Gunung Merbabu and Solo


View at Picasa More Merapi from Merbabu summit29-May-2010 08:14, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 4.9, 18.6mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80

For the long weekend at the end of May we decided to head to central Java to climb Gunung Merbabu and to take in the sights of Solo. We flew into Semarang on Thursday night and took a taxi directly to the hill village of Kopeng, where we met our trip organiser Pak Totok. It was straight to bed as we arrived late and we were aiming for a 5 am start the next morning. We dragged ourselves out of bed at 4.30 am and forced some fried rice down our necks before setting off for the trailhead in an angkot with our two porters. By 5.45 we were already on the trail. After about 15 minutes the porters stopped for breakfast; we knew then it wouldn’t be a record breaking climb in terms of speed. Andy and I hiked on ahead and waited at several points for the porters to catch up, including a 1.5 hour break with a nap at lunchtime! We learned our lesson on Tambora – don’t get too far ahead of the porters, especially if it looks like rain, as they might decide to stop for the day without bringing your tent to where you are waiting! The forest was pretty along the way, not too dense and as we got higher it turned into grassland with sparse trees. We got some good views of Gunung Sumbing and Gunung Sindoro to the west.
After lunch we took some of the weight out of the porter packs to speed things up a bit, but the weather was already closing in – luckily we were only caught in the rain for about 10 minutes and then we got back out of the clouds the final push to the summit campsite. The camping area is actually on summit 4 (from a total of 7). Summits 4 through 7 are spaced along a ridge and all have great views; summit 7, at 3171m is the true summit. The weather brightened up and we got some great views over to Gunung Merapi smoking and looking mean to the south. After a dinner of noodles and bandrek (a hot drink made from ginger, pepper and palm sugar) it was an early night for us after our lack of sleep the night before.
We were woken up about 3.30 am by the arrival of a large group of Indonesian students who were hiking up to see the sunrise, and we got up about 5.30 and joined them for the sunrise. After breakfast (porridge and nescafe) we set off to conquer the true peak which took us about 30 minutes. After admiring the view we dropped off the other side of Merbabu and made our way back down to the village of Selo which lies between Merbabu and Merapi. Pak Totok was waiting for us in his trust angkot and we found a car in Selo to take us into Solo.
After arriving in Solo, it was first stop for a shower and then off for a cold beer and a very nice Italian meal at the cleverly name Oh Solo Mio restaurant. Solo is famous as a center for Javanese culture and arts and has thriving traditional dance, music and arts scene, including handmade batik fabrics with traditional patterns. The next day we took a look around the town which was smaller and nicer than we expected, with many old shophouses down small lanes in the old quarter. We visited the kraton and another palace, ate some very good street food (srabi, a pancake with rice pudding and banana on top, and tahu kupat, tofu served with rice cakes cooked in a banana leaf) and of course bought some batik. Then it was time to hit the road and fly back to Jakarta ready for work on Monday morning.


View at Picasa Kopeng in early morning28-May-2010 05:48, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 250	View at Picasa Kopeng, ready to hike28-May-2010 05:48, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 250	View at Picasa Gill climbing, looking north28-May-2010 07:08, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Looking north to Gunung Telomoyo and Ungaran28-May-2010 07:29, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Climbing higher28-May-2010 08:26, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Sumbing and Sindoro volcanoes28-May-2010 08:30, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 11.0, 11.614mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80
View at Picasa Sumbing and Sindoro28-May-2010 09:43, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 9.0, 8.295mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Looking up to the summits of Merbabu28-May-2010 10:06, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Gunung Lawu emerges from the clouds to the east28-May-2010 10:06, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 4.9, 18.6mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Sumbing and Sindoro to the west28-May-2010 10:15, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Taking a break before climbing to the summit area28-May-2010 12:58, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Steep trail up the ridge towards the summit area28-May-2010 13:25, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 80
View at Picasa Merbabu summit ridge28-May-2010 14:55, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Made it to the camping area28-May-2010 14:56, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Merapi emerges from the clouds28-May-2010 14:59, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 11.0, 11.614mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Merapi (left) emerges from the cloud next the summit of Merbabu28-May-2010 15:02, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Merapi, clouds and gases28-May-2010 15:11, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 4.9, 18.6mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa On summit 5, with Merapi and Merbabu summit behind28-May-2010 15:13, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80
View at Picasa Merapi and Merbabi summit28-May-2010 15:24, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa More Merapi28-May-2010 15:24, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 11.0, 11.614mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa More Merapi28-May-2010 15:24, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 11.0, 11.614mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Late afternoon – Merapi28-May-2010 15:25, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 4.5, 14.303mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Cloud clearing for a great evening watch Merapi28-May-2010 15:31, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Andy and Merapi28-May-2010 15:32, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80
View at Picasa Evening light catches the Merbabu summit ridge28-May-2010 17:18, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 125	View at Picasa Evening light, Merapi and Merbabu28-May-2010 17:18, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 100	View at Picasa Sumbing and Sindoro at sunset28-May-2010 17:32, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Gill, wrapped up warm28-May-2010 17:40, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Sunset from Merbabu, with Sumbing and Sindoro28-May-2010 17:50, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 200	View at Picasa Sunset view of Lawu29-May-2010 05:29, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 200
View at Picasa Sunrise view of Lawu29-May-2010 05:34, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200	View at Picasa Merapi, mist, cloud, and volcanic gases29-May-2010 05:59, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Morning mist and Merapi29-May-2010 06:04, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 3.2, 8.295mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Merapi emerging from the clouds, with villages and farmland up its slopes29-May-2010 06:36, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 4.0, 11.614mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Sumbing and Sindoro in the morning29-May-2010 06:38, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Merapi steaming away in the morning29-May-2010 06:51, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80
View at Picasa Sumbing and Sindoro29-May-2010 06:51, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Merapi, before we leaving summit 5 and head for the true summit29-May-2010 07:17, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Lawu in the morning light29-May-2010 07:45, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 9.0, 8.295mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Gill with Lawu behind29-May-2010 07:45, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 9.0, 8.295mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Anoher view of Sumbing and Sindoro29-May-2010 07:52, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Lawu again29-May-2010 07:54, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80
View at Picasa Merapi29-May-2010 08:12, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Merapi again, from Merbabu summit29-May-2010 08:14, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Merapi and villages29-May-2010 08:14, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 4.9, 18.6mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa More Merapi from Merbabu summit29-May-2010 08:14, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 4.9, 18.6mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Final look at Sumbing and Sindoro29-May-2010 08:24, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Merapi before we start to descend29-May-2010 08:25, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 80
View at Picasa On the Summit, ready to descend 1500 m to Selo29-May-2010 08:26, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 8.0, 6.2mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Heading down towards Selo29-May-2010 08:46, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Puri (palace) in Solo30-May-2010 10:52, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 250	View at Picasa Steam train and Becek in Solo30-May-2010 11:46, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Todu lunch from a Kaki Lima30-May-2010 12:04, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 200	View at Picasa Kraton in Solo30-May-2010 12:37, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 80
View at Picasa Kraton courtyard and Banyen Tree30-May-2010 12:40, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Kraton gamelan30-May-2010 12:50, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 250	View at Picasa Kraton courtyard30-May-2010 12:53, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Kraton Dutch-style clock tower30-May-2010 12:56, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Kraton doorway30-May-2010 13:04, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 200	View at Picasa Old Solo doorway30-May-2010 13:22, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80
View at Picasa Old Solo gang (alley)30-May-2010 13:24, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Old Solo gang (alley)30-May-2010 13:27, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Old Solo30-May-2010 13:27, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80	View at Picasa Solo door30-May-2010 13:30, Canon Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, 2.8, 6.2mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80

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