The Mystical Kawah Putih

Kawah Putih is a crater lake located at Ciwidey - 2 hours or 50 kilos from Bandung city (minus the heavy traffic jam!) To get here, you better be waking up early! It is quite scenic and you have to go pass through meander roads up to the mountains. Luckily, our driver is an expert :D

 

We have to walk up from the parking lot for about 10 minutes to the crater location. And here we are!

It was raining heavily in Kawah Putih when we arrived. Everybody was wearing sweater or jacket, or anything to keep the body warm. Plus, an umbrella which could not really do its job to cover us from the heavy rain :D

Getting near the crater lake. I could smell the sulfur and you can tell it's highly acid!

The sulfur acid pH is said to be about 0.5 - 1.3 - creating bluish to whitish green lake.

It is chilly up here but visitors seem not to care about the weather :D

This is an area situated near the crater. Somehow, it's creepy like an abandoned place :D

Essential Tips to Kawah Putih (during rainy season):

Of course, the best time to visit Kawah Putih is during summer. During this season, you can take great pictures (without the creepy background of mist covering the area like those in mine!). 

Yeah, but really, if you have to go during the cold season, this is what you need:

1. If you travel during rainy season, better be prepared with rain coat or umbrella. I actually prefer raincoat because by then, your hands are free from holding umbrella, and you can take pictures :D Just make sure to protect your camera :D

2. Wear something warm. Long pants, sweater, jacket or anything. Trust me, it's chilly up there!

3. The entrance fee is Rp. 15,000,- per person. You can either use your car or park it on the lot and take Ontang Anting - a small shuttle that carries up to 8 persons up to the crater lake. You need to pay additional cost of Rp. 13,000,- per person and it can take up to 7 persons. 

Ontang-Anting

4. Due to the highly acid lake, bring a mask or you can buy it on the spot, it's Rp. 5.000,- each.

4. Bring extra pants and shirts in case you get all wet but you still want to continue your trip somewhere.  (I didn't :( )