- 2022 - Indonesia - 

PHOTO REPORTAGE

[ Kawah Ijen, suffering for sulfur? ]

The alarm goes off just before midnight after a short hour of nap, ready to embark on a jeep journey to Kawah Ijen. This active volcano in eastern Java is renowned for its crater housing a turquoise blue acidic lake and its open-pit sulfur mines.

Under a starry sky at 2 a.m., we start our ascent up the steep path of the volcano. Our thighs burn, and there's a crowd, but we chat with the people we meet along the way, making the effort more enjoyable.

Once we reach the summit, we must then follow a narrow rocky trail to the crater, still in the darkness, to admire the blue flames produced by high-temperature sulfuric gases. This impressive phenomenon can only be observed at night. The significant smoke from these ignited gases is toxic, but a gas mask has been provided to protect us. Despite this, we cough, and our eyes tear up. The smell of sulfur is strong and quickly permeates our clothes... It's impossible to stay too close to the flames for too long!

In this harsh environment, we realize the extreme labor of the miners, most of whom are not wearing gas masks...

On the path, our guide warns us to step aside when sulfur carriers approach, struggling uphill with up to 80kg of sulfur blocks on their backs. It's an admirable work considering the conditions in which they have to make these round trips, putting their lives at risk...

As we ascend, the first light of day appears, and we can see the smiles of these workers in response to a simple greeting or a few exchanged words. I take this opportunity to capture these moments before reaching the summit and realizing how magical this place is due to its beauty and uniqueness! Another sleepless night that we won't forget anytime soon...