In Malang to arrange a tour up Mount Bromo, a nearby smoking volcano [photo]. However, found it’s a 4-5 hour round trip. Plus the tours leave very early in the morning to arrive for sunrise. Not particularly suitable for the kids or quite what we had in mind. So have written off the idea. On arrival, initial thoughts were it’s a pit. Thought we’d been sold short a recommendation by a recent Antipodean friend, Rachael, who’d lived here. But it’s grown on us, once we ventured out and explored. Glad we came. Not many tourists, we seem a curiosity, many looks and stares. No hassle though, a sure sign of the lack of tourists. Lots of smiles as it’s been throughout the trip. Ben’s getting fed up again with people touching him. He doesn’t like it. It’s rainy season, and like clockwork afternoons involve the most immense prolonged downpour. An absolute deluge. Yesterday got stuck in McDonalds for an hour before we could even consider crossing the road [photo]. Then merely to a shop to while away more time until the rain passed. Mornings are gloriously sunny. Walking the streets, happened upon a market. Unusual market, insects, grubs and other similarly strange items for sale [photo]. Saw maggots, ants, worms, grasshopper-cum-cockroach things, of which a number of people were buying a bag full. Couldn’t find out whether they were for human consumption or some other purpose. Had one guy grab my attention, and immediately produce a snake from under his jacket. I think I retained my calm, and managed a friendly decline of the offer. Some grim sights on the streets here too: a mum and dad giving their 5-6 year old daughter a cigarette to smoke, a dad with his deformed-headed daughter in arms. Not pleasant.