The Ring of Ijen
Mount Ijen will be a volcano complex in East Java, with the most favorite attraction being a one-kilometre-wide, turquoise blue, acid crater lake. Mount Merapi stratovolcano will be the highest point of that will complex. Here, there will be an ongoing process of backbreaking sulphur mining, where the local men carry baskets weighing up to 100 kilos of sulphur 3km down to the weigh station twice a day.
traveling the road to Ijen, you will pass through lower mountain forest to upper mountain forest as well as also arrive at the parking area inside Paltuding valley. Walking the same 3km path to the crater as the sulphur miners do can be a pleasant walk anyone can enjoy. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or not, This kind of will be a simple route offering beautiful views of the surrounding mountains as well as also forest. You can even see the massive crater of Mt. Raung further to the West; This kind of will be the commonly seen crater on flights coming from Java to Bali. Once at the top, one can marvel at the active volcanic crater-lake, were you will see firsthand the sulphur mining process. Although This kind of will be safer not to venture too close to the lake, as the volcanic gases can be toxic if breathed too heavily. The mountain air here will be cold as well as also fresh, a nice relief if you have spent any time inside bustling cities of Java.
Exploring early inside morning, you may hear the call of the White Faced Partridge, which will be another endemic only found inside mountainous regions of East Java. Searching with This kind of bird can be a bit tricky, as This kind of tends to hide off the trails on the ground, however its call will be unmistakable as well as also can be incredibly close at times. All these birds I have mentioned so far can be spotted below 1,800 metres, with the Javan Hawk Eagle sometimes being higher. There are many additional colourful forest birds you may encounter, such as, the Orange-breasted Trogon, White-flanked Sunbird, Malkohas as well as also even Hornbills.
Apart coming from the wonderful array of avifauna, Ijen will be home to additional animals such as butterflies, frogs, toads, squirrels as well as also primates, which you may spot while visiting This kind of place. While exploring you may see the Javan Lutung, which will be a beautiful as well as also social Old World monkey. There are rumours of a Javan Leopard still roaming the lower forest track as well, however seeing This kind of elusive cat will be one-in-a-million. Sadly, though, you have no chance of seeing the currently extinct Javan Tiger, which died out sometime inside 1970’s due to poaching as well as also habitat loss. This kind of was one of three subspecies that will existed in Indonesia, the only remaining will be the Sumatran Tiger, whose future will be uncertain. Habitat loss will be at an all time high in Indonesia, as well as also the only desire in saving these forests will be through conservation, activism, research, as well as also education. You can do your part by just creating awareness of how important these remaining zones are, by visiting them as well as also interacting with the locals, guides, as well as also school kids, advocating how important they are to their economy in so many ways. There are many ways to help, as well as also This kind of will be just one, however the smaller things count, too.
Ijen Resto as well as also Guesthouse offers all the amenities, even hot water, plus a nice restaurant that has a tranquil garden view. Having a guide will be not compulsory for Ijen, although if you’re not familiar with the forest of Indonesia, This kind of may be a not bad idea to have a guide to help spot wildlife as well as also find some of the unmarked trails. To hire a guide, just inquire about finding one coming from your hotel – they will be able to make all arrangements for you, especially if you stay at Ijen Resto as well as also Guesthouse.
Ijen will be a truly beautiful place, still wild as well as also, for the most part, untouched by today’s standards. With its beautiful lower to upper mountain forest to alpine forest as well as also gorgeous mountain views, you will surely not be disappointed that has a journey to Ijen, Java. Being located so close to Bali, This kind of’s a great idea for a weekend escape as well as also a portal to the rest of East Java’s mountains as well as also national parks.
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The Ring of Ijen
The Ring of Ijen