Travel Photo: Sulphur Miner from Kawah Ijen, Indonesia

Kawah Ijen or crater Ijen is the world’s most acidic lake. It is also a volcano and sulphur gas continues to show its face here at all times. But, it is not for this reason that Kawah Ijen is famous. It is instead of the sulphur miners who go into its bowels to collect sulphur for a living.


They wear no protection, they brave the poisonous sulphur gases, they solidify the liquid sulphur and carry more than their body weight to the dropping site which is about 5 kms away through narrow, steep and dangerous paths. And all this for a pittance of a pay. But, in spite of all this, they always seem to enjoy themselves a sport a broad smile. Wish I could do this. May be, I should stop complaining about how hard my life is!!