Any good for kids. 6 and 4?
I wasn’t there with kids but I would say there are probably better options available elsewhere.
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Tenby!
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Ah sorry! Thought you were replying to my other post.
Ye cracking place.
Get chips from Feccis, the blue ball does a good meal (up from the rugby club), so does the salt cellar on the front - under one of the hotels.
Suggestions for a trip during the holidays / new year?
Need nice beaches. Sunny weather. No rain. A little bit of nightlife and hopefully not much restrictions because of the pandemic / no quarantine.
Was thinking Punta Cana and a few days at Santo Domingo.
Try the north part of Tenerife.
Did that last February before covid hit, having a week in Peurto De La Cruz and it was great. Not overly busy, but busy enough to keep myself amused and warm during the day, with nights being slightly cool but only needing jeans and a jacket on 1 night, the rest of the time a tshirt with a jacket incase was enough
Done the Atlantis Bahamas twice, fabulous for kids and adults alike. Not cheap mind.
cough Dubai cough
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I’m the opposite to you. Ski resort for me.
We’re lucky here in Wales, we have fabulous beaches already and for me a ski holiday beats pretty much all others. The scenery, excuse to eat loads, feeling of being able to explore, and of course being active most of the day rather than and oiled up whale on a chair at the beach.
There’s just something about it for me.
Anyone can tell me the place for this picture in Wales? I took this in 2016, I remember it was like some sort of dam in between my drive from Swansea to Bets-Y-Coed. I love the colors but now struggles to remember the name.
Craig Goch Dam in Elan Valley ?
Hmmm does not ring a bell…I went to look at it in google and there seems to be some part that looks like it but I am not exactly sure but the geography looks about right…Thanks!
I was a few days in the mountains last week. This pic is from the internet, but we were at this place, and it looked pretty much like that (the mountain at the back is the Dent Blanche, 4’357 meter above sea level). Incredible weather to walk around and enjoy the landscape, we were lucky.
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The current tragedy at Malang’s Kanjuruhan Stadium has got me to reflect on my half dozen or so trips over the previous 3 decades.
I mentioned a bit of my last visit of five and a half year ago to that wonderful little city in the Breaking News thread.
That was a 5-day sojourn to Surabaya, Probolinggo & Malang in Indonesia’s East Java province. I was part of a media group that include mainstream newspapers; fully sponsored by the Indonesian Tourism Ministry.
Here is my article published in the Indo Connect magazine. It is but a 30% shortened version of the 4,000 words longish piece I wrote for a friend’s blog.
I’ll look for it later and serialise it here unless there are violent objections. 
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Would/can you share the link? The writings aren’t clear.
I don’t have the soft copy of the mag’s article which is only a condensed version of 30% of the full one.
As said, I’ll serialise the entire 4,000-word article at a later date, subject of couse to no raising of violent objections. 
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This is my 4,000 words report on the March 2016 media trip to Surabayta, Probolinggo & Malang. As it’s too long, I’m breaking it up into several parts to be posted on the next few day, at most.
Although it was years ago, time almost stand still at this little city so most of the places are on the whole relevant. There will surely be new developments but slow and steady.
Here we go.
Part 1
A Sponsored Media Trip to WonderfuI Indonesia’s East Java
Sweeping caldera, crater perpetually emitting sulfurous plume, eco & agro tourism destinations, vast fruit plantation, huge antique car collection, mini universal studio theme park wannabe and more. That’s what the compact group I was with encountered during our recent trip to the Bermuda, oops I mean the “SurProMal” or Surabaya-Probolinggo-Malang “triangle”.
AT THE INVITATION OF THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA IN SINGAPORE AND THE VISIT INDONESIA TOURISM OFFICE – SINGAPORE, I EMBARKED ON A 5-DAY, INDONESIAN TOURISM MINISTRY SPONSORED VISIT TO EAST JAVA ON THE LAST DAY OF MARCH 2016. IN THE PARTY WERE EIGHT OTHER LADIES AND GENTLEMEN FROM VARIOUS MEDIA ENTITIES IN SINGAPORE AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INDONESIAN EMBASSY.
WE LANDED AT SURABAYA JUANDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AFTER A PLEASANT DIRECT GARUDA BOEING 737-800 FLIGHT. AS OUR TAKEOFF IN CHANGI ENCOUNTERED A LITTLE DELAY, TWO OTHER GROUPINGS FROM KUALA LUMPUR AND PENANG WERE WAITING FOR US IN THE COACH FOR THE RIDE TO TOWN; FOR SUPPER AND THEN CHECKING IN FOR THE NIGHT. (AS I DIDN’T LUG AROUND A CAMERA AND USED THE HANDPHONE’S PICTURE-TAKING FUNCTION ONLY SPARINGLY, A GOOD HANDFUL OF THE IMAGES HERE – AS INDICATED BY THE INITIALS M.O. – ARE COURTESY OF MICHAEL OZAKI, A VETERAN PHOTOJOURNALIST).
A giant king-sized bed in a room with a view all to myself for my first night; in Indonesia’s second largest city, Surabaya. Unfortunately, as time was at a premium, I had not the opportunity to enjoy the nightscape and the hotel facilities.
Sampoerna Museum. First stop in the morning was at the old quarters of north Surabaya’s House of Sampoerna Museum. Now, as a lifelong nonsmoker, I don’t condone smoking as it is detrimental to health and also a significant drain on the pocket, what with the stratospheric duties on tobacco products in the Little Red Dot. With that disclaimer – well, sort of – out of the way, this imposing 1862 Dutch colonial compound began life as an orphanage. PT. HM Sampoerna, founded by Liem Seeng Tee, acquired the place in 1932 to greatly expand the production of its very popular brand of Dji Sam Soe (meaning 234) kretek (cloves) infused cigarettes.
To commemorate the company’s 90th anniversary 13 years ago, the delightful little museum was set up for the public to enjoy an insight into Sampoerna’s history and its cigarettes production. Besides the obvious mandatory tobacco related displays, it showcased the common things of everyday life in the bygone era as lived by the founder and his family. Of interest are the antiquated postal paraphernalia, ancient bikes of both the human and gasoline powered varieties and the elaborate clothes worn by the ladies back in the early days.
A souvenir shop, café and art gallery complemented the visitors’ oddity experience. Wait, there’s more; a large factory floor at the rear, viewable through a panoramic glassed partition on the second level accord a bird’s eye peep into the labour-intensive making of the cigarettes. Almost five hundred uniformed workers in neat rows of assembly lines dexterously hand-rolled the non-filter baccy at an incredible speed that rival Wong Fei Hong or Ip Man’s lethal strikes. At an average output of three thousand per person, that’s one and a half million a day of cancer causing pleasure sticks! If you wish to wantonly puff away your health, a 12-pack costs a street price of only 12,000 Rupiahs or 10 Singapore cents a “death stick” which is one fifth the going price in our Lion City.
Some of us at the museum entrance. M.O. 
An information board inside the museum.
Bejay Bakau Resort. Hitting the road for a two hour plus ride, we lunched at the ecotourism facility adjacent to the harbour of Probolinggo City. Shipping romantics can feast on the sight of old but functioning gaily painted wooden hulled schooners and small likewise built fishing boats. BJBR, as commonly referred to, features an artificial inland beach play area for a host of fun activities for the young and young-at-heart.
The airy restaurant serves a good variety of Indonesian and sea food. Getting to fill the stomach there entails a lovely stroll along boardwalks through a dense canopy of mangrove branches. The 2 kilometre network of wide elevated wooden path over the mangrove forest, parts of which are bicycle friendly, offers a back-to-nature experience. For a little break from the exploring, stop by the little café for a quick drink and bite.
Dessert time after the main dishes at the BJBR’s breezy resto by the sea. Pic courtesy of Hosea Richardo. 
If the witnessing of one sunrise at Bromo is not enough, staying at one of its ten(for now) bungalow guesthouses with glassed walls in their North, East and West sides offer another dawn view, this time over a watery horizon, in air-conditioned comfort. Each single-level spacious unit normally takes two persons but with extra optional beds, six adults can still be filled. They all stand supported by solid looking concrete pillars in the lapping sea. All of them face north, with the mangrove trees guarding the back. Construction of a handful of double storied suites was observed to be in their final stages of construction.
It’s a good place for small meetings, conventions and retreats…and to relax. Don’t stay just one night; its not enough.https://translate.google.com.sg/translate?hl=en&sl=id&u=Wisata Probolinggo - BeeJay Bakau Resort Pantai Probolinggo - Resort Family Jawa Timur
Some additional BJBR suites under construction for the resort’s expansion. M.O. 
to be continued… …
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This is my 4,000 words report on the March 2016 media trip to Surabayta, Probolinggo & Malang. As it’s too long, I’m breaking it up into several parts.
Here we go.
Part 2
Mount Bromo. The high point of the trip, in both the literal and figurative senses of the word, is the pre-dawn ascent to the Mount Penanjakan lookout to witness the sunrise to the east of the famous mildly active Mount Bromo volcano. The popular vantage point – at 2,770 metres or almost 9,100 feet elevation is higher than Bromo proper’s 2,329 m or 7,639 ft – would present the viewer with a clear look, weather permitting, of the sun rising over the far horizon to the left. Bromo, named after the Hindu deity Brahma and arguably Indonesia’s most famous fire-mountain, with its signature thick column of climbing white plume would be impressively visible in a surrounding sea of mist with the ever brightening sky.
The crash pad that served as our late night rest and transit point before embarking on the last legs to the lookout area. It ain’t no Hilton but as a barebones place for a shower before & after the final ascent, and with only two hours for a quickie nap, what’s the issue?
What’s cooking? With an intense look of concentration, the barbecue chef carves up a whole roasted lamb that comprise part of our dinner. Not for the health conscious – cue carcinogens, but who cares?
Sinfully delicious!
We embarked on the last leg up to the lookout before 3am from a midway hotel in Ngadisari, on a 4×4 jeep which is the only vehicle type allowed, aside from motorbikes. The short drive was up tight hairpin bends on a narrow mountainside road, then a smooth passage through a sandy plain and again shooting up even more hair-raising steeper meanders on asphalt.
Our thirtyish driver was one cool dude, a strong silent type with the occasional hint of a smile. He handled the rugged vehicle like an extension of his sinewy body. The only words he uttered; after a controlled spin from the first nasty bend, was a concerned “Is it ok?” in response to the light squeals from the three lady passengers behind. Me calling him Lewis Hamilton brought the closest approximation of a grin from his otherwise stoic demeanor.
The final stretch was by foot power on a moderately inclined slope and a long flight of stairs. We arrived at the peak before the ever-thickening throng of crowds and were able to secure choice spots at the railings and the apex. The first discernible pre-dawn streaks of saturated orange and blue hues greeted us at about a quarter to five. Ten minutes later, the tentative rays that herald the arrival of Apollo’s (sun god of Greek mythology, among other portfolios) charge began the light show. We linger around for the next hour to witness the slowing emerging majesty of Bromo as the sun progressively lighted up its spectacular visage.
The sun creeping up over the horizon…… 
And there it burst forth……the rays of the rising sun.
Part of the hordes watching and shooting………… 
High living. To the general east of Bromo, at almost the same elevation, nestled a human settlement among the morning clouds. Village life up there might be idyllic but there’s always an element of health risk – however low – from the constantly emitting volcanic ashes, particularly during heightened phases coupled with adverse prevailing winds. Still, the hardy inhabitants are rooted there, some for generations and it would take more than a few occasional mighty puffs of sulfur to dislodge them. Anyway, for what its worth, there are currently about half a billion people living near active volcanoes all over the world. M.O. 
View from side window of the down-slope meandering jeep.
Besides Mount Penanjakan, there are at least five other observation stations easily accessible to the public. For groups, it is advisable to avail the services of a local tour agency for transport and accommodation arrangements, but adventurous independent travelers could make the trip with a little prior fingerwork on the keyboard.
On the return journey, we stopped at the Cemoro Lawang Sea of Sands in the Tengger Caldera. This was the flat sandy plain we passed through in the dark hours earlier. Surrounded by mountain walls on all sides, horses, ponies and donkeys graze lazily on the lush verdant grass on our left. The vast expanse of grey volcanic soil on our right is the way to the climb up the crater rim of Bromo, passing by an old Hindu temple complex.
At the Sea of sands. The zigzagging trail from behind the temple lead up to the rim of the Bromo crater. M.O. 
The horsemen of the Apocalypse? M.O. 
Bromo has been active for the past hundreds of years, with the most recent eruptions in 2004, 2010, 2011 & 2015. However, human causalities are rare, with most serious suffering being from sometimes copious volumes of ejected ash which does cause collateral damages. Still, its generally safe to visit; just check the news and updates before planning a trip there.
We were there in the morning of April 2nd and we didn’t encounter any untoward incident. Increased volcanic activity must have started shortly after we left the vicinity. Lucky us! This is a later report from a monitoring facility; the Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre: Based on satellite images, wind data, and ground report, during 2-5 April ash plumes from Tengger Caldera’s Bromo cone rose to altitudes of 2.1-3.6 km (7,000-12,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 25-45 km SW and W.
Getting ready to set off towards Malang after the descent and breakfast. Nicely cold and misty! 
to be continued… …
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Fuck, some one the landscape is just mind-blowing. Is that pig or lamb?
Lamb