Ijen Plateau

The Ijen volcano complex, is a group of volcanos in eastern Java set inside the world’s largest acidic crater lake. Known in Indonesia as the ‘mountain of fire’, the view of the deep blue greenish lake is astonishing, and even more so at night when the burning of sulphuric gases glow an ethereal blue colour. When visiting the crater you will encounter plenty of miners who start their daily chores at two o’clock in the morning. The surrounding flora and fauna is in abundance, with coffee plantations, strawberries, bustling local villages, stunning views and numerous waterfalls and hot springs. It is a true place of calm which should be enjoyed and appreciated over a couple of days.

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson