rain

it rains as it rained that day
it rained then in celebration
it rains today to dilute
it rains today to cleanse

there and back

Bromo and Ijen

Photos from my trip to Mt. Bromo and Kawah Ijen in East Java, Indonesia.

Date: 8th – 12th August 2007

Details:

Both the places can be reached either via Surabaya or Bali. I flew into Surabaya and then taxied up to Probollingo (small town near Mount Bromo) and then up to Yoschi’s which is a small budget hotel with little bamboo/cane walled rooms (around 150k IDR per night). Food is good, ambience is great, friendly staff who can arrange day trips to Bromo or other nearby places (including arranging bus/ferry to Bali - Trips are marked up 10-20% though) and provide maps for local treks (2-4 hours around the valley).

First two days were spent riding up the edge of the caldera to watch the sunrise over Bromo and Semeru, riding up to Bromo on an old horse (25k IDR), trekking in the hills around, and drinking warm wine. Trek difficulty – easy.

The next two days were spent driving eastward to Kawah Ijen – the sulphur lake. First stop on the way was at a coffee plantation where we stayed the night and continued the journey to the base of Ijen the next day morning. The trek up to the sulphur lake is scenic and peaceful if you start early. Mist and fumes make photography a challenge! Trek difficulty – medium-easy.

Enjoy the photos and drop me a note if you need more info!

Cheers!

lose yourself

all the best, baby

atoms for peace

Artist: Thom Yorke

Album: The Eraser

Year: 2006

Title: Atoms For Peace

Lyrics: Click Here

A Scanner Darkly

What happened? How did i get here?

[Bangs his head into a cabinet door]

The pain, so unexpected and undeserved, for some reason cleared away the cobwebs.

I realized I didnt hate the cabinet door, I hated my life, my house, my family, my backyard, my powermower.

Nothing would ever change, nothing new could ever be expected.
It had to end and it did.

Now in the dark world where I dwell, ugly things and surprising things and sometimes little wondrous things spill out at me constantly, and I can count on nothing.

Another monologue I loved from the movie, A Scanner Darkly:

I saw death rising from the earth,
from the ground itself,
in one blue field.

[picks up a blue flower]

A present for my friends...
at Thanksgiving.

Quirk: The title for the book/movie is derived from this passage from the Bible in 1 Corinthians 13:

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is
perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a
child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but
when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass,
darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as
also I am known.