Photo story: The eruption of Mount Bromo in 2010

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The eruption of Mount Bromo in 2010

Update – 3 Dec 2017: The recent eruption of Mount Agung in Bali brought back memories of the time we visited Mount Bromo, while on a grad trip to Java back in late 2010. Back then, Mount Bromo had erupted, but life was as usual. People continued praying at the temple nearby, albeit that it was covered in grey ash.

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The temple near Bromo.
eruption of Mount Bromo in 2010
Life goes on.
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Once in a lifetime of experiences.
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Will life ever come back again?
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Where the lava used to flow.
mount bromo eruption java indonesia
A burst of cloud into the sky.

The landscape was a tad eerie, a scene of devastation and yet peace. There’s a certain calmness that descended on Cemoro Lawang, the village we were at. But there’s a sense of hope, when you see the sunrise at dawn, amidst the sandy dunes. Away from Bromo, life stirs in the sunlight, giving way to young green saplings living to survive another day.

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Morning light creeps in.
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Away from Bromo, there is hope.
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After the scenes of devastation, sunrise brings a little hope.

We had not faced airport closures back then. I recalled Friend W flew back from Surabaya to Singapore a few days after. It was a trip to remember. After all, It’s not often you get a chance to write your name in ash.

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Name in ashes.
eruption of Mount Bromo in 2010
The cool kids who visited a volcano during a grad trip.
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That was me back then.. looking.. dishevelled.
eruption of Mount Bromo in 2010
Man and his donkey. He followed us a long way, offering us rides.
eruption of Mount Bromo in 2010
Surviving leaves.
eruption of Mount Bromo in 2010
Work begins yet again.

The Travelling Squid’s Take

Back then, Bromo’s eruption wasn’t of danger to us. But now thinking about it, we were much closer to the “danger” zone than we were in Bali. I wasn’t sure if they closed the airport back then, but Friend W could still fly back to Singapore from Surabaya (thankfully). It was a trip to remember and I’m glad I did it with Friend W. 🙂 (We did take selfies but they’re too unglam to post on the blog.)

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