One of my biggest 'to-do-list' in 2017 already achieved!
Although I always desire to climbing a high mountain in Indonesia, but climbed Dieng Plateau was enough for my very first time 'climbing' experiences! So if you wonder how I did it, so here the stories...
I decided to traveling with my 4 friend, with using a car we went from Yogyjakarta at the 12 pm, but we have been gathering to get ready or packing an hour before, so we really make sure there is no items that left behind, we all know that plateau gonna be so cold, and for your information that Dieng has a wet, subtropical highland climate, the average annual temperature in Dieng is 14.0 °C. However, in the dry season, the temperature may drop to -2 to 2 °C in the nights in every July to August. Because, we went to Dieng in August, so we really using so many layers of warm clothes. Keep it warm!
Dieng Mountain tourism area is located in Wonosobo area, Central Java. This tour is in wedge by Mount Sindoro and Mount Sumbing which is above 3000 meters above sea level. From Yogyakarta it takes 2 hours using car to get to Dieng Plateau, Wonosobo. So, if you wanna chasing sunrise, you must go in the night.
The name Dieng comes from the ancient Sundanese 'Di' which means 'place' or 'mountain' and 'Hyang' from the word hyang (God, God), which means the place of the goddess gods. So Dieng means mountainous area where the gods and goddesses dwell.
The road is quite challenging, because narrow and winding roads, also the morning mist that enveloped the streets, we actually can't sleep all the way, yeah quite scary. After going through the road, finally at 3 am we arrived at Rest area, in the rest area there are so many food stalls, so don't worry if you lack of ammunition. Me and my friends realize that we forget some equipment to keep up more warm, gloves and masks, don't worry this area sold that all warm equipment too.
Here we go, we decided to leave the rest area and start to climb to Dieng Plateau at 3.30 am. The track literally so quite steep, so relieve when we come it's not rainy, just imagine how slippery that track if it's rainy, Actually the track is not that hard because there are some stairs that guide you to climb, but it's still challenging also mesmerize. Here some tricks, first don't bring any heavy luggage, second using mountain slippers or shoes, third don't rest too much while through the track because you gonna feel so cold, keep moving cuz you gunno keep warm, and the last don't forget any lighting!
After almost an hour, we reach up the top of Dieng Plateau... and I can't talk too much, not only because the cold but how beautiful and mesmerize the view tho, sky full of stars track by coldplay echoing in my mind.
So finally, what we've been waiting for comes, the sunrise. Actually I forget to take a picture of the sunrise moment because I'm diverted by the scene. But, eventually I start to captured some beauty moment with just my camera phone!
So here my friends, I'm not included, it's the time when we went down again after beautiful sunrise at top of the hill :
Random people that I capture that candid with sunlight :
Finally, is me! :
Before we went home, we have been breakfast first, after that we decided to take a rest for a while, sleep a few minutes really helpful.
We back to Yogyakarta at 10 am, it was unforgettable moments that I always desire to do! Let's visit Dieng Plateau and please let me join :D