After a freezing cold night in the mountain hotel, we were allowed to sleep in a bit.  This time we met our guide at 4am.  Our guide needed to procure a jeep and driver to trek up the steep path to the scenic overlook where we once again waited in the dark for the sun to shine on Mount Bromo.

Of the cluster of volcanoes in the picture, Bromo is the smallest one, and is ever-smoking.  But the entire area is magical and breathtaking…especially at first light when the low-lying fog still covers the ground and the volcanoes appear to be floating on clouds.

After some nice photos, we made our way down the trail, walked across the “sea of sand” to the Buddhist temple, took a horse up the steep path to the flat landing, climbed the huge staircase to the crater rim and explored the crater.

This crater rim was small and steep and narrow with a protective railing that extended a few yards on either side of the staircase terminus.  I didn’t venture very far beyond the railing, but you really didn’t have to.  There were plenty of photo ops from the safer parts of the path.  I took plenty of photos on the way down the path on my way to meet the jeep.  Everything was easy to see after the morning fog finally burned off.

Some beautiful carvings could be seen clearly in the rock bed, that were really cool, and unexpected.  I never found out the significance, but it was pretty cool to see these frozen faces guarding the mountain.