MOUNT IJEN-BROMO-MALANG TRIP, 22-26 March 2023 (part 2)

MOUNT IJEN-BROMO-MALANG TRIP, 22-26 March 2023 (part 2) 

DAY 4 : ATV ADVENTURE AND TUMPAK SEWU WATERFALL

1. ATV Adventure

We continued to Lumajang but due toa broken bridge and swollen river, we had to go via Malang. We stayed in Artha Cottage, a picturesque hotel just 10-15 minutes from Tumpak Sewu Waterfall. This very nice hotel also offers ATV adventure and Off road trip. The next morning we tried ATV, for 1 hours trip is 250,000 IDR, 3 hours is 450,000 IDR. We tried the 3 hours one, if we ride it too slow and spent more than 3 hours, we need to pay extra money 100,000 IDR for every hour.

We departed from the hotel at 8 am, actually our Instructor, Hasan said usually people depart at 4 am and see the sunrise, but we didn’t know about it, I think it’s better to start very early, because we had to cross the pine forest and mining area, there were many trucks that passed by, not comfortable, and we finished at 11 am, it’s too hot.

                 

The farmers harvest the sap from pine tree, it is one of the material to make paint. (left pic)

This was my first time to try it, it was really fun (unfortunately, you can’t see my big laughing happy face), and Hasan said there are many routes, the more challenging the route, the more beautiful the view but this was rainy season, can be very dangerous, and also my first time, so we tried the easy one, passing through the villagers’ houses.

There are many mosquitos in this pine forest, they bit my back, I was busy scratching like a monkey, so itchy!

              

After one and half hour ride, we rested at this area, very nice place with streams.

Me, chasing Hasan.

After the ride, we went back to our rooms, prepared to check up but suddenly it started raining heavily, and usually Tumpak Sewu Waterfall will be flooded and closed for visitors, we missed this information, we tried to catch it up, hopefully not closed yet.

2. Tumpak Sewu Waterfall

Apparently it was closed due to the flood, although the rain had stopped but the guide warned us not to go down because the water level was high and one bridge was washed away. So we can only see the waterfall from above, should not go down. The entrance fee is 10,000 IDR, parking fee is also 10,000 IDR.

Beside Tumpak Sewu Waterfall, you can explore Tetes Cave, it’s better to hire a guide for 2 places, the price is the same, 250,000 IDR, average time to explore 3 hours.

   

If you are facing similar situation with us, it’s better not to go down, because there is no guard in here, if anything bad happen, the local people will not take responsible for it. The path that going down is slippery and dangerous, some stairs are good, others are not good. The left one is a warning “do not jump the fence, love your life” (there must be someone jumped before).

We had nothing to do after taking a few pics, so we had lunch at the stall and continued to Malang. This was our last day to travel with our driver, Mr Nanang, thanks for the ride. 

DAY 5 : MALANG CITY (KAMPOENG HERITAGE KAJOETANGAN,  AREMA BLUE VILLAGE, TRIDI VILLAGE, JODIPAN COLORFUL VILLAGE)

Actually most of the tourist sites are in Batu, not in center city of Malang, but our flight was 1:30 pm, not much time in the morning to explore the places, so we stay in the city of Malang. We checked out early, left our things in the hotel after breakfast at 8.30 am, so we only had 3 hours before going to the airport, so we visited places in Klojen, only 20 minutes from the Hotel.

1. Kampoeng Heritage Kajoetangan

It’s a cultural tourist site with colonial old houses. Usually, we can see people activities, buy food or handy crafts, but due to fasting month, less activity in here. No one sell food. The entrance fee is 10,000 IDR and each of us got a postcard. 

The entrance, it was Sunday morning, many shops were closed.

Hmm… what a great tea… Some villagers decorate their front houses with classic style.

   

There are murals along the river. Me and colonial bank mural. (right pic)

Unfortunately, we saw a villager thow rubbish to the river nonchalantly. The village lady said everyday, the rubbish is taken away, then why someone still throws plastic rubbish to the river. 

   

Prince Honggo’s graveyard. Sorry, too lazy to translate it haha… 

 

Beautiful murals are everywhere.

                 

Along the river, I saw this very narrow alley, I wonder what is the function, only slim people can cross it. The stairs are used for fishing. (left pic)

This path is very narrow and challenging, only 50-40 cm, it leads to the back entrance of people’s houses. I think this is a good idea for dieting, if you can’t cross this path, you need to lose weight. (right pic)

2. Arema Blue Village

     

The next destination is Arema Blue Village, the name Arema comes from Malang, East Java football team “Arema”, the mascot is a lion and blue is the team color, so the whole village is painted with blue.

This football team was built in August 11^th, 1987, and the lion mascot comes from August zodiac. The team is quite famous and gained many achievements in Indonesia.

 I wonder if the villagers are the fans of Arema or maybe one of the team player comes from this village?

We can see the lion statue and the soccer ball in the village.

       

The blue color soothed my eyes, the hot sunny day became cool.

                    

The lion murals are everywhere, well …some of them are not lions.

3. Tridi Village

After the blue village, we went to the colorful village, just across Blue Village Arema, we can visit Tridi Village, the name Tridi comes from 3D, the murals are in 2D, the objects of the murals are 3D (this was the explanation that I got from the villager).

   

The entrance is 5,000 IDR, and we got keychains, I got a fish one, it's the villagers' handy craft. 

    

it’s a very colorful village.

   

I like the colors of the wall.

4. Jodipan Colorful Village

Actually this village is similar with Tridi Village, very colorful, it is connected with a glass bridge. Once we crossed this bridge, it is Jodipan Colorful Village, otherwise known as Rainbow Village, entrance fee 5,000 IDR.

   

The Jodipan Colorful Village, the view from the bridge (left pic). A group of students were doing drawing assignment. (right pic).

    

I think the village is nice and cute, the colors match beautifully and the villagers take effort to make them stay clean and attractive. 

We spent more than 3 hours to explore these 4 villages, and time to fly back to Jakarta. I hope you enjoy to read the whole journey.

Special thanks to Mr Bastian (+62 853 3605 7250) who helped us to organize the trip. If you want to explore Banyuwangi and Mount Ijen, you can contact him.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop the message. thank you and see you again.