BOAR GOATS AND MOUNT BROMO

 This week we had the opportunity to see a part of the island which neither Eileen or I had been to before.  Malang is a city in the southern part of East Java.  It is in the mountains so it is cooler there than where we are used to – low to mid 70’s.  We were there to look at a LDS Charities sponsored goat project that was done 10 years ago with the local university agriculture department.  The native goats here are rather small; perhaps scrawny may be a more apt description.  Boar goats were imported from Australia and bred with local goats to produce, over a five-generation process, goats that weigh in the range of 100 kg vs. 30-40 kg.  Our purpose was to see if something similar might be possible to be implemented elsewhere in Java.  Elder and Sister Williams, who serve in Malang were kind enough to show us around during our visit.

(Written by Eileen)  While in Malang we had an unusual experience.  We were driving down the quiet streets when we heard a scream. I looked back to see a motorcyclist that had slid on his side. I realized that the motorcyclist had stopped suddenly for a child that had run across the street.  A nun was chasing a child that appeared to be 5 or 6 years of age. The child was running very fast and the nun was chasing after him, arms outstretched with her habit flying behind her.  The Williams commented that the building the child came out of is an orphanage where they teach English.  Their driver said that some of the children that live there have behavioral problems.  The young boy made it across two streets before being caught by the nun. She brought him back by the arm with many nuns watching with horrified looking faces.  By this time the motorcyclist had gotten up and it appeared that nobody had been hurt.

While in Malang we took the opportunity to see Mt. Bromo, an active volcano.  Actually there are several volcanoes right around Bromo, which provide a spectacular view.  Traditionally most tourist books say that the best time to see Bromo is at first light.  What this requires is a 1 AM starting time from Malang, two hours by van and then 1 more hour by jeep.  Then you hike up a ways and stand at a lookout point, in the cold and dark, waiting for the sun to come up around 5:30 AM.  You might ask why would you arrive there at 4 to see a sunrise at 5:30?  There were about 200 jeeps bringing people up to the location – almost all were Europeans.  Getting there first we had a great front row spot to view the area.  Following sunrise we drove down within a few km of the volcano and hiked up to the rim.  As we walked the distance you could see your breath, which told me it must be cold.  The smell of sulfur was so strong it burned our eyes and throat.  When after a ways the journey got steeper, Eileen decided to take a horse.

THIS BIG MOMMA BROKE OUT OF HER HOLDING PEN

THIS BABY GOAT DIDN'T WANT TO COME TO ME

RUSSELL AND ELDER WILLIAMS TALKING WITH  MANAGER OF FARM (IN ORANGE) 

THEY USE THIS BIG PROBE TO ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATE THE GOATS (OUCH)

FOG HANGING OVER THE VALLEY

THE SUN IS FINALLY COMING UP

BROMO IS THE CRATER WITH THE SULFUR STEAM COMING OUT OF IT, OUR JEEP RACED AGAINST OTHER JEEPS ACROSS THE ROAD IN FRONT OF BROMO

I THOUGHT I WOULD TASTE SOME HOT CORN,  IT WAS COLD, HOPE I DON'T GET SICK FROM IT

CLIMBING THE PATH TO BROMO

THIS MAN CALLED TO ME AND SAID "TIRED MAMA, WANT A RIDE?"  I BARTERED WITH HIM AND RODE A SHORT WAYS

AT TOP OF BROMO, THE EDGE OF THE CRATER IN THE BACKGROUND, SULFUR SMELL HORRIBLE

SULFUR COMING UP FROM BROMO

250 STEPS TO CLIMB TO THE TOP,  HORSES AND JEEPS WAITING AT BOTTOM,  NOTICE SKI HATS AND SWEATSHIRTS ON PEOPLE CLIMBING UP,  IT WAS SO COLD WE COULD SEE OUR BREATH