Train to Banyuwangi
Our first plan for Java was to visit the Ijen Crater. This is atop a mountain which releases sulphur and produces constant blue flames. The mountain is closest to the eastern city of Banyuwangi, a train would do the trick. We were up at 7:30am, got all our gear together, and checked out of the hotel. A taxi was the best way to the train station, not too far from us. At the station, we bought our breakfast and then awaited our train to Banyuwangi.
Check out our first train journey in China, it almost ended in disaster!
Thankfully, the train to Banyuwangi arrived on-time, we boarded, and settled in for the 6-hour journey. We used en.tiket.com to book the train, seems to work pretty well and a touch cheaper than 12go. I managed to get a couple of hours of sleep, but the seats hurt my neck, so I couldn’t sleep any longer than this. On the train, Mat and I planned the itinerary for getting to Jakarta, including trains and cities we’d stay in. The remaining hours flew by, and the train had arrived in Banyuwangi before we knew it.
Tip!
It may seem obvious, but using long transport times to book future itineraries is the perfect way to do so. I enjoy reading if I can, or sleeping to pass the time. But if I haven’t already done so, I’ll plan ahead to use my time effectively.
Accident in Banyuwangi
From the train station, we got a taxi to our homestay. It was smooth sailing, until our driver turned into our street as a cyclist was passing us on the inside and we knocked him off. That’s a first. We paid the driver and walked the rest, fortunately the cyclist seemed okay, just a bit shocked. He got up and sat on his bike, so I think he made it. The roads are just nuts here, I wouldn’t want to ride or drive a bike. We checked into Mango Homestay, it was pretty popular but homey. I didn’t know beforehand, but they offer the Ijen Crater tour themselves. Instead, I’d pre-booked with a private tour, just us two.
Mat and I had a nice meal just up the road, but come evening, there was a swarm of moths everywhere. I had no idea what happened, but they were all over the road and in the air, it was crazy. Before turning in for the night, we popped to the market and ATM to stock up on snacks and dosh. As is custom occasionally, we got some fruit to stave off the scurvy. We hurried back to the homestay to get some sleep as our tour guide was going to pick us up at 00:15! I believe due to the blue flames, it’s best to view them in darkness, otherwise you can’t see them well.
