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Jakarta to Dieng Plateau Central Java
Dieng plateau on Central Java to Bali

INDONESIA

Mar
2004-09-14 16:42:50

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there must be a road where even trucks can go. Energetic again we jump on our bicycles and cycle another 6 kilometres until the sand turns into a rocky coastline and a tarred road leads from the beach to a village, this is Cipancong. "We made it before sunset!". Surprisingly there is a guesthouse right on the beach with a lovely balcony, friendly staff and colourful fishing boats on the beach. Impossible scenario!

We wash the salt and sand from our bicycles and sit down with the owner of the guesthouse. He laughs and points to the road on both of our maps. "Aaaahhh. Tidak Jalan!" ("NO ROAD!").

Volcanic climbs to Garut

Garut in one day. No more beach and no more single mountain bike tracks. The owner of the guesthouse in Cipancong waves us goodbye. As soon as we leave Cipancong we start our first 10 kilometres steep ascent. Amazingly steep to say, mostly between 10-16% with, luckily, a less steep or short descent now and then. It has all to do with Mount Papayan, a volcano of 2675 meter and the most active volcano on Java. Up, up, up. After 28 kilometres (11:30) we stop at a guesthouse in Bungbulang, knowing that tomorrow will be more of the same but longer (same same but different).

(11/2/2004) The mosque tells us it's time to get up, no alarm clock needed in Indonesia. A quick breakfast of coffee and roti (bread, any kind) should give us enough energy for the first hour of steep hills. We first head down to the bridge that crosses the river. Our first challenge today exists of crossing a 300-meter landslide that blocks any vehicle to cross. The road is already 2 months under construction, but every time it is repaired, another landslide chops of the road. The local economy plays well with these kind of situations. Food stalls and 15 carriers await you to take your cargo from the lorry and bring it via a small footpath through somebody’s rice fields over the ...