Posted by Rod (?? sleeps) on Tuesday, 27. October 1998 at 06:06 Bali Time:
In Reply to: booking a trip from Bali to Java posted by Stefaan Van Dyck on Monday, 26. October 1998 at 19:04 Bali Time:
It will all depend on how much you want to pay. Booking via E-mail is possible but will be expensive.
Any Travel Co in Bali will book you on a trip to Borodudur and Bromo but the trick is to find the trip that best suits you. Comfortable A/C bus travel is available from Denpasar to Yoga and from there you can arrange an excursion to Borodudur. The next day you would travel to Probolinngo (Safari Dharma Raya Bus Co was recommended to me by others as one of the best) where you can hire a bemo to take you up to accom. in Ngadisari for the Mt Bromo trek. After the trek you can either return to Probolinngo and catch a bus or negotiate with bemo drivers who will take you back to the ferry port or even to Bali.
Of course you can also fly to Yoga to save some time or you can also catch a train (business or 1st class)from Banyuwangi (near ferry port) to Yoga. If you fly you should get some good views of Mt Merapi on the outskirts of Yoga which is in eruption mode at present.
News reports of trouble in Banyuwangi seem to relate to internal village conflict unrelated to tourism.
Some links for tours are
http://www.bali-paradise.com/ertours/packages.html#bromojogja
http://www.tiglion.com/english/travel/tour/land/indonesi.htm#surabaya
My comments on the Bromo trip (and other Bali tips) are at
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~pincha/balitrip.htm
nb Budget travellers can do the trip (Bali - Bromo - Yoga - Borobudur - Bali) for 335,000 rp pp (@Sept 1998)with Riasta Tours in Poppies Lane II (0361) 754744 or contact Martin Situpu at 20 Tours and Travel opposite Brasil-Bali Cafe in Jl Benesari Kuta (0361) 758453
If you do the trip please report back as we intend doing the same trip next year ex Bromo but with side excursions to Solo and Kawah Iijen volcano.
Rod