Puerto Natales

We’ve always wanted to travel to Patagonia and explore the awe-inspiring Torres del Paine National Park. That’s why while being in Santiago, we decided to book flights with the Sky Airlines to get to Punta Arenas and then we took a bus that drove us to the small town of Puerto Natales.

It’s a popular tourist destination that’s a perfect geteway to explore the real Patagonia. Perto Natales is a picturesque town that resembles Norwegin cities a lot. It’s also a place that’s located nearby the famous Torres del Paine National Park.

We described one of our hikes here. We still wanted to explore more wonders in the chilean Patagonia before we cross the border to Argentina. We decided to book a one day tour that took us all around the Torres del Paine National Park and its mountain ranges. We could explore its emerald lakes, wild guanacos, glaciers and fantastic summits. The whole day was an unforgettable experience.

Puerto Natales

Charming Town

Torres del Paine entrance

The Park is located about 2-hour drive away from Puerto Natales. As we were getting closer to its entry, we could already admire  the famous three towers Torres del Paine that are resposible to the park’s name. We also stopped by the Lake Sarmiento, where we could marvel at three granite peaks we hiked to, the day before.

Sarmiento Lake

Wild guanaco and Amaraga Lagoon

As we were driving towards the Park, we could notice wild guanacos – the cousins of lamas and alpacas that are very popualar in Peru. This species lives in the rough conditions of the Southern Patagonia and it is used to harsh winters and howling winds Patagonia is famous for. Even the trees that have been planted by the streets are bent from the constant force of the winds. Fortunately, our guide made sure we can get off the bus and take some pictures in the meantime. The next viewing point was located by the Amarga Lagoon, on the small hill. The colours of the water is pure emerald because it’s sourced from a glacier and is full of minerals and dust from smashed rocks.

Guanacos in their habitat

Heading to Torres del Paine

Wild Guanacos

Laguna Amarga

Cuernos del Paine

As we drove further into Torres Del Paine National Park, we saw that the views behind the window change rapidly. From each side, the mountains looked differently, but equally impresive. We left the Towers behind us and now it was time to marvel at  Cuernos del Paine – the Horns. Those summits were carved by the mighty glaciers back in the days. They seemed to be in a variety of colours.

Salto Grande Waterfall

Later on, we took a short walk to Salto Grande waterfall. It was powered by the melting glaciers as well, so it had the same intensive colour as the lakes we had seen before. Right next to it, there was a splendid view of the mountains and the glaciers covering their tops. We could not stop staring at it. Finally, the strong wind convinced us that it was time to go.

Ferocious Winds

Be prepared for the Patagonian summer

Salto Grande

The Horns

Lake Pahoe

Next, we headed towards the camping grounds at the lake Pahoe, where the lunch break was planned. You needed to have your own food or pay way too much for some snacks at the bar. The place was unbelievable. It was one of the best views of Cuernos del Paine. If we ever come back here, we would love to stay at this campground to peacefully enjoy sunrise and sunset by the lake. The mountain range on the opposite side of the azure lake is so neat it makes you forget about all the world outside of the National Park.

Our lovely lunch spot!

Lago Pahoe

Lago Grey

The third part of the park that we visited was the Grey Lake – Lago Grey. From the parking lot we had to take a 15 min walk. The path led us through the forest and soon enough we could enjoy the view of the lake. There were some deep-blue ice bergs floating in it. Such a stunning sight! Even though we could not see the Grey Glacier itself, we could see the bits of it that fell off and drifted away.

The entire lake was created as the glacier retreated. It is a part of the Southern Patagonia Icefield. This is the third largest icefield in the world. Smaller only than the one in Atarctica and one Greenland.

We could walk all the way to the edge of the water. Except of the big ice bergs, there were also small ice floats that were pushed to the beach by the weves. The neat peaks of the Paine Range were amazing backdrop for this view. Incredible!

Ice bergs cracked from the glacier

Lago Grey

Patagonia is full of amazing lakes

What’s next?

After exiting the National Park, we stopped by the Lago del Toro to enjoy the view of one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the World, for the last time. In the distance the peaks of the  Cuernos del Paine were towering above this azure lake. This is the picture we won’t forget. There were much more attractions and things to do in Patagonia. On the next day, we were going to catch a bus to Argentina. Mountains on the other side of the borders are supposingly just as great. We had to go and see it all with our own eyes!

Lago del Toro

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Base de las Torres

Base Las Torres in the Torres del Paine National Park in the far south Patagonia was one of the most awaited places by us in the entire year of travelling. A few months before we were marveling at the majestic peaks of Tre Cime in Italian Dolomites, but back then we did not know that we would make it all the way to Patagonia in the very same year! Visually both of these places have some things in common.

In Italy we had a sneak peak of Patagonia. When we made it to the famous lagoon with the glorious three, granite towers in Chile we felt that we had seen this place before. The world is so diverse and yet some places look surprisingly similar.

Torres del Paine National Park

You can easily spend many days in Torres del Paine walking countless kilometers of trails. The most famous multiday treks are the W-Trek and the O-Trek. There is quite some planning and logistics to do if you wish to finish them. You need to book camping sites well in advance and take all the equipment, food and water with you. We were not so eager for such an effort. Previously we hiked the 5-day Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu, so we knew what almost 100 km of walking in the mountains would feel like. What is more, back then the supplies and the extra luggage were carried by the horses and all the meals were cooked by a chef who was assigned to our group. In addition, the fees for the camping sites in Torres are really high (80 USD for a night in a tent per person).

One-day trek to  Base de las Torres

After some reaserch and brainstorm it turned out that we can make it to the most famous viewpoint in just one day. It is an 18-km roundtrip hike. We decided to set a base in Puerto Natales and explore the park during the one-day trips.

Landscape of Patagonia

Entrance fee to the Torres del Paine National Park

For everyone who is not chilean, the entry ticket is 21.000 pesos which is around 35 USD. It is quite expensive and the locals pay only one third of the price. Luckily for us, on the day of our visit there was a strike! Park rangers are unhappy with the politics, because the park is used as a way to make money and not as a mean to protect the nature. We were pleasantly suprised that we didn’t have to pay the entry fee.

Park Rangers on the Strike!

Begining of the trail

Trekking  in Patagonia

The trail to the lagoon is 9-km long which sums up to 18 km roundtrip. It starts easy and flat. You need to pass Hotel de Torres and start your ascent. Next part is uphill and takes about 40 minutes. After a while, you can enjoy the panoramic views of the valley and the lakes behind your back. The half-way point is a shelter and campsite situated on the riverbank. From there, the trail runs through a thick forest. It is a very pleasant part where you need to cross the stream a few times using the wooden bridges.

Walking through the forest

Crossing the stream

Beauty of Patagonia

day hike in Torres del Paine

The most difficult part of the trek

After another 40 minutes, when the forest ends the hardest part of the trail starts. There is 300 meters of elevation ahead and the trail runs steep uphill and you need to make your way across the rocks, loose stones, gravel and water creeks. It is the most challenging part of the trail, but after 40 minutes – 1 hour, you can already see the incredible view of the granite towers and the lake. It is the famous Mirador de las Torres!

Patagonia

Last part of the hike

Getting to the National Park

If you are planning to visit Torres del Paine you need to catch a bus from Puerto Natales, which takes 2 hours and 15 minutes. There is a number of agencies in the bus terminal. We decided to leave on a first bus at 7:30 am. It cost 12.000 pesos per person for a round trip, which is around 20 USD. The last bus back from the park departues at 7:45 pm, so we had enough time to hike up, back down and spend 2 leisure hours at the top.

When we made it to the top, the towers were hidding in the clouds. The weather in Patagonia changes rapidly thought so it cleared up a bit later, fortunately.

The bus took us to the park entrance and than we had to take a minivan further to the Hotel de Torres. It was extra 3000 pesos per person, one way and it took 15 minutes. From there, we could easily walk to the trailhead which was well marked.

The cost of the one-day trip

To sum up, the cost per person to get to the park by bus and then the minivan, roundtrip was 12.000 + 6.000 = 18.000 pesos, so around 30 USD. In addition, the entry ticket fee to the National Park, valid for 3 days, is another 35 USD (November 2017). We only regret that on the way towards the Park, we couldn’t stop to take pictures. The views behind the windows were breathtaking and there were wild guanacos everywhere.

Guanacos in front of the Paine range

Torres del Paine

Laguna Amarga

The weather in Patagonia

The trail to the Mirador de las Torres is a great way to see the magnificent Patagonia, up close. The landscapes are fantastic, mountains incredible and the lakes extraordinary with a deep emerald green colour. We were there in late November which was just before the high season (December & January). It was summer, but we were wearing winter jackets, scarfs and beanies. The winds are ferocious. Nevertheless, you can be lucky because sunny days do happen, even if the morning looks miserable. The weather can change every 15 minutes. It is one of the best places on the planet to do some trekking. We recommend hiking to the Base de las Torres and seeing Patagonia with your own eyes!

It is clearing up!

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Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is well known all around the world. It encourages people to travel to this corner of the globe. It bacame an icon, a symbol not only of Peru, but maybe even of the whole of The South America. For us, it was a great experience to visit the city. In addition, it felt like a grand prize we had just earned for compleating the 5-day Salkantay Trek.

Machu Picchu is actually the name of the mountain next to the city. The real name vanished in the past when the city was abandoned. The reason for that might  be that it was not able to sustain its population after it had been cut out from the rural valleys, which had been taken over by Spaniards. The city was forgotten for the next couple hundreds of years. Today, it is almost impossible to find someone who had naver heard about this wonder. The city is picturesquely located on the top of the mountain, sourrounded by meandering river and green peaks of The Andes. Spectacular!

The Inca city

An early start

We woke up at 3:30 and, after half an hour, we met with the rest of the group and ventured forth towards Macchu Picchu. At the first control point located by the river, we had to wait till 5 o’clock when the guards started checking our tickets and passports. After crossing the bridge, we had 1700 steps to climb to the top.

There is some sort of insane race going on at this part of the trek. I could feel others heavy breath on my back for most of the time. People were rushing to the top and pushing around to be faster on narrow stairs.

The reason for all that madness is to see the city as one of the first people, before it gets flooded with other tourits. We walked in our own pace and met the competition winners on the top as they had to wait to 6:00 for the gates to open, just as everyone else. You can make it to this point by bus as well, which departs from the village below and costs 12usd.

The mystical morning

What is more, this morning Machu Picchu was covered in mist so the whole race was pointless. The mist was slowly evaporating and it added an another dimension to the view. It was almost like magic, very mystical. For the first hour, we were sightseeing and listening to the guide along with the rest of the Crazy Alpacas. In the meantime, the visibility slowly improved and eventually nothing was covering the famous views!

Machu Picchu Sunrise

An early start

Mysterious morning

Sunrise Time

Visiting the Lost City

Machu Picchu is divided into 2 parts. The first one was inhabitated by the farmers and is composed of terraces used to grow crops. From there, you can see the million dollar, world-wide known view. In the center of it, you will find the second part of the city which was a district of temples where the most infuencial people of the Inca Empire lived. Nowadays, that part of the city is dominated by the large, guided groups of tourist and seemed to us the most crowded. However, it is still worth it to go and see the temples from up close. We met some lamas there as well. These animals are so efficient with grass eating that the staff do not have to use lawn mowers at all.

Expectations

vs Reality

View of the rural part

Just casual sightseeing

Lamas working full time

Quarters for elite

Incredible stone work

The constructions are stunning

The temple part

One-way walks in Machu Picchu

The entire sightseeing was conducted through the one-way paths, so once you make it to the temple part there is no way back to rural tarraces withouth leaving the sight. The ticket allowed us to enter twice. After the first circuit with the guide, we made another entrance to return to the lookouts. There was no more mist and and visibility was just perfect. We could see the magnificent Machu Picchu in its full glory.

We compleated the Salkantay Trek!

Machu Picchu

Best spot for picture ever!

Additional attractions

If you wish to see the ruins from the distance, there are 3 possibilities. The first two are mountains: Montaña Machu Picchu and Wayana Picchu. The access to them is limited to 400 people a day and costs extra. It is necessary to book in advance. If you decide to do it, there is a steep climb of almost 2000 steps ahead of you.

Nerby peaks

We did not climb to these peaks due to the limited time we had. Our bus back to Cusco was scheduled to leave at 3pm. Apart from the stairs down, we had to walk 10 km back to the Hydroelectics to the pick-up point. If you do the Salkantay Trek it might be a good idea to book an evening train instead. It is quite pricy but you will have more time in Machu Picchu.

The Sun Gate

We chose to go to the Sun Gate instead of the additional peaks and it was great. It is free and gives you panoramic views of the ruins, river down below and the mountains all around. This is the last part of the popular Inca Trail, as well.

The temple part

Getting some distance

The Sun Gate view

Way back

After 5 hours, we were happy with the views and satisfied with the pictures that we took. At around 11:30 am we had to start to head down. At the bar near Hydroelectric, we met our company that we had spent the last 5 days with. We exchanged our impressions about Machu Picchu and soon left for the bus. It was n 6-hour ride to get back to Cusco.

Panorama of Machu Picchu

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Dolomites

Milions of tourists visit Italy each year. It seems that they are interested mostly in cultural and historical herritage. Qeues in Vatican go for kilomiters and ancient Forum Romanum is incredibly crowded. In some cities like Pisa or Venice you can hardly pass down the street because of the amount of people  around. Bus sightseeing tours go from one city to another to quickly check as many attractions as possible and fill up the initiary to the limits. Are Dolomites among them?

We love to escape crowded cities and we adore nature. We feel great among green hills and rocky peaks, far from anything. We even used to live on the desert. Mountains give us a sense of freedom. Vast open spaces and picturesque landscapes fuel our souls.

In sunny Italy, you can find a lot of places of natural beauty. When you plan your visit, you should think about it and do not limit your initiary to the most visited places. Dolomites are one of the most stunning and georgous montains that we have seen. 3-hour drive from the airport in Venice or Milan and you are there! Our inner travel and explorer could not wait to venture forth on one of the amazing trails in southern Alps.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo – Three Peaks

There are some peaks that inspire thousands of mountaineers. Their majestic, raw beauty is a magnet for explorers. Sometimes, it is even hard to look away. First peak like that, which we felt in love with was Half Dome in Yosemite, California. We hiked it back in 2011. We are not the only ones to be amazed by it. You can find a shape of Half Dome in famous outdoor company logo –  The North Face. Another peak that we loved was Matterhorn, but we were still thinking about famous Dolomites and it’s Three Peaks – Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Finally we managed to get there and witness its beauty.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo

How to get there?

We flew to Venice Treviso from Poland and we rented a car at the airport. As soon as you leave the city, you can see the Dolomites towering on the horizon. After 3-hour drive, we made it to Misurina. The circuit trail that goes around Tre Cime starts at a mountain shelter – Rifugio Auronzo. To get there, you need to pass the toll road or hike from the village. We were a bit pressured by time so we chose to pay 25€.

road to Misurina

Four shelters and three storms

Rifugio Auronzo

The trail around  Tre Cime is 9,5km long.. You can finish it in around 4h without stops and the total elavation difference is 400m. The Auronzo shelter is a start point and the first bit of the path runs flat. You can marvel at the alpine meadows and valleys. Flowers and rock walls are simply stunning. We met pretty much all kind of people on the trail: families with childrens, photographers from around the globe, alpinists with some serious equippment heading for “via ferrata”.

On our way

Tre Crime Circuit

Alpine flora

Rifugio Auronzo

Rifugio Lavaredo

Second shelter on the route is Rifugio Lavaredo. We walked pass a shrine on the edge of the cliff and we could already see the Lavaredo hutt. The weather was quite changeable. Down at the airport next to Venice, it was 33 degrees, up here in the mountains it was barely 17. As we learned in Norway: “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing”, so we came well prepared. As we passed the shelter, a short ascent started. We made it quicly to the top and could already see the famous face of Tre Cime di Laverado. We could see more and more with every step we took. We spent a while enjoying the views but dark clouds started gathering, so we rushed to the next shelter.

Spectacular dolomites

Break time

Tre Cime di LAvaredo

Hiking Tre Cime

A view of the shelter

Rifugio

First view of famous rock faces

Rifugio Locatelli

From Rifugio Locatelli one can admire the beauty of Three Peaks from the most famous angle. We made it to shelter just as the storm began. Thunders were roaring in the valley and we could bearly see the mountains. After 10 minutes the sun was back. We went out to enjoy the views and snap some pictures. It is an incredible spot for coffee, too. According to the Mike it was the best spot on the hike. Clouds were speeding across the see and it did not take long for a second storm to start. We luckily bearly moved as we were busy taking pictures, so we managed to hide again in the Rifugio Loctelli.

Storm is comming

Great trail

admiration

Enjoying the walk

Tre Crime di Lavaredo

Tre Crime di Lavaredo

That's the spot!

Hikers!

Coffee with the view!

Alpine flowers

Lange Alm

Next part of the trail took us very close to Tre Cime. We had to look almost straight up to see the tops of the peaks. We came across a little pond and the rocky summits were towering in the background. The view was absolutly mesmerizing and according to Wiola that was the best spot during the entire hike. It reflects the natural beauty that made dolomites world famous.

Next we walked pass the last shelter on the trail –  Lange Alm. As we were approching the parking lot and Rifugio Auronzo, another storm started. Last 20 minutes we walked in rain and strong wind. We were walking as fast as possible to the rythm made by the bells hanging on the cows’ necks. They were gathering on the trail in big herds to keep themselves warm. Fortunatelly, it was not far to the parking lot and our tiny but warm car…

Last part of the circuit

Tre Cime

Snack break

Winding mountain path

Amazing views

Stunning pond

Joyful hike

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Hobbiton, New Zealand

Other than photography and travelling, fantasy is one of the biggest passions of Mike. Once he gets into a book, there is no break until he knows the fate of all the heroes. Apart from the complex characters, the most important part of good fantasy is the world. It is a stage of all the action and everything depends on its complexity and mechanisms ruling it are often crucial to the plot. The Father of modern fantasy – J.R.R. Tolkien created a truly amazing world which inspires generation after generation. Nowadays, anyone can pay a visit to the charming town of Hobbiton. The movie based on the great trillogy was directed by Peter Jackson. He chose his homeland to be a movie set and now, New Zealand is known world wide as a place as beautiful as Middle-Earth itself. It is a curious question to ask: “What is Lord of the Rings about?”Is it about power? Maybe about friendship? For us, it is definitely about an adventure!

A doorway to Middle-earth

Idyllic movie set – The Shire!

In 1998 the film crew responsible for The Lord of the Rings was looking for an idyllic, rural location which would resemble a hobbit country description from the book. Finally, they found a perfect spot. Away from power lines and modern highways. After 9 months of construction work the village came to live! First set was demolished after shooting, but the crew returned to the spot for the new trillogy – The Hobbit. After that, the movie set was turned into a tourist attraction. We just had to see it!

How to get to Middle-Earth?

A journey to fairytale land did not take so long. Hobbiton is locateted next to the town of Matamata, 2 hours drive from New Zeland’s biggest city – Auckland. Matamata is very influenced by tourism. You can visit a tourist information which looks just like an inn from the story of The One Ring. In addition, not far away, you can find thermal wonderland of Rotorua and the spectacular caves of Waitomo. Therefore, you should not miss this region while planning your roadtrip. A few kilometers outside of the town you will find “Shire’s Rest”.

Visiting the Shire

We have to leave our car on the parking lot because only the guided groups are allowed in the Shire. Besiclly you have 2 options to choose from. You can either go with a group in a day time or for an evening sightseeing which includes a themed feast in the Green Dragon Inn. Sadly, no individual sightseeing allowed. We still had some time to our departure so we enjoyed a cup o coffee. All the attractions are located outside, therefore it is the best idea to come on a nice, sunny day.

Stylish tourist info

shire rest

Matamata welcomes you

It is worth stopping for a minute

Hills from above

Hills of shire

We are going on an adventure

Hobbiton – sightseeing

At our departure time we boarded the bus with a group of 30 people and here our road to Middle-Earth began.

In the bus, on a tv screen, Peter Jackson was inviting us to the sightseeing. You could see some parts of the movies with the music was coming out of the speakers. The soundtrack was well known to the fans. We felt  so excited and moved that we almost wanted to cry. We trully made it all the way across the globe to experience that!

There are a few dozens of hobbit holes. Many of them are themed. You can find a home of a baker, cheesemaker, fisherman and so on. Details are so carefully prepared, wonderfully made and in such a neat  way, that it almost seemed that hobbits had left 5 minutes ago.

Gumtree, shire

Neat hobbit's loundry

Say cheeeeseee

A hole of a baker

So green

Would you like to play a game?

Little hobbits mailboxes

Movie-making secrets

Hobbit holes are saddly only fasades. There is nothing inside. All the scenes from the inside were shot in the studio. Bag End has a tiny interior so the scenes at the door look realistic. Other than that, you can find a small umbrella storage in one of them. The doors vary in size. Some of them were build twice, once in full size and the second time in 40%  size. The reason for it is to show the difference of hight between Gandalf and the hobbits. When Ian MacKellen was in the shot he stood next to the 40% sized doors so he seemed a lot taller than Eliah Wood standing next to the full-sized doors. This is one of many fun facts that we heard from our well informed and passionate guide. We were worried that the number of people in the group will make it impossible to take nice pictures without strangers in them. Fortunatelly it wasn’t so bad, after all.

Baby on board

Enjoying the scenery

Knock knock mr Hobbit

Full size door

Butterflys at the doorstep

The One Ring!

The hobbit holes

Bag End

Finally we made it to the top of the hill, on the doorstep of mr Bilbo Baggins. There is an artiffical tree growing over Bag End which was build for the movie to match the description from the book. Views around are nspoiled and picturesque. Cheerful, rural, peaceful life is something what every hobbit wants isn’t it?

Visiting Mr Bilbo

Party bussines only!

Green hills of the Shire

“The Green Dragon Inn”

We walked past a meadow where Bilbo’s 111th birthday party was held and straight to the “Green Dragon Inn“. There is a drink included in the price of the tour and a cold, cold beer brewed only for this place was exaclly what we needed. There is a fireplace in every corner and the atmosphere is really cosy and friendly. We did feel really sad that it was the end of our adventure in the Middle-Earth. On the way back, we were watching some cuts from the movies as well and everybody could recignize the places that we had just visited.

We recommend visiting Hobbiton to everybody. It is a trully  magical place. You do not have to be the biggest fan of the Lord of the Rings to appreciate the beauty, atmosphere and the spirit of this place.

Mill at hobbiton

Hobbit holes

Green Dragon Inn

Green Dragon Inn, Beer time!

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We decided to explore a little more of this magical land and headed on a local train to Probolinggo. This will be your starting point if you wish to explore Bromo! Now, that’s the most beautiful place we’ve seen in Indonesia so far!

How to get to from Probolinggo to Cemoro Lawang.

It is not easy, again, to move to the Cemoro Lawang Village which is located right at the caldera edge. Of course, you can take a taxi and pay at least 500.000 IDR but you can do it much much cheaper with public transport and little bit of effort.

Cemoro Lawang

First of all, as we came to Probolinggo from Bunywangi by train we needed a small mini bus to take us from the train station to the bus station. It took around 20 minutes and cost 5000 IDR per person which would make around 50cents! Do not let the “train station wise guys” fool you. As soon as we got off the train they offered a lift and asked for 10 times more than what we saw in an official Probolinggo guidebook available in the information booth across the street. When we left the tourist info they agreed without blink of an eye to take us to the bus station for the 1/10 of the price which they offered 2 min before!

On a local bus directly to Bromo

So 5.000 IDR and we are already on the bus terminal. Here, the cheapest way to travel to the Cemoro Lawang is by a public bus which can fit up to 15 people. The rate for the whole bus trip is flat. It’s 525.000 IDR (as for 2017) which makes the price of 35.000 IDR per head. That will work only if the bus is full. Usually, the driver will wait until his vehicle is full and cosy, putting all the luggage on the roof. Sometimes, unfortunately, you will have to wait few hours until there’s enough tourists ready to share the lift so it’s also an option to split the cost among a smaller group of people. This will save a lot of time. We waited 2 hours before there were 14 of us so our journey was 37.500 IDR per person. Acceptable. So let the fun begin!

We are almost ready to set off…

When we all got on the bus, the driver could’t start the engine for a few minutes. We were all pretty angry because some of us were waiting long hours to finally catch that ride! Before we departed, our driver and his local friends had to push the van for few meters before it finally started. The funny thing is, it was filled with us – 14 passengers and all the luggage on the roof – must have been some hard work! And when we thought we were finally on our way, we still needed to get some fuel. Oh my lord. Never be in a hurry in Indonesia. It just doesn’t work so don’t be bothered, enjoy the moment and try to relax!

Funny moment

While refueling, a guy at the petrol station, looking very friendly, asked Mike if we are on a honeymoon. It was so funny, because there were 14 of us squeezed together so did he ask just about me and him? We don’t know so Mike replied with a huge smile “yeah, all of us, honeymoon” showing a large group of people from different countries! Another moment to laugh. And then….. yeah then we finally departed towards our destination!

Bromo National Park

Joyful walk to the edge of the crater

Be your own guide and hike on your own!

Rim of the Caldera

Fields of java

Romantic moments at Bromo

Area seems misty due to large amounts of smoke coming out from the volcanoe

In the Village we booked a night in a Yog homestay for 200.00IDR per night. We think this must have gotten pretty expensive over last few years, but it is one of the most popular tourist spots in Indonesia. They try to make the most of its popularity. The homestay is located almost by the lovely lookout, so you really feel you arrived at Mt Bromo! It is incredible. So close, just “few meters” away, it seems.  We waited in Probolinggo from 10am, cought a ride to Cemoro Lawang at 12:00pm and finally got to the homestay shortly before 2:00pm. We left all the luggage and rushed to sightseeing to make the most out of that day.

It’s always good to meet fellow travellers!

We met a couple of travelers that shared some tips on how to explore the National Park for free. They said to follow the road and turn right through some picturesque fields. Then just continue the small, dirt path along the edge until there’s a decent down to the bottom of the caldera. On our way, we already found some excellent outlooks on the Mt Bromo , so we used this photographic opportunity, straight away. Then, finally we took the route down and found ourselves in a different, volcanic world, walking on ash and black sand.

Wiola hiking for the edge of the crater

A local guide riding a horse on black sands and volcanic ash

We are about to conquer the volcaoe

Volcanic landscape

Stairs to the rim of Bromo crater

A temple situated on the foothills of Mt Bromo

Enjoying our walk

Alternative route to Mt Bromo

This is how to visit Bromo for free

We walked straight through wast volcanic wasteland, looking at Mt Batok and Bromo at all times. The full route from homestay took us around 1h 30mins until we finally saw the hindu temple, just in front of the steps, leading to a crater. The timing was perfect. It was about a sunset time but still we had few minutes to climb to the top of Mt Bromo and hear how loud it actually is. It was scary, no joke! You hear it roar from the bottom and there’s thick cloud of gas coming out. So impressive.  If it erupted we would have no chances, at all. The power of the nature is hard to describe. But if you  found yourself standing on the rim of the volcano and listening to Mother Earth humming a fearsome lullaby you would understand.

Standing on the edge of active Volcano

View of sunset and Batok from the rim of Bromo

Rim of crater of the active volcanoe

Sunset at mt Bromo

Sunset over Bromo crater as seen from above

Balancing on an edge of Volcanoe

It is quite scary to look into a crater and hear the Earth's roar

Spectacular drone image of Bromo Volcano

The views from the crater’s edge are beyond stunning. It was a sunset time so the soft and warm light made this location even more magical. Just take a look at some of our photographs. We were so excited that we made it to this fantastic place, altough it wasn’t easy. It proved us that anything is possible, just make the first step and go confidently towards your dreams and eventually they will become memories. This was one of the most beautiful locations we’ve ever seen! Thank you Java for being so spectacular.

Shortly after 5:30 pm it started getting dark so we followed the same route and came back to the village. During this trip we only met 6 people by the creater, nobody on the way to the volcanoe and back. It was so quiet and beautiful, just us and the outstanding scenery. Could it be any better? We don’t think so After making our way back to the hostel we knew we should get some rest before waking up early to start the morning hike. Altough being tired and having some muscle pain, we were still excited for the next upcoming sunrise adventure.

Dusk at volcanic wasteland

Just conquered Bromo together

Sunrise Adventure

You can always get a lift to the top, if you want!

Let’s continue the hike…

A couple of minutes later we came to the first viewing platform that was already full of people. You could also buy here a cup of tea, coffee or instant noodles. From this point, the road up changed into a narrow, steep climb up, sometimes covered with vegetation. We met a small group of people who just like us were looking for a private sunrise spot, so we confirmed that it’s still the right way to follow. Although we didn’t get to the highest point, where all the tourist arrive with tourguides and jeeps, we managed to find a perfect spot just for ourselfs. It was already 5AM and we could see the colours of the sunrise behind our backs. Now it was the waiting game and time for a time-lapse video making to see how the volcanoes and the sky change their colours. It was amazing.

Best sunrise of our lives!

We were speechless and we think this was the best sunrise of our lives, yet! We were shooting time-lapses on a go pro and a dslr camera and after the sun rose, we started posing to the camera, ourselves! Happy times! The night and the morning were cold so we were wearing our colourful winter jackets and the proper winter beanies. We highly recommend taking some warm clothes with you, it gets quite cold especially if you stay in one position, waiting for the sunrise.  It’s much warmer when you keep walking up the hill!

Just before sunrise

during sunrise

Bromo illuminated by rays of morning sun

Spectacular landscape in full sun

Joyful morning hike!

Littile time for posing

Alright, we made it and now, after we had already taken 1000 photos, we decided to continue hiking up the mountain to see some other viewing platforms. It was not so crowded at the higher altitudes as most of the jeeps already departured to the bottom of the caldera where we enjoyed sunset a day before. We had a really good time walking in such a breathtaking scenery!

Hiked in the darkness and it is time to enjoy sun

See little people walking on the edge of Bromo

Jeep tours a t the bottom of volcanoe

Feelling like a king of the world

Our way to Surabaya

At around 7:30 AM we decided we can slowly start walking down as we had the return bus booked for 10:00 AM. This was very comforting to actually know we will get back to Probolinggo and the driver will pick us up from the homestay. Well, us and 13 other people squeezed together in an old van, but that’s okey! At least we don’t have to wait for 2 hours to catch a ride.

Last moments in the Cemoro Lawang village

After descending from the mountain, it was only 8:15 so we did another photoshoot in the previously found location, among the fields. It was lovely, peaceful, calm. It felt that we were alone with just few locals working in their paddocs. The village was looking very neat that morning and our shooting locations was lovely, too. At 8:30 we were back safe and sound in the village so we happily went to the Warung to eat breakfast. We had the most delicious chicken-soup with the cup of tea each. Surprisingly, when we reached our hostel at 9:20AM, the driver of a bus was already waiting for us. Woah!!!

Time to leave the wonderful Bromo National Park.

We quickly packed our belongings and got on the van. Just as we knew, we picked up another 13 passengers and started the journey back to Probolinggo. This was quick as we were heading downhill. Not much over an hour. We also had a pre-booked bus to take us on-ward to Surabaya. It all went well! The big coach picked us and some other passengers up and we transferred comfortably to a well-maintained, air-conditioned bus. Surabaya was our last stop on Java. The whole trip from the Cemoro Lawang this time went smooth and fast. Now, we only need to get to the airport, and start the long journey home. After a year full of adventures and intense travelling!

Panoramic picture of Bromo taken with DJI Phantom 4 drone

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Ayers Rock

Uluru has been an  inspiriation for travelers from around the globe to visit the land down under for over 60 years. That is right, just 60 years. The national park has been formally known as Ayers Rock but the original tribal name is now official one.

We were lucky enough to work on the Cattle Station Curtin Springs, which is located close to the famous rock. (you can read more about life in a dessert here)

We have learned from our bosses that when they came here back in 1950’s to start the cattle business, there where only 6 visitors come down the road in a whole year! It is really hard to imagine it now, knowing that the Ayers Rock resort – Yulara is visited by hundreds of thousands tourists each year.

It only has been late XX century when the touristic business escalated, road has been paved and all the hotels and amenities had been build.

Red Centre of Australia and Uluru

Amazing rock formation, Uluru

Uluru during sunset

Uluru with the green surroundings after the rainy season

Uluru just for ourselves

Beautiful, peaceful landscape

You can take a walk around The Rock

There is a path leading around the base of the Rock which is over 10km long. We took a walk around to see the monolith from every angle. Speaking from the experience, we would recommend renting a bike for that path or going early in the morning or with Seagway tours. It is because the sun has no mercy and you need plenty of water for the walk. Besides, the landscape does not change that much during the walk, so it can get a little dull. Some of the most popular parts of the track lead to the waterhole and aboriginal rock paintings. As it goes for climbing to the top the park is working on closing it permanently. It is not only dangerous, but also offensive to the locals who consider Uluru the sacred place. You can learn much more about aboriginal culture and art in the visitor center located inside the park.

blooming flowers at Ayers Rock

Beware of kangaroos!

the sacred Rock

Water Hole at Uluru

The Valley of the Winds

Further West within the park are the rocks of Kata Tjuta. The 36 domes are creating some wonderful deep valleys and gorges. There are two great walks there. First one, which should take you less the an hour, runs between 2 rock walls at the bottom of the gorge. As you walk alongside the cliff face you might get lucky enough to spot some rock wallabies. The second trail is called The Valley of the Winds and is a bit more difficult. It runs for over 7 km and takes you across the domes to beautiful shaded valleys. 2016 was a very wet year. They reckon there is enough rain for flowers to bloom every 7 years. We were really fortunate to see a lot of them.

kata Tjuta with blooming flowers

Valley of the Winds walk

Desert laughs with flowers

Valley of the Winds

Kata Tjuta domes

Kata Tjuta

Milky Way above Uluru

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Whitsundays Islands

One of the most wonderful stops on our trip through the East Coast of Australia was the famous Whitsunday Islands. The mainland gateaway to the archipelago is Airlie Beach.  This is backpackers and holidaymakers mekka. You can spend the entire day in a free, public lagoon which is a type of an open air pool, for every visiors’ use.

Other than that, the town has some amazing views as well as leisure shops, cafes and restaurants. You can also decide on a trip to a luxury Hamilton Island, which is a private resort island in the middle of this paradise.

Hello, mr Turtle

Airlie Beach, Queensland

Public Lagoon

Public Lagoon

Good times, guys!

Sunset

Cedar Creek Falls

Short drive outside of town will take you to the Cedar Creek Falls. After a quick journey through the unsealed road you will get to the parking lot. From there it is only few steps more and you can enjoy a super refreshing swim under the waterfall in a tropical scenery. That is definitly worth doing.

Cedar Creek Falls

refreshing swim

Cedar Creek Falls, hidden gem!

Airlie Beach, the gateway to Whitsundays

While visiting  Arlie Beach, you can choose your own way of witnessing the beuty of the Whitsundays. You can either:

1. ago on an overnight sailing cruise,
2. take a scenic flight or
3. book one of the single-day excursions.

Waters of the Great Barrier Reef

Whithaven Beach

Ocean Rafting tour

snorkel time

Underwater life

Hello, mr Turtle

Underwater world

Awesome snorkel at Great Barrier Reef

Whale and the Ocean Rafting pontoon

This is how you travel with Ocean Rafting company!

The most beautiful beach in the world?

After that, we finally arrived at the marvelous Whitehavn Beach. The sand over there is pure silca and it is amazingly soft, white and squeeks under your feet. Scenery is just breathtaking! This is the time for the group to enjoy the lunch served on board, yet we were too busy with taking pictures to think about the food.

Whitsundays, QLD

Honeymoon perfection

Whithaven Beach

Whithaven Beach

Hill Inlet Lookout

After a while we gathered to do a short hike to the magnificent Hill Inlet Lookout from which you can see the famous swirling sands of Whitsundays. It all depends on the time of the day and  tides. On low tide, it is getting more and more spectacular with every minute as the water slowly disappears and the sand dunes become visable. From all the places around Australia that we have been to, this is the one we can not wait to go back to. Awe-Inspiring!!!

Awe-inspiring Whitsundays!

Hill Inlet Lookout, Whitsundays

50 shades of blue

Hill Inlet Lookout, Whitsundays

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