Bromo, the Altar of Tengger

[caption id="attachment_57832" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Foto Wikipedia"][/caption] Mount Bromo is one of the most famous places of interest in East Java. Due to realatively easy access, Bromo enjoys thousand of visits from both domestic and foreigh tourist every year. Its major attraction lies mainly on the combination of its beautiful view, fresh weather, and the inhabitant's unique tradition. Bromo is the only active volcano out of three mountain emerged in the middle of ancient Tengger Caldera. The others are Mount Batok to the north and Mount Kursi to its south. The peak of this volcano reaches the altitude of 2.392 m asl. Bromo is part of Tengger plateau, the area inhibited by indigenous Tengger tribe. According to their belief, Tengger people are direct descendants of Roro Anteng, a princess from Majapahit, and Joko Seger, a Brahmin from the kingdom. Today, most of Tengger people still hold and practice their ancient Hindu tradition. Once every year, Tengger is warm and colorful from the society holding a famous traditional ritual called Yadnya Kasada. Considering Bromo as a holy mountain, Tenggerese Hindu are throwing various kind of offerings to the crater at the peak ritual, wishfully begging Gods for good crops, health, and prosperity on the following year. [caption id="attachment_57833" align="alignleft" width="298" caption="Foto Kompas - Rommy Perbawa"][/caption] Along with Semeru area, Bromo and Tengger plateau was declared a National Park for its unique ecosystem in 1982. With a total area of 5,250 hectares at an altitude of about 2,100 m, the park features Semeru, the highest, most active volcano in Indonesia, four lakes locally called Ranu, a vast plain of sand called Segara Pasir, and 50 rivers. Ecologycally speaking, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park features sub-montane, montane, and subalpine ecosystems. These are the home for large trees reaching hundred years of age and endangered indigenous mammals and birds such as Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata), Javan Rusa (Cervus timorensis), Indian Muntjac deer (Muntiacus muntjak ), Javan red junglefowl (Gallus gallus bankiva), Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas), Asiatic Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus ), Besra (Accipiter virgatus ), rangkong (Buceros rhinoceros silvestris), and Bido serpent-eagle (Spilornis cheela bido). Bromo is situated in Probolinggo regency. With its friendly terrain and well-maintained road network, the access with mass transport is considerably easy. From here, one will take a 28 km trip through winding road with great scenery to Sukapura village, then another 7 km from Sukapura to Ngadisari before reaching the welcome gate of Bromo at Cemoro Lawang. Famous pictures of sunrise in Bromo are taken around a famous spot called Penanjakan. This spot is on the northwestern ridge of the ancient caldera surounding Mount Bromo. From here, one will have a free view of more than 180 degree to Bromo, with smokey Semeru as the background, and to the eastern horizon. [caption id="attachment_57834" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Foto Wikipedia"][/caption] Handsome moment of sunrise lasts not longer than three hours. Yet, its elevated angle after that creates dramatic scene when striking subjects in the middle of vast plain. Awesome pictures of horse rider, men with sarong doing their activity, female with offering, and other subjects on Segara Pasir looks briliant slightly after the sunrise.Hindu temple of Pura Agung Poten standing solitary amidst the sand is one of famous object here. After the wather getting warmer, hiking to the peak of Bromo will be a challanging activity. Ladder with hundreds of steps, 223 according to an official count, is avilable in two directions, up and down. If hiking a tough thing to do for a vacation, horse riding is the best alternative to reach the crater and enjoy the great view from top. More than that, Bromo still have plenty attraction to offer. Everlasting sight of vegetable plantation along way is itself sparking a refreshing ambient. There are several agrotourism spots around Ngadas, Wonokitri, and Cemoro Lawang village for those who wish to have fun harvesting vegetable and fruit crops or taste the traditional way of life on agricultural society.