Lost in Java

No wonder I got lost so many times

On Tuesday the 6th of June 2017 ,
I left the warm family nest.
With a bit of apprehension I straddled my motorbike and drove North East.
My first stop: Madiun city 107 kilometers away.

Solo to Banyuwangi then on to Bali

The road to Madiun

To get from Solo to Madiun, I drove on a beautiful winding road at the foot of mount Lawu, whose last eruption was in 1888.
The one hundred or so kilometer ride was in cool and foggy weather. I stopped at a warung (local restaurant) overlooking the valley.
I ordered the regular Nasi Goreng (fried rice with fried egg) and a kupruk emping (home made chips…)

Liberty

In Madiun city, I choose to stay at hotel MERDEKA.
Medeka means Liberty in Indonesian language.

The rooms look like cells in the hotel named LIBERTY

Anecdote

I got lost looking for a hotel in Madiun city, so I stopped at the police station.
I had to wake up the policeman sleeping on the office bench. As he awoke he took on an official stance and said « show me your license. Oh he said from Solo. Selamat datang pak and hati hati» (welcome to Madiun and drive safely.)»

Impressions Of The City Of Madiun:

Madiun is a quiet city with friendly people. Human size.
The city of Madiun is clean and many old Dutch buildings have been preserved, many of them turned into general stores, opticians and pharmacies.

The great mosque

On my first evening I slowly walked to the Alun-Alun, which is the main town square. The great mosque Agung Baitul Hakim is a beautiful building with blue colored ceramic. The grounds of the Alun Alun were covered with bamboo mats on which the people congregate to enjoy food after a long day of fasting.

.... Next stop Mojokerto

The city of Mojokerto is on the road to Surabaya, the second largest city in Java after Jakarta.

I was relieved when I finally arrived in the city of Mojokerto, after avoiding the trucks and busses that literally drive on «my side» of the road leaving me no choice but to stop or drive on the shoulder.

I was exultant when I came across a café that served a delicious pasta bolognaise and a strong Americano making me forget the trials and tribulations of route 15.

A most welcomed american coffee at White Mojo cafe.

Bromo. Ah Bromo!

Before the sun rises, it can be very cold in Bromo

The road from Pasuruan at sea level to Bromo at 2300 meters is...

...narrow and winding with sharp curves. It is very difficult to keep an eye on the broken asphalt because of the spectacular view on either side. As I was driving, the cold humid air kept me focused, changing gears as the curves demanded, riding with the clutch handle closed when the road descended using the compression to slow down my pace.

A small but clean penignapan (family hotel) run by a friendly Tenggerese woman.

While standing on the caldera surrounding fuming mount Bromo that rises from a sea of sand I am lost for words to describe what a friend of mine named: «the dawn of the world». Here you have a sense of humanity’s fragility and understand that when man has destroyed everything and has disappeared, the earth will resume its millennial rhythm without worrying about our disappearance.

In Bromo I Really Got Lost
The National Park of Bromo is a favourable location to meditate.

Ok Carl. Enough meditating in Bromo.
GOOoooo...

Meditation does not mean you have to stand still

Leaving java for Bali Island

Ah Yes I see it. It reads: Kawa Ijen. That's where I heading

A memorable ride

THE ROAD from Bromo to the ferry to Bali via kawah Ijen, offers an experienced motorcyclist a spectacular and challenging driving experience.
I drove the last stretch of 30 or so kilometers in the wet fog. I could not see 3 meters in front; it was downhill in second gear for more than one hour.
The helmet's visor was continuously covered by water drops that distorted the view.