Yogyakarta to Probolinggo (10 hours)

From our hostel in Yogya, we took a 50-cent, 30-minute bus to the main bus station that would take us to Probolinngo, the transit point for Cemoro Lawang, where the volcano is.  

Erwan, from the Borobudur tour agency told us to watch out for pick-pockters on the bus to Probolinggo so we decided to sleep in shifts (kinda like how we had to do it on the Pilgrim in 4th grade ... which I think was a small form of child abuse to make a 9-year-old kid stand quietly for 2 hours on the deck of a freezing cold ship).  Anyway, we got on the bus (AC this time) at 4:15 and we're scheduled to get to Probolinggo at 2:00AM.

Josie decided to sleep first because she only got 20 hours of sleep the day before.  Right when she got comfortable, we heard two guys in the front of the bus singing and playing the guitar and I thought, "Not again!"  I thought this bus ride would be a repeat of yesterdays train ride.  But these guys actually sounded really good (for bus performer).  It sounded a bit like Mexican Pop, and you know me and my Mexican Pop.  I watched "My Name is Earl" on the plane from Malaysia to Jakarta so I thought I would play karma's game, so I gave them 1,000 rupiahs (about 10 cents) and talked to the guy a bit.  

He asked me where I was from, and I promptly answered "Japan" to which he responded, "すばらしい！"  He them counted "一、ニ、三、四、五."  I told him, "すばらしい！"  When he asked me my name, I told him "Lawrence," then realized it didn't sound very Japanese, so I said, "Takashi."  I forgot his name though, I think it was Jalin.  He left the bus at the next stop and said, "Obrigado Gozaimasu."  He was a funny guy.  Let's hope that karma liked that and we'll get to Cemoro Lawang safely.

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The sun sets around 5:30 on Java Island so it's only 6PM right now, but all 10 people on the bus are sleeping, but I still don't feel safe.   

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We stopped at the next station around 6:10, and as soon as the doors opened, a rush of sellers barged on ... I knew it!  All the stuff from the trains made it to the buses.  I could have gone pee here, but I wasn't sure how long normal pit stops are, and I didn't want them to leave without me, so I gauged it this time and figured I'd go at the next stop.  

2 hours later, still no stop.  It was maybe 8:30 and by this time, Josie had woken up, so I went to sleep.  I felt a slap on my leg, woke up, and went to the bathroom.  When I checked the time, it was 12:30.  The driver drove 6 hours without a stop!  Luckily, falling asleep made me forget, but poor Josie held it for 4 hours.  Now she's sleeping

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It's 1:30AM, we finally arrived, but the adventure is just starting ...