The Tenggerese

 

They are the Tenggerese, known to be the descendants of the Majapahit princes. At the foot of Mount Bromo, you will see quite a number of them, offering tourists a horse’s ride uphill to the staircase which leads to the top of Mount Bromo. And the service doesn’t come cheap. It cost about 30,000 Rupiah to 60,000 Rupiah normally, depends on how hard you bargain. But it’s actually not a difficult task to reach the crater of Mount Bromo. People take the horse’s ride more for the experience I guess.

Traditionally, they are nomadic herders. But in modern times, they no longer stay in the wild. Settlements are established and tourism spurs the development around the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park. Tourism is the most important source of revenue for the locals.

 

 

 

 

For Tenggerese who work as a trekking guide or Jeep driver, they normally start the day early at 3 am. They need to send tourists who come from every corner of the earth to the peak of Mount Bromo or Mount Penanjakan by 5 am, so that they will be able to catch the spectacular sunrise over the mountains. As for the horsemen, they are usually covered from top to toe. In the early morning, it will be chilling. As the temperature could easily drop to zero degree celsius during the winter. And during the day and noon time, sunburn could pose a serious threat. I learned my lesson to be able to tell you this. So, cover yourself properly and wear a hat when you go trekking next time!

 

He/She is handsome!