East Java

East Java might as well be paradise to me. With its many different waterfalls and mountains, it is my favorite place in the world. It can be difficult to navigate, but these are my three favorite destinations.

Four of my friends and I boarded a plane from Bali to Surabaya, after we landed, we met up with our driver. Traveling in East Java is more expensive than other islands as a driver is required to travel from destination to destination. Nevertheless, it is still very cheap and one of the most beautiful areas of Indonesia

The first stop was Mount Bromo, we watched an incredible sunrise. We hiked to the top and took tons of photos and videos. Unfortunately there was no low fog that morning so we decided to explore the valley and head to the south of East Java to prepare for our next day.

The following morning we went to visit two of my favorite waterfalls in the world. . When we arrived to the first waterfall, Tumpak Sewu, everything was very foggy at the top so we quickly decided to climb back down. It's a long walk down through a canyon but at one point you turn left and encounter one of the most incredible views you will ever see.

After spending our morning at Tumpak Sewu, we headed to the second waterfall, Kapas Biru, and again we found ourselves presented with incredibly stunning and beautiful vistas. The waterfall is very powerful and I advise you to be careful with your camera gear as the water destroyed my camera.

Finally, we visited the Ljen Crater which was so impressive we decided to hike it again the next day. The crater lake is also the site of a sulfur mining operation. The workers traverse the giant caldera two or three times a day, carrying 90kg on their backs!

Before we left, we couldn’t resist one last visit to Mount Bromo, where we enjoyed one last incredible East Java sunrise.

Tips:

* Indonesian food tends to be spicy, so be judicious when adding chilli condiments to your plate, or check first before placing your order if you can't take the heat

* There is no need to tip in Indonesia, but sometimes offering a small token can help make negotiations go smoother.

* Indonesia is a Muslim country so dress modestly and behave appropriately when in public, especially when visiting religious spots

* Keep an eye on your money - all those 0s can be a bit confusing and you might be handing out 100,000s instead of 10,000s if you're not watching closely

* The easiest way to get around is to hire a driver for a day - your hotel should be able to help you arrange this so you don't have to worry about bargaining on the go.

High above mount Ijen

Soaking it all in at Kapas Biru

36 waterfalls hidden deep in the valley