Mount Bromo (left) is an active volcano in East Java, Indonesia, belonging to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. The name ‘Bromo’ is derived from the Javanese pronunciation of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation.

Visitors usually stay in the tiny mountain hamlet of Cemoro Lawang. This was taken at sunrise from Mount Penanjakan (2,770 metres) just as the clouds swallowed the village.

Wrapped in a a colourful batik shawl, this lady made me coffee from her makeshift tent at 5.30am on the slopes of the mountain. I asked her if she slept in the tent and she looked at me like I was an idiot – telling me she had a house in the village below.

Her shop. Can you imagine having this view every morning? Although I don’t envy the walk to work.

Two men merging with the shadows of the early morning sun. Locals are up and about at sunrise: sitting about, talking, smoking.

At sunrise, the surrounding area changes with every passing minute: rays of light hitting different areas and mist rising through the trees. You can get a real sense of just how serene it is from the video below.

Down below the area is just as beautiful, but the lush greenery is replaced with stark volcanic desolation. I’ll be writing about the darker side of Mount Bromo soon: where I climbed the crater at midnight to take part in an unforgettable ceremony.