East Java (Jawa Timur)

1. Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park
The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park covers some 800 square kilometers in the centre of East Java. It is the largest volcanic region in the province and there stands Mt. Semeru, which rises 3676 meters above sea level. At its northern end is the spectacular Tengger Caldera, Java's largest, with its 10 km barren desert-like sea of sand. Within the caldera rise the deeply fissured volcanic cones of Batok and Bromo, the latter is still active with a cavernous crater from which smoke blows skyward. Temperatures at the top of mount Bromo range about 5 to 18 degrees Celcius . To the south is a rolling upland plateau dissected by valleys and dotted with several small scenic lakes, extending to the foot of Mount Semeru, a towering grey forest-skirted cone dominating the southern landscape.
Tengger sandy area has been protected since 1919, and its believed to be the only conservation area in Indonesia, even probably in the world possessing a unique ocean and sand at the attitude about 2000 m above sea level. There are several mountains inside the calderas namely: Mt Watangan (2,661 m asl)., Mt Batok (2,470 m asl), Mt Kursi (2,581 asl), Mt Watangan (2,661 m asl), and Mt Widadaren (2,650 m asl).
On the fourteenth day of the Month Kasada, the inhabitants of Tengger Mountain range gather at the rim of Mount Bromo's active crater to present annual offerings of rice, fruit, vegetables, flowers, live stock and other local produce to the God of the Mountain, as adherents of religion combining elements of Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism the Tenggerese ask for blessing from the supreme God, Sang Hyang Widi Wasa. This ceremony called Kesodo Ceremony.
While the Great Mountain or Semeru offer a wonderful place to 3 days hike. Serenity of small lakes and large meadows, a three hours struggling through loose screw to the peak and breathtaking views from peak Semeru explodes every half hour and sends billowing smoke upwards. These gases and belching lava make Semeru dangerous " stay well away from the vent. The fine scenery and bracing climate, easy access and reasonably visitor-oriented facilities make this one of the most popular reserves in Java.
Bromo Tengger Semeru can be reached by private and public vehicle. There are four gates to access the place, Probolinggo, Wonokitri, Ngadas and Lumajang. Probolinggo approach is the easiest and by fat the most popular route, especially if you go by public bus, Wonokitri is the closes and the easiest one if you go by private vehicle from Surabaya (5 hours journey). To get closer to Mt. Bromo you must rent 4x4 vehicles (there are many 4x4 vehicles rental there).
2. Ijen Crater
Ijen plateau or known as "Kawah Ijen" is highly recommended to mountain buffs and hikers. The Plateau was at one time a huge active crater, 134 sq km in area. Today, Ijen is a quiet but active volcano, and the landscape is dominated by the volcanic cones of Ijen (2,368 asl) and Merapi (2,800 asl) on the northeastern edge of the Plateau, and Raung (3,332 asl) on the southwest corner.
The magnificent turquoise sulfur lake of Kawah Ijen lies at 2148 m above sea level and is surrounded by the volcanos sheer crater walls. The vent is a source of sulfur and collectors work here, making the trek up to the crater and down to the lake every day. Sulfur collectors hike up in the morning and return around 1 pm when the clouds roll in. They carry shoulder basket of pure sulfur from a quarry on the lakes edge under the shadow of the sheer walls of the crater. The mineral at Kawah Ijen is purer and is worth commercial exploitation despite the horrendous labor involved: Javas homegrown sulfur is a natural source of sulfuric acid, in great demand in the oil-refining business and in the production of fertilizers.
3. Mount Bromo: Witnessing The Fascinating Sunrise
When you visit East Java, don't forget to visit Mount Bromo to see the sunrise. Many domestic and foreign tourists visit Bromo to see the sunrise from one of the highest mountains on Java island (2,392 meters above sea level). Mount Penanjakan (2,770 meter above sea level) is an ideal location to see the sunrise slowly from the east at about 04:30-05:30 am as night clouds slowly disappear and are replaced with a dim sunlight. Next, yellowish red light appears slowly to form a golden half ball. Watching the sunrise with a cup of hot coffee or tea and a cool wind flowing will provide a special sensation. From Mount Penanjakan, you could see the beautiful panorama of mount semeru, the highest mountain on Java Island, and the large desert around Mount Bromo. You could also see a Yadnya Kasada or Kasodo ritual performed by the local Tengger tribe in Luhur Poten Temple on Mount Bromo.
The Kasodo ritual is usually performed in September-October to ask for abundant harvests and recovery from diseases. This procession is usually performed at midnight during a full moon. One group of Tengger provide ritual offerings at Bromo cauldron, while another group walk down the canyon to catch the offerings as a symbol of the God's blessings.
4. The Singosari Temple
Not much remains of the once powerful 13th century East Java kingdom of Singosari. Only an unfinished temple and two giant statues that once stood guard in front of the palace remain of this great kingdom. In its heyday Singosari was so powerful that the mighty Mongol emperor Kublai Khan deemed it essential to send a fleet and a special emissary to the court of Singosari to demand that King Kertanegara personally submit allegiance to the emperor. In response, Kertanegara cut off one of the ambassador’s ears as a message to Kublai khan that he will do no such thing.
Whatever little remains of the palace of Singosari can be seen near the present-day town of Singosari, where stands the unfinished Singosari temple built in 1304 and in the courtyard are a collection of statues, while further down are two huge guardian statues known as dwarapala.
The beautiful Candi Jawi, with Mt. Penanggungan at its back, built in the reign of Singosari, is believed to be the funerary temple of the kingdom’s fifth and last king Kertanegara. Built in the 13th century, it is dedicated to a deity combining features of the Hindu god Siva with the Buddha. Candi Jawi is located 40 km. south of Surabaya at Prigen on the way to Tretes.
Other temples built during the Singosari era are the Candi Jago built in 1268 located in Tumpang village, 6 km. south of present day town of Singosari. It is dedicated to Singosari’s 4th king Visnusardahana; while Candi Kidal is 11 km along the same road, built in 1260 and decorated with the mythical Garuda bird. Kidal is dedicated to Singosari’s 2nd king, Raja Anusapati.
An original statue of king Kertanegara still stands in the center of the city of Surabaya, affectionately known as Joko Dolog, or the Fat Boy.
The kingdom of Singosari was founded in 1222 by a commoner by the name of Ken Arok, who managed to marry the beautiful princess Ken Dedes of Janggala after murdering her husband. Ken Arok later attacked neighbouring Kediri and thus united the two realms that were split by King Airlangga in 1049 as inheritance to his two sons.
Singosari succeeded in developing the rich agricultural hinterland along the Brantas river basin, as well as the lucrative maritime trade along the Java Sea. In 1275 and 1291 king Kartanegara attacked the maritime kingdom of Crivijaya in South Sumatra and gained suzerainty over the maritime trade in the Java and Sumatra seas. He was, however, killed by one of his vassals, Jayakatwang in 1293.
When the Chinese fleet sent by the irate Kublai Khan arrived on Java, unbeknown to them Kartanegara was already dead. Kertanegara’s son in law, Prince Vijaya, at first managed to persuade them to kill Jayakatwang, but then turned around to oust the Chinese fleet from Java.
Hereafter Vijaya founded the powerful Majapahit empire in 1294 whose palace is located to the north of Singosari at Porong. Majapahit’s influence would encompass present day Indonesia and spread even to Malaysia and Thailand. Much of what we know today about Singosari comes from the 14th century Old Javanese text called the Pararaton (or the book of Kings).

(references: www.indonesia.travel and www.my-indonesia.info)