What we write about
We start with the places we know best, around Banyuwangi and Ijen on the eastern tip of Java, and move outward one place at a time. We write a full guide for a place before we move on, and we choose topics by what travellers actually need to decide: how to get there, when to go, what it costs, what can go wrong.
How we check facts
- Official sources first: park authorities, ferry and transport operators, government notices.
- Then reputable press and recent traveller reports, to see how things work in practice.
- Where we can, we check on the ground.
- Figures that are old or disputed are given with their year and source, not as today's fact.
- Every news item lists its sources on the page.
Dates you can trust
Every guide shows when it was published, when it was meaningfully updated, and when its practical facts (prices, hours, rules) were last checked. We revisit practical guides regularly. Closures and changes go out as news with a timestamped log, and a notice appears on the guides for that place while they apply.
Corrections
If something is wrong or out of date, tell us through the contact page. We check it, fix the page and update its date. When a correction changes advice you may have acted on, we say what changed.
Money and independence
Some links earn a commission, which keeps the site free. It never decides what we recommend: if the best option pays nothing, we still link to it. No business can pay for a place in a guide, a better ranking or a softer review. Read the affiliate disclosure.
Tools we use
We use software to help with research, drafting and checking, including AI writing assistants. They never have the last word: every fact is checked against its sources and every piece is reviewed by a person before it is published. We do not publish invented experiences or quotes.
People and photos
We do not photograph or name people without their consent, and we take extra care with workers and communities who are often photographed without being asked. Our own photos are used wherever we can; any other photo is credited with its licence.