Asti Girl Carrying the Curse
Chapters 264. Travel in Family Togetherness
The night trip began to be done in three accompaniment of four-wheeled vehicles. Starting from the Elf driven by Mr. Sugeng the front with Lek No navigator. Of course they will be accompanied by a hot coffee thermos that has been prepared by Bulek Ratih in the front seat. Complete with two heat resistant plastic cups.
Asti joined the Elf car so that Qani can be carried by anyone later on the way to Bromo. In the second car, there was Inova Pak Yusuf who was driven by Mr. Jan and next to the steering wheel was Ardi. Last afternoon the brother had taken his sister's traveling bag, in the shophouse, in Batu city. Of course he allowed his sister to visit Asti's house, in the Central Java area. At the same time want to see the situation of Mr. Kerto who is now, he said is very sick.
Behind him was Pajero piloted by Mas Aji, with Pak Cakra beside him. Behind there are Leon , Joko and little Akbar who are sound asleep flanked by pillows and bolsters of his favorite characters.
Joko and Leon spoke in low voices. Fear of waking Akbar. Because their journey is still far away, also the vehicle runs not too rushed. Because the terrain is more difficult because it leads to the largest mountain road in the East Java region. In addition to tourist destinations to Mount Bromo, there are many other tourist attractions that can be visited by tourists.
Moreover, the area that the mountain covers a very large area. Maybe the tourist activity is more suitable for young people or people who are young at heart. Especially for those who love adventure. Like climbing Mount Semeru or see the Blue fire in the crater of Mount Ijen, in Bondowoso Banyuwangi. The road to get to that place is even more difficult to reach by four-wheeled vehicles.
Towards the place to go, Mr. Jan had contacted his brother. In less than an hour they will arrive in the Tumpang area. In that area, Mr. Jan's brother worked in a tourist travel agency office as well as rental vehicles Jeep, which many take tourists to Mount Bromo.
According to Brother Pak Jan, Leon pajero can not be taken to Bromo, because there are regulations that prohibit private cars to climb to the area there. All visitors must comply with these rules.
They arrived in front of the bureau's office after 02:30. Preparations begin immediately. Usually the trip to the top takes one to one after an hour, before dawn.
They generally want to see the sunrise first. Kira-kira at 04.00 must arrive at Mount Penanjakan, the best spot to see the Sunrise at Mount Bromo.
" We only need to rent three jeeps!" Said Mr. Cakra quickly arranging the members of the entourage. One Jeep car they rent will be filled with 5 to 6 people in it. The children will sit alone flanked by two adults.
At the front there is Mr. Sugeng next to the driver with Lek No family in it. That is Ninuk and Bulek Ratih, plus Bu Jum, and Mbak Ning as well.
Behind him, there was Pak Cakra in the second Jeep sitting next to the driver. In it there is Mas Typhoon, Ardi and the family of Mr. Joseph, his wife Sister Sarah and his son Hafiz.
While in the third Jeep there is Mas Aji, Inside there is Princess, Joko and Leon. Including Asti and his two children, Qani and Akbar. While Qani will be carried by Leon with a kangaroo-style front sling so that if there is a strong shock, the child is still safe and comfortable. While Akbar sat alone flanked by his mother and Mother Princess
At 03:00, the first Jeep began to leave the front yard of the office. Followed by the second and third jeep with a distance that is not too far apart but quite safe and monitored.
The children were already wearing thick jackets that were hatted, to keep them warm. Qani felt very comfortable in his father's arms. The pink jumpsuit jacket makes it very cute, doll-like. Many times Akbar kissed his sister's cheek, while preparations were being made.
The three Jeeps carrying their troupe seemed to be the first vehicle to leave to go to Mount Bromo. Because after walking for a long time, there are several other Jeeps that also follow behind him. The Jeep's voice roared - roaring along the road there. Breaking the silence in the early morning.
Jeep vehicles were indeed chosen for the tour, because the trip to the mountains of Bromo terrain is rather heavy and requires a vehicle with a tough engine. Because the tourist area passes through a large area is very large, in the form of highlands and mountains... While the area that surrounds it is desert and savanna with a variety of bush and weed plant dresses.
The longer, the more Jeep lines there are and form a long queue. They seemed to be racing - a race to reach to a point, at the end of the mountain there. As the first and best spot to see the sunrise morning called 'Golden Sunrise'.
The atmosphere along the left and right of the road seemed quiet and silent. From residential villages, gardens and agricultural areas to a sea of sand in the dark before dawn.
Pak Bakdi as a guide tour, also a cousin of Mr. Jan gave many directions to the Asti family group. Afraid of getting into trouble, Leon asks Om Ardi to ride a motorcycle offered by many people there who want to take them up. Of course with a certain wage because the distance is not far away. Similar to motorcycle taxi drivers in front of the front gate in a village. It seems that Om Ardi followed Leon's advice, so the man rode on one of the bikes, and walked first with his black backpack on his back.
The air above the mountain is getting colder. They continued to walk on the path that continued to climb with heart to a place that resembled a stage. Because there are wide stairs of concrete with a view to the east.
While at the end there is a guardrail of iron. As Pak Bakdi said, Asti held a rubber mat for all members of his family to sit on. Especially the women. Because sitting on a concrete staircase is like sitting on a block of ice. The cold air is up there.
Asti hugged Akbar tightly when his son asked for a seat. Since walking earlier, Akbar was silent because he was still sleepy when carried by Joko on his shoulder. Sitting next to her, Sister Sarah who continues to wipe her palms.
" Make Wong ndeso!" ledek Pak Yusuf sat behind them. He commented on his wife's behavior to endure the cold. Because the woman who has not even turned 40 years old was only wearing a simple hijab dress, with an outer of the shirt material.
Tampa realized Asti pulled out a scarf that had been offered by a merchant who offered his merchandise at their place of rest, in front of the Jeep rental office and a travel agency agreement.
The variety of merchandise made from knitted materials is what is offered to them all . From gloves, skullcaps or hats, to scarves of various sizes with patterns.
Ninuk bought the gloves and hat after he saw for a moment from his smartphone about the current situation there. The situation in the mountains is getting colder before the dry season. Even the temperature there can reach 10-16 degrees Celsius, at night.
Mr. Cakra and Mas Joko also bought skullcaps from similar knitting materials. The shirt material from the long scarf was immediately wrapped around Asti on the neck of the woman he should have called Bude. What was rather surprising was Leon wearing a thick fur hat typical of Russian men. It turned out that the hat was by-by-by-her sister who had been on vacation to Europe last year.
" Thank you!" the whisper was a little moved, whispered Ms. Sarah. It seems that the woman also only wears ordinary sandal shoes despite wearing socks.
" It's also got gloves, Miss Sarah! It will be an ice sculpture here... If taken home to Surabaya so not funny, because it has melted," said Ninuk silly.
Everyone laughed with Ninuk's chattering. Because he could not tease or tease Qani who was still cozy in his father's arms. He was a little afraid of Leon who loved the girl very much.
The sky in the east began to look reddish at 04:00. Although there was a little white cloud floating there. People are coming more and more.
Mr. Bakdi and the other two Jeep drivers who brought them, also went down first. Said Mr. Jan they hang out at a coffee shop that opens a lot of merchandise up here. In fact they can open a stall for almost twenty-four hours. If the holiday season arrives with many tourists visiting this area.
The concrete benches began to sit on people. The situation there is getting full. Behind them, Om Ardi begins to get busy setting up a camera usually used by a professional photographer . Because Leon said, the price of the camera can be to buy a new Honda beat-type matic motorbike.
People also started preparing their hape including Ninuk. There were some people walking around the corner of the fence to get the best angle recorded when the Sun greeted the earth, signifying it was morning.
The sound of expensive camera whistles was heard behind them, as the orange red ball began to slowly emerge from behind the horizon in the Eastern horizon ... Tampa realized Asti prayed by asking for all the goodness of the Grace of Allah SWT. For in this place all his family had regrouped and witnessed a miracle with the rise of the sun that morning. Like their prayers and hopes to begin in their lives that are better.