Lava View Lodge isn’t heated and it got pretty cold in the room but there were nice, heavy blankets. Neither of us slept well because of the altitude (Lava View Lodge looks down on Mount Bromo) and were up before the 3:30 a.m. knock on the door.

Dressed in layers (t-shirts, long sleeved shirts, pants, heavy socks, hiking boots) as warmly as possible, we met the group in the outside parking lot and loaded three persons to each jeep. THREE BROMO TIPS: Use a pair of socks for gloves if you don’t want to buy and haven’t packed any; it never hurts to throw a set of thermal underwear in your suitcase, lightweight and easy to pack; and always pack a flashlight/torch because it was difficult to see the small steps up to the viewpoint in the dark. The jeeps were pre-arranged by Ian (this is a national park) and we began jolting up the mountain road in the still dark morning. A 45-minute ride to the main Pananjakan sunrise viewpoint…View image… at 2,700m/8,858′ with a major line-up of jeeps parked in the road and people selling warm hats, gloves, renting jackets, blankets and even cameras.

sitting in the dark at Pananjakan, Mount Bromo viewpoint 

a little lighter at Pananjakan viewpoint, Mount Bromo viewpoint, Java
Our “guestimation” is that perhaps 200 tourists were gathered at Pananjakan, huddled in the cold, and awaiting a hoped for (and hyped) 5:15 a.m. sunrise. (Staff at Lava View Lodge told us that there had been no sunrise viewing during the last few days.) Unfortunately, the staff was right and sunrise on Mount Bromo was a non-happening this morning. Even though it was clear several hundred meters below, the viewpoint was too foggy and in the clouds. We gave it our best shot and hung around until 5:40 a.m. before Ian decided the wait was futile.

the Imaginative Traveller group smiling despite no sunrise on Mount Bromo, Java
A more leisurely walk back in the fog to where the jeeps were parked…View image. FYI: It’s important to remember your jeep’s license plate number. Jasleen, ex-Marine and I had a “heads up” because we had the only red jeep. Ample time time to look at the many small shops passed on the way up selling heavy gear, coffee, tea, roasted corn on the cob…View image, and flower offerings to take with on the hike up to Mount Bromo a little later…View image.

offerings for Mount Bromo, Java 

walking back down from Pananjakan viewpoint, Java 

selling scarves around Mount Bromo, Java
On the jeep ride down to the “Sand Sea,” the skies cleared and the jeep stopped while we admired the fantastic views…View image. And now for the hike up to Mount Bromo…
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