked the “souvenir” items that were there, but thinking we would find them later elsewhere we did not buy anything, not wanting to clutter ourselves, we later regretted this choice, because we will not see the same products…
And finally last stop in a bar that is part of a hotel just opposite ours. Cozy atmosphere, modern live music, cool. Jitima will take a little nap, I will fill my belly and already, it will be time to pack up, the car is waiting for us.
A guide from the agency explains to us how it will happen, because he cannot come and so, as I said, we will only have a non-English speaking driver, which in the end will not be a problem at all (but normally an English speaking guide instead of a driver is included in this package…).
Just like I say now, there will be nothing more to reproach the tour we took, so I recommend this agency to you.
