AT THE PEAK OF MT. BROMO
The team woke up a little earlier than usual on the morning of September 29. We were scheduled to visit the famous Mt. Bromo which is about an hour and a half to two hours from the Langit Bromo Hotel, the only luxury hotel in the area.
Mt. Bromo is especially known for the beautiful view with the sunrise on the background. Many pictures had circulated in the Internet showing its overwhelming beauty, the early sun’s rays escaping through the smoke that the active volcano continuously emits.
The first thing on the list is to go to Mt. Penanjakan viewpoint, which is about 2,770 meters above sea level. When on top, it allows people a very clear view of Mt. Bromo with Mt. Semeru and Mt. Batok on its side. The downside, however, of climbing up Mt. Penanjakan to await the sunrise is the mob of tourists waiting along- side you. We were told that it is sometimes only a matter of luck to be able to get a good picture of the sunrise because of the very crowded viewpoint. Because of this warning, we instead opted to go up Mt. Penanjakan early morning around 7 to 8 o’clock. There was no sunrise anymore but the three volcanoes still looked as splendid and as arresting. The best part is we had the viewpoint for ourselves.
After taking our pictures and marveling on how perfect the volcanoes were shaped, we decided to go back to our rented jeeps which took us nearer to Mt. Bromo, specifically to the caldera floor, which is popularly known as Sandsea.
It took us about an hour from Mt. Penanjakan to the caldera where we saw literally a great sea of sand. Somehow the place made me feel like a character in one of the Arabian Nights stories especially so that a team of horses was waiting for us to bring us to the foot of Mt. Bromo.
But before all the mountain climbing and the horseback riding, we were taken to a Hindu temple that sits on the caldera. The Hindu temple is called Pura Luhur Poten. Not all the tourists are given the chance to be prayed over by the Hindu Mangku but that day was our lucky day. We, and our edelweiss offering to the god of Mt. Bromo, were blessed and prayed over by the Hindu Mangku. It was my first time meeting a Mangku and it was a surreal experience.
Outside the temple, I picked a black male horse with white blotches elegantly scattered down its legs, which I later learned to be named Sadin. The horseback riding was no sweat as there were guides to assist but upon arrival at the foot of Mt. Bromo, we were all welcomed by a steep 200-step stairs that led us up to the crater of Mt. Bromo.
The wind was blowing sand. I pulled my leopard-printed scarf over my head and with the edelweiss offering in my hand, I proceeded climbing up the stairs stopping every now and then to catch my breath. I figured the experience will not be complete without seeing the crater. And indeed it was true. Upon reaching the top, I then knew the view was worth the climb. It was beautiful and breathtaking. Gentle smoke comes out the crater as if reminding the tourists that it might be silent but it is active.
There was a legend by the Javanese people in the 15th century. Princess Roro Anteng, daughter of King Brawijaya of Majapahit kingdom, escaped to Mt. Bromo together with her husband Joko Seger to avoid the ruin of the greatest Majapahit kingdom. In this area, they built a new kingdom they named Tengger, taken from both their names. This is why the people living near the volcanoes are called the Tenggerese people. While the village was prosperous under the rule, the couple was sad for they have no children.
They climbed up Mt. Bromo to ask for help. They were answered in one condition: they should sacrifice their youngest child to the crater. Over the years they had 25 children with Prince Kesuma as the youngest. The king and queen forgot their promise and the god got angry making Mt. Bromo erupt while the lava dragged the young prince into the crater. To condole upon his death and pray to god, the Tenggerese people hold the annual Yadnya Kasada where offerings of vegetable, food crops, chickens, and cattle were thrown into the crater. This is held on the full moon of Tenggerese Calendar.