Saying goodbye to the warmth and greenery of Ubud felt slightly melancholic, even for The Corrs who had only been there for a few days. However, the promise of a new adventure at the legendary active volcano in East Java was enough to re-ignite their spirit (and a bit of nervousness, especially for Caroline who was imagining hot lava). The short flight from Denpasar to Surabaya or Malang (Nisa chose the safest and most comfortable route, of course, with a little help from presidential facilities) went smoothly, though Jim did ask the flight attendant if the slight turbulence was caused by a minor tectonic plate shift or just regular wind.
The overland journey from the airport to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park area was a dramatic transition. The landscape slowly shifted from busy lowlands to winding green hills, then climbed higher into the Tengger mountains area, where the air felt increasingly cool and biting. The villa or hotel they stayed at was situated at a high altitude, offering an initial view of the vast Tengger caldera stretching out—a sight that left The Corrs momentarily silent in awe.
"This... this is like a landscape painting from the Lord of the Rings movies, but real!" Sharon exclaimed, her eyes glued to their room window which faced directly onto the expanse of the Sea of Sand and the silhouettes of the mountains in the distance.
Dinner that evening was filled with warm, typical mountain cuisine—sop buntut (oxtail soup), grilled corn, and wedang jahe (ginger drink). Nisa and Reza gave a brief briefing about the 'highly important' agenda for the next morning: hunting the sunrise at Penanjakan Peak, the highest viewpoint to witness the sunrise moment with the backdrop of the majestic Mount Bromo, Mount Batok, and Mount Semeru.
"Okay, listen closely," Nisa said in a serious yet friendly tone. "We are leaving at... three in the morning."
"THREE IN THE MORNING?!" Andrea, Caroline, and Sharon chorused simultaneously, their eyes widening in horror. Only Jim looked calm, perhaps contemplating the concept of predawn time in a different time zone.
"Yes, three in the morning," Nisa nodded. "And it will be veeeery cold up there. Extremely cold. So, wear every warm item of clothing you brought. Layer three, layer four if necessary. Scarves, beanies, gloves, thick socks, everything!"
"How cold exactly is it, Nisa?" Andrea asked, imagining the cold of a Dublin winter.
Reza smiled. "Think of it as stepping inside a giant freezer while riding a dirt bike, Andrea. Something like that."
Reza's description succeeded in making Andrea (and Caroline) look slightly pale. That night, they all went to bed early, although a mix of enthusiasm and anxiety kept their sleep from being too sound. Andrea even dreamed of being chased by a giant snowman in a desert.
And sure enough, the 2:30 AM alarm felt like the cruelest torture in the world. The cold air instantly stabbed them as they stepped out of the warmth of the blankets. With eyes still half-closed and moving like robots due to wearing layers upon layers of clothing (Caroline was even wearing two beanies at once), they were ushered toward the fleet of waiting 4x4 Jeeps.
The journey to Penanjakan Peak in the early morning darkness was an adventure in itself. The roads were narrow, steeply uphill, and sharply winding, making hearts pound. Andrea closed her eyes the entire way, reciting prayers in Irish. Caroline held Alex's arm tightly. Sharon tried to enjoy the view of the twinkling village lights below that slowly receded, while Jim... he was busy asking the Jeep driver about the engine specifications and suspension system of the rugged vehicle. Nisa and Reza could only exchange glances from their separate Jeep, hoping everything would go smoothly.