X5 scales the heights of Mount Bromo

Located in East Java, Indonesia, Mount Bromo is an active volcano that has erupted no fewer than four times in the past decade - the most recent being January 2011. With its name spawned from the Javanese pronunciation of Brahma - the Hindu God of Creation - we reckon it carries an almost similar level of reverness and worship. 

Hence, like a well-blended glass of cocktail, our emotions were filled with a concoction of excitement, respect and fear.

But before we knew it, we were already heading down South to this place of holy significance. 

We arrived in Surabaya, Indonesia's second largest city with a hustling population of 3.1 million. The cityscape is nothing quite like the sterile, orderly scene in Singapore. Unfortunately, we can't say the same for the spanking new airport, which formed a stark contrast to the more desolate cityside.

It wasn't long before we settled down for lunch, where we were briefed on the journey's taking. The convoy of six will be made up solely by the X5 xDrive 35i - the most popular and top-selling variant of the family in Indonesia.

The drive to Mount Bromo took roughly four hours. As it was post-lunch, we found ourselves battling the 'Z' monsters by engaging our co-drivers in conversations. Needless to say, the sleep-inducing comfort of the X5 didn't make that any easier.

We always held the belief that a puny-sized vehicle will do better in city traffic. However, it works the opposite where we were. The massive body frame of the X5 puts off a commanding stance - one which helped to keep motorcycles and other traffic at a distance. And even when trapped in heavy traffic, we felt at ease at the wheel of the SUV.

After a couple of rest stops, we soon embarked on the final leg of the day's journey - a 2,000-metre climb to our night's rest stop. The challenging landscape, filled with equal amount of traffic, pot holes and steep ascents, naturally gave more meaning to the X5's empowering stance and dynamic performance.

And at the end of the day, we could easily say that the new X5 has captured the iconic Bavarian driving fun in a luxurious, can-go-anywhere capsule.
Next morning, the wake up call came at an ungratifying 3:15am but we were told that it's going to be all worth it. Picking ourselves out of bed, we grabbed a small bite before heading back into the X5, which felt like a 'second home' to us by then. Like the day before, the cabin provided refuge, only this time round, it was from the spine-chilling weather, rather than the rowdy traffic. Indeed, nothing beats a warm, cocoon-like cabin on a frosty morning.

We continued the climb to the vantage point. It was almost pitch dark, but the X5's HID headlamps reassured us by consistently illuminating and pointing to the right path. 

At the vantage point, the visible white vapour from our breath served as a reminder how cold it was, while we excitedly awaited the magical moment. Slowly but surely, the sky soon awakened to a dramatic purple-ish hue, hinting at the sunrise's approaching.

The breaking of dawn, too, unveiled a vista of the spectacular scenery.

Just as we thought the best show of the day was coming to an end, the foot of the mountain soon presented another fascinating view of what the landscape has to offer - a vast field of volcanic sand.

The 'Sea of Sand' is part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, which spans over an area of 800 square kilometres. In comparison, our red dot island measures just 716 square kilometres. We were also elated at the sight, knowing that we could finally stretch our feet (and the X5's) on the seemingly boundless plain.   

It also serves as a proving ground for the X5's xDrive all-wheel drive system, which distributes torque variably between the front and rear axle for the best traction.

This gives the X5 good grip on the soft sand, and the agility to change directions at the snap of a finger. Needless to say, we had the most fun plotting through small gradients in the sand dunes.

On the return leg of the journey, the X5s were once again packed like sardines among the heavy traffic. But we had it all good, chauffeured and nested in the back seats as we made our way to the airport. The founding member of the xDrive range has stayed true to its luxury roots, and we were there to experience it.

And with that, the adventure ended on yet another high note.