Taru Menyan

Mystery. Like a yesterday.

A name of a Tree.

Luster.

Fragrant.

Sacred.

Scared.

Love story.

Obsession.

Lost.

Escape.

Edit.

Life has come to end, when you are in love. Nothing can express that.

A story about lost in love. A man who seek for the meaning of living.

Once he covered a beautiful smell from far far away. He and his 2 brother and sister walk down so far to find “where is this smell come from”. And then, they was landed at the edge of a lake. Magnificent lake, with deep green water, try to say something to them.

He was alone walking in to the jungle on this square. Find out the most beautiful creature ever. A woman. Dark black hair like night. White yellow porcelain skin like the sun light. Deep sight of the eyes. Pink red roses lips. Smile at him. His heart was stop at that point of time. Fell in love with her.

She was there, starred at him with her wide eyes. He couldn’t help it. He just want to be with her tonight. So there was. At the jungle. 2 beautiful creatures were making a beautiful love.

He decided to marry her. And they live together at the vanilla scent jungle, full of Taru Menyan trees. Taru Menyan is the name of the tree, which produce the smell he look for all this time. This tree has only lived at this land, at the edge of the lake. They live a kingdom there in the jungle.

The king was afraid, “What if someone know about this tree?”

“They must have come and try to thugs ravage this beautiful kingdom!”

“I want to save this land. And make a statue of us together. So everyone know about us, who will always protect this land.”

“So this land will be save and have our history forever and ever”

To answer his fears. The queen asked every land people to bring dead bodies and put them under the trees. So nobody can smell the beautiful vanilla scent. And this tradition has been exist until today.

People have put dead bodies under the tree. And let the tree breathe the smell of the corpse.

The king and beautiful queen transformed into Bhatara, which protect the land. A growing rock. Sacred. Pure energy. People respect them with their heart, put them at the highest, cleanest place at the land. Covered with beautiful Pura.

There is a history we need to know about places. About people. About tradition.

It is not only about taking pictures.

World is a wide place and we cannot win that place.

We can only learn about her. Ask about her. Ask her to teach us how to live.

101 years old woman, one of the people.

Holy water an Canang which escort each of the Pura.

Green water from Lake Batur.

Mount Batur at the edge of the lake.

Welcome to the grave yard.

Pure body (1)

Pure body (2)

Pure body (3) - only 1 month placed at the yard.

*this journey has always remind about life and death. We will not stay here forever. Shall us do good things only?

Balinese should call this "berkarma" (when you do good things you will get good return and vice versa).

*Trunyan cemetery has been divided into 4 grave yard: (1) The yard for pure people (those who life and die with normal ways). (2) The yard for those who die from accident and lost part of their bodies. (3) The yard for the orphaned. (4) The yard for babies who has not even born to the universe.