February 27, 2007
Yogyakarta to Mt. Bromo (Indonesia)
Long Day on the Bus
Before boarding the 9am bus to Mount Bromo, I walked through the city one last time in search of a busy warung serving Jogja's special dish, pedas gudeg ayam. It consists of a leg of chicken that has been fried in coconut juice, and it is served with rice, vegetables, and a mixture of spices. I have continued my habit of eating with my hands, and once more I noticed a few side glances from other tourists.
I boarded a minibus for Mount Bromo in Eastern Java at 9am with three Dutch girls, a Polack, and a Singaporean. I spent several hours discussing the economic and political side of Asia as the Polack studied in Beijing for five years and the Singaporean naturally knew quite a lot. I don't know if it is just random luck, but somehow I come across the most knowledgeable and interesting people when I travel.
We checked into a hotel near the volcanoes late in the evening, and negotiated a jeep ride for the morning. Other than chatting - it was a 12 hour bus ride - there wasn't a whole lot of excitement today.
