HIKING by moonlight into the heart of Ijen is romantic. Many, like us, hiked for 1½ hours to see the blue flames from the crater. It was a mesmerising affair.
Arriving at the base of the volcano at 3am, there was a hive of activity. Hikers gathered around a small bonfire, some having warm drinks at the “warung” (small eateries), while guides distributed headlights and gas masks.
The Ijen plateau, known as “Kawah Ijen”, is a quiet but active volcano complex located near Banyuwangi city on the Indonesian island of Java, and is regarded as one of the country’s must-sees.
The steep and dusty 6km hike up starts at 3.30am. Depending on your fitness level, you could get to the top of the crater’s ridges in about an hour.
One shares the 2m-wide dirt path with porters, a steady stream of hikers, and pushcarts ferrying hikers who are unable to make the mildly steep gradient up, ascending to a height of 2,799m.
For those who do not want to make the journey by foot, a pushcart ride costs 800,000 rupiah (RM234). – August 4, 2019.
Sunrise seen at the aqua-coloured Ijen Crater lake on the Indonesian island of Java. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, August 4, 2019.Hikers waiting to climb the Ijen Crater in Java. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, August 4, 2019.A porter is bundled up with a blanket against the high wind at the summit of the Ijen Crater. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, August 4, 2019.Hikers and porters making their way to the summit of the Ijen Crater on the Indonesian island of Java. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, August 4, 2019.Porters huddling around a campfire to keep warm at the summit of the Ijen Crater. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, August 4, 2019.A fire providing much-needed warmth to porters at the summit of the Ijen Crater. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, August 4, 2019.Sunrise as seen from the summit of the Ijen Crater on the Indonesian island of Java. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, August 4, 2019.Porters helping a visitor up the Ijen Crater. For those who do not want to hike up, they can make the journey on puschcarts for a fee of 800,000 rupiah. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, August 4, 2019.Porters and hikers walking the trail on the rim of the Ijen Crater in Java. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, August 4, 2019.The first light of day seen at the Ijen Crater on the Indonesian island of Java. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, August 4, 2019.A view of porters and hikers on the trail on the rim of the Ijen Crater. - The Malaysian Insight pic by David ST Loh, August 4, 2019.
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