Kawa Ijen, located in west Java holds an impressive human story
deep inside this crater lies a wonderful turquoise acid lake, on the shore of the lake, work is constantly on progress
the sulfur provided by the volcano is exchanged in food, clothes and other goodas at a great cost
strongest of the locals carry it from a hellhole to the ridge and down again to the selling post
the strong workers can go down twice per day, being able to carry one load each time
the average life expectancy for "belarang" workers in Ijen rarely goes further than 50 years of age
young ones start to get burnt since their first load carried
an average load wights around 80kg, and values around 5 dollars; some men are proud to bring over 100 kg of sulfur in one load
silicosis, respiratory deficiency, broken bones and muscles, arthritis and more kill young and old alike; the air inside Kawa Ijen is unbreathable
to carry 80 kg of sulfur from "the hole" to the post takes around 4 hours of rough terrain
the mountain view brings heaven to this sulfurous burning hell
there is no question about it, they just have to go down
tourists are stunned by the spectacular view while workers search carefully for their next step
you can find them there, looking down, carrying around belarang with their backs
