Monday, December 1, 2008

Mt. New Krakatoa and the story of.

"...it was killed 36.000 people. . . . "
White cloud that was suspended in clearly blue sky of Sunda straits make it looks very beautiful . Where the boat cleaved the water surface . . Prevently there come a big grey shadow who crawl the sky . Strong and wild , standing in the midle of the sea , between three green hills that surroundings on.

It is the youngest of Mt. Krakatoa . Stand behind the biggest history who was shocking almost half of the entire world. Krakatoa is being famous since 27 august 1883 , because the giant eruption of this mount. A big disaster who was came in to the world . The sound of eruption was heared within the radius of 4.600 kilometers from center of eruption . And it has killed more than 36.000 people who lived in around this mountain . The most are die by Tsunami wave .



Before it vomitted up . Krakatoa is a big island that performed by three volcanos , one is Rakata , then Perbuatan and the other one is Danan . After that Mt. Perbuatan and Mt. Danan was disapear and just a little bit of Mt. Rakata . This disaster has left three new mount . And now it called Sertung island, Rakata island (Big krakatoa), and Panjang island (Little krakatoa).

Rakata have the highest from the other . And it have 813 m above the sea level . In 44 years later . At December 1927 , there goes a new vomit up in the centre of that three island . And now it called Mt. Anak krakatau . This new volcano have 315 m high above sea level .

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Orca hunting technique

Do you remember about "free willy " film ? When a fish jumped up above a young child . . . Yes . . It have a scientific name and it called "ORCA" , Orcinus Orca , precisely .

Orca is the biggest formed from dolphin family . The color of their body makes a big differences with dolphins . The colors are black , white and grey . Male orca can reach 5 - 9 m with 9.000 kg of weight. And they can live until 50 years. And for female orca can reach 5 - 8 m with 8.000 kg of weight and they can life until 80 years old.

Orca can find in anywhere , but the most is in a cold sea. They live in groups with small family. Orca likes to eat an animals with hot blood type , they eat much variouses of fish , squirrel family , and sometimes they eat sea birds .
Orca Patagon in Argentina has perfected their hunting in off shore. They throw away their body to the sand to catch up a walrus child who stay on the sea side ,eventhough it dangerous their life.



Orca uses sea canal in the deep blue sea on Punta Norte beach to the sandy mainland through two rocky area where the walrus are grow. Orca waiting for the walrus on the sea and watch them until it close to the sea margin. They use sonar to detect prey passing through in canal and then they slide straight to the beach. Orca will landing on the beach with a half of their body outside the water with eat a walrus .
With a victim on their mouth , orca will moving wild their head and body to follow wave which it can bring back to the sea.

Where is the longest cave in the world ?

Hiding behind the surge landscape in the midle-south of kentucky state , U.S.A, There is the longest cave in the world : Mammoth Cave . It called Mammoth is not from the name of an elephant who was lived in ice periode , but because of it have a big dimension . This cave have at least 365 mil (587 km ) subway line.

Mammoth cave is being formed in 10 million years ago , when the soluble lime rocks, remainder bottom of the old sea, scraped by rain and stream flow from the surface, the power of water scraped makes a big hole in lime rocks and created a caves and tunnels in Mammoth cave.


Since 1800, Mammoth cave have been visited by tourist and scientist . Mammoth National Park establish on 1941 when almost of 53.000 acre (21.448 hectare) be separate for cave conservation and support environment. This National Park have many of flora and fauna , and a little bit of them are threatened to be extinctly, including five types of fish that only found in this cave .

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Raung Mountain(3,332 m)

Mt. Raung is a unique and big mountain in Java island . Its uniquenees is found in its kaldera whose depth in 500 m , which is surrounded by many small peaks which give us enchanting scenery. The easiest way to reach Mt. Raung is from Bondowoso . From Bondowoso we can take a mini bus to Sumber Wringin through Sukasari village . Start the trekking from Sumber Wringin through pine forest and coffe plantation to Pondok Motor ( climber post ) . We can take a rest to prepare our self for nine hours climbing to the peak of Mt. Raung .


Climbing to the peak , we will pass through coffe plantation , pine and casuarina trees , before reaching the camping ground . For about 1 hour we have to go on a sedge and then another 1 hour on a sandy and stony path to the peak of Mt. Raung . It will take 7 hours to return to Sumber Wringin village .

Mt. Raung is 3,332 m high above sea level where strong wind often blows. There is another peak , but there still no way to reach it , as it is a dense forest. As there is no water on the way to Mt. Raung , we should better have sufficient water prepared from Sumber Wringin or Sumber Lekan . There is no special permission required to clima Mt. Raung , we just need to inform the village officer in Sumber Wringin.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Semeru Mountain (3,676 m)-Bromo Mountain (2,203 m)

This is the most highest mountain in Java Island . And the most extraordinary panorama in every view of another mountains. Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National park is part of 4 regencies i.e. Probolinggo , Pasuruan, Malang, Lumajang . Mostly Mt. Bromo crater, this area very well known by tourist both foreign and domestic . There are many route leading to this place. To go to Mt. Bromo from Pasuruan , from Surabaya take the bus going to Probolinggo and get off in Pasuruan , from there take minibus to Tosari-Wonokitri. In Wonokitri , we can spend the night at hotels or inns or go directly to Mt. Pananjakan or the sandsea and climb Mt. Bromo.



Mt. Pananjakan is the best view point to look at Mt. Bromo and its surrounding. They really have a fantastic panorama with smoke blows from Mt. Bromo crater , colorful lava on the slope of the mountain and wide desert around. From here ,the sunrise looks more beautiful with Mt. Semeru as its back ground.

If we start from Probolinggo, we can go by minibus to Sukapura and Ngadisari . From Ngadisari we can reach 'cemoro lawang ' by minibus or walking (about 3km) and stay overnight there. In the next very early morning we can start our journey to Mt. Bromo crater to watch the splendors sunrise. Wd can walk or rent a horse there to reach the peak of Mt. Bromo.

People living around Mt. Bromo are called 'tengger people ' who hold an annual religious ceremony called 'KASODO' . In the summit of ceremony , which is at 12:00 p.m., people throw their sacrifices into Mt. Bromo crater. Many prominent and local goverment officers, also tens thousand Indonesian and foreign tourist always animat and attend the ceremony. The temperature in Bromo varies from 5 -14'c. We can walk through the wide desert and clim Mt. Batok , Mt. Kursi or Mt. Pananjakan . This area really promises us fantastic objects.

The easiest way to reach the peak of the highest mountain in Java , Mt. Semeru (3,676 m), is from Tumpang . From Malang, we can go to Tumpang by minibus , and then take Truck or open jeep to Ranu Pane. (it cost about Rp 30.000- Rp 50.000 ,00 each in 2007). We will pass Gubuk Klakah village and Ngadas village , on the way to Ranu Pane village.

Ranu Pane (2,100 m) is the last village where we can find a post to ask permission for climbing . A hut to spend the night or to take a rest is available also. In this village , we can also see two beautiful lakes . One called Ranu Pane ( Ranu means lake ), another one nearby called Ranu Regulo.

In the early morning, we can start the journey to Ranu Kumbolo through a path as far as 13 km. It will spend 3 or 4 hours. In Ranu Kumbolo there is a climber hut for resting and cooking . Of course , water is available in abundance here . Ranu Kumbolo is 2,400m above sea level and has beautiful scenery especially in the morning when we look at the sun rising through the chinks of the hills.

On the way to Kalimati (2,700 m) from Ranu Kumbolo , we will pass casuarina trees and grasses, which takes 2 or 3 hours (10km). Sometimes we can meet endangered animals like deer or birds . In Kalimati we can put up a tent . And if we need water, we should go west wards along the edge of Kalimati forest to Sumbermani, 1 hour needed to walk go and back . But its better to prepare water in Ranu Kumbolo. Land condition of Kalimati area up to the peak of Semeru is dangerous , as it unstable and landslide sometimes happens. Its better to put up a tent in Kalimati instead of Arcopodo (about 1 hour climbing from Kalimati towards the peak ). We can start climbing from Kalimati in very early morning , about 01:00 or 02:00 a.m. . To reach the peak of Mt. Semeru , we will climb through casuarina forest for an hour and sandy-steepy slope for 2 or 3 hours.

The mostly often climbed peak is Mahameru . From this peak , we can look at a crater called 'Jonggring Saloko', which uniquely blows volcanic stones and sands every 10 or 15 minutes, preceded by smoke rising highly. The temperature in the peak is very low about 0-4'c, sometimes foggy or stormy. We can enjoy unvorgettable and fantastic panorama towards many peaks of east Java, coasts and seas , and sunrise in the east horizon.

The best time for climbing the mountain is in most dry seasons, in the months of June until September. We may avoid most rainy season , when storm and landslide often happen.

From the peak , it will take 1 hour to return to Kalimati . It will spend another 2 hours to reach Ranu Kumbolo and another 3 hours to reach Ranu Pane. Reaching Ranu Pane in the afternoon, we can directly continue to Tumpang by open jeep and stay overnight here . In the following morning we can go straight a head to Malang.

Lawu Mountain (3,265)

It is quite easy to climb Mt. Lawu as it is in the close vicinity to the city , there for many mountaineers climb this mountain. Start from Surabaya , we can travel by bus to Madiun , and continue to Cemorosewu through Sarangan . In case we start from Surakarta , we can go directly to Tawangmangu and continue to cemorosewu. Cemorosewu-Sarangan valley is a tourist spot , as it has fascinating scenery . The valley shape is like a saddle . It is the highest main road in java island, at about 1,900 m high. At Cemorosewu we should register ourselves to Forest Authority (PERHUTANI) and complete logistic for climbing . From cemorosewu on the way to the peak , we will find four huts successively at 2,100 m, 2,300 m , 2,500 m, and 2,800 m high from the sea level .


We will also find " Pesanggrahan Argo Dalem" at 3,100 m .
On the way to the peak , we will pas away pine forest and acacia forest up the height of 3,000 m, after that the plants became lower . At 3,200 m high, close to the peak , we can look at small salfatara at the bottom of the steep ravine.
Peak of Mt. Lawu is a hilly plain , from where we can find out remaining dead crater. From the peak of Mt. Lawu we can look at the beautiful panorama towards Tawangmangu-Sarangan valley and its fabulous lake .

The journey from Cemorosewu to the peak takes nearly 7 hours whereas the return one will spend nearly 4 hours. We can find spring before Pesanggrahan Argo Dalem bifurcation way , or 1 hour trekking from the last hut.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Sumbing Mountain (3,371 m)- Sundoro Mountain(3,136 m)

The shape of Mt. Sumbing and Mt. Sundoro are identical, conical in shape. It shows that these two mountains originated from the same source and periode. They are separated by main road connecting Wonosobo and Magelang. To go to Mt. Sundoro from Magelang we may travel by bus to Wonosobo and get off at the highest place in Kledung village. Comming to the village we should meet the village headman, to obtain information and guidance about the mountain . If we wish , we can stay at the village headman's house as there is no inn or special place to have a rest. Since there is no water available throughout the journey , we should prepare water in this village .



The path behind the village headman's house is the track leading to the mountain. Walking along this path through the vegetable garden for about 1 hour , we will reach pine forest and straight up to the peak of the mountain . Close to the peak we may turn the hill from left to right towards the peak. Journey from kledung village to the peak takes about 8 hours and about 5 hours to return to the village. Every year on 1st Suro (New Year in Moslem / Javanese Calendar) local people climb the peak to celebrate the New Year. To reach the peak oe Mt. Sumbing , we may continue traveling by bus from kledung village towards Wonosobo. We get off at Garung village's gate , where the main street begins incline. The journey from garung gate to the village takes nearly 1 hour. There is no inn in the garung/butuh village , so the mountaineers may stay overnight in the village headman's house, as well as obtain information about the mountain. Through the path behind the village houses , we can continue trekking through vegetable garden and steep path like in the tunnel. As we pass acacia garden we will reach a grassy incline plain, where we can look at the peak . Climbing through the mountain ridge became more strenuous and we will find a big stone in the way, which functions as a shelter when the wind is blowing very hard. We spend another 1 hour to reach the peak from this place .

The peak of Mt. Sumbing is a small kaldera , having diameter about 800 m, with 50-100 m depth , and some small conical peaks. We can enjoy an exotic panorama, as there are many salfataras in the Caldera, where the sulfuric gas continuously blows. To reach the highest peak we have to turn right down and clim again . Journey from butuh to the peak of Mt. Sumbing takes nearly 8 hours whereas the return journey takes nearly 5 hours . We should obtain water sufficiently in garung village since there is no water on the way.

Slamet Mountain(3,481 m)

Mt. Slamet is the second highest mountain in Java. There are three routes leading to the mountain; one from west side of the mountain , one from baturaden and another from bambangan, out of which is the shortest route to the mountain. To go to bambangan , we should travel from purwokerto to purbalingga and from purbalingga to bobotsari, you can take it by small bus.In the middle of the route to bobotsari it through a serayu village. We go down and get another transportation to go to bambangan village . We can travel through villages surrounded by many trees to penjangan village by truck .


This is the last village that allows cars and vehicles to pass through. It takes 1 hour trekking to bambangan from penjangan village , or if we want to be faster , we can rent a motorcycle that called 'ojek' to go to information center at the village headman of bambangan . His name is Mr. Muheri, but unfortunately he has die by motorcycle accident in purwokerto , and now his wife and son take the lead and make a permission to guiding every mountaineering who want to climb this mountain . We may take a rest in this place .

To climb this this mountain , we should move toward the mountain until we see a welcome gate . After this gate the path is bifurcation , and we better walk to the rightward . We will come across vegetable garden , pine woods and a beautiful tropical forest on the uphill . Before reaching samarantu (2,900 m high) we will find bench for rest and old dilapidated hut, where mountaineers usually take a rest or an overnight stay.

Climbing for about an hour, we will reach sampiyan jampang and that is border of the forest where we can take a look at the sunrise. To reach the peak , we shall climb through strenuous route full of lava lumps for about 1 hour. From the peak , we can enjoy exotic panorama towards a broad lava plain and an active crater as well. A huge explosion happened in this crater on july 13, 1988. It will spend 6 hour to climb from bambangan to samarantu , and another 2 hours to the peak . From the peak back to samarantu only takes about 4 hours.