Mount Bromo Travelogue 2 / Sunrise: A Visual Feast

This is a travelogue from my trip to Mount Bromo, Indonesia, in early July 2019. After waiting in the cold for over 40 minutes, the sun still hadn't broken free from the rose-pink clouds. I noticed that I was surrounded by Indonesians, all quiet and focused, holding up their phones and cameras, aimed at the volcano directly in front of us. Finally, a touch of sunlight painted the highest crater red. The crowd stirred, with gasps, cheers, and the clicking of shutters. Although this place is called Mount Bromo, it's actually a volcanic complex. Six volcanoes together create a surreal landscape, making it one of Indonesia's most spectacular natural sights. National Geographic has called it "the most lunar-like place on Earth." Watching the sunrise here feels a bit like watching it from the "moon." The following are three of the volcanoes: Mount Semeru (Gunung Semeru), the highest peak on the island of Java. (Figures 1 and 5) Mount Widodaren (Gunung Widodaren), with its impressive folds. (Figure 6) Mount Batok (Gunung Batok), the most visually appealing of the volcanoes, often mistaken for Mount Bromo itself. (Figure 3) The shortest and somewhat less attractive volcano is the actual "Mount Bromo." It resembles a giant crater formed by a meteorite impact, constantly emitting gas. This scene seems to hold philosophical meaning. The silently erupting smoke represents deathly stillness, while the rose-red sunlight symbolizes warmth and life. Why is there no sun in the pictures? Actually, watching the sunrise at Mount Bromo isn't about seeing the sun rise from behind the volcano, but rather seeing the sunlight illuminate the crater. An even more spectacular sunrise view is when the volcanic complex floats on a sea of rolling clouds, with the smoke from Mount Bromo tinged red by the sunlight, as shown in Figure 13 (from Google Images). The sea of clouds I had hoped for didn't appear, but the unique volcanic landscape still provided a tremendous visual impact. The volcanoes seemed to be gathering the energy to break free from the stillness. Turning my head, I saw Cemoro Lawang village and beyond, where the pale pink sky met the mist clinging to the lush valleys and plateaus, creating a scene of ethereal beauty and purity. It was truly amazing: on one side, the barren land created by volcanic eruptions, awe-inspiring; on the other, the farmland, forests, and villages nurtured by volcanic ash, full of vibrant life and reassuring. This is the small platform I claimed after hopping over the highway railing. Compared to the higher viewing platforms, the volcanic complex doesn't appear as layered from here. But the biggest advantage of this spot is the unobstructed view, allowing me to capture the entire volcanic crater, ten kilometers away, in my lens. By the time the sunrise ended and full daylight arrived, the place had become bustling and noisy. I quickly made way for a young Indonesian couple taking wedding photos. A few meters away from me, Xiao Ye Zi was surrounded by Indonesians. What? What happened? She was like a celebrity, being asked for photos by one Indonesian after another.