[Indonesia] Trunyan

Trunyan is a small village at Bali island, Indonesia. This island is home to the vast majority of Indonesia's small Hindu minority. 93.18% of Bali's population adheres to Balinese Hinduism (A Shivaite sect). Bali is also the largest tourist destination in Indonesia and is renowned for its highly developed arts, including dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metal working and music.

Trunyan is an ancient village. It is located at the eastern shore of Lake Batur(Northern Bali). Trunyan is also a Bali Aga village. Bali Aga village is a village which inhabited by descendants of the original Balinese. Bali Aga are a unique ethnic group that still live and practise a way of life that pre-dates modern civilisation. They have pre-Hindu way of life with ancient, neolithic customs and a conscious avoidance of outside influences. The Bali Aga village are shut off by a solid wall surrounding the entire village.

The name "Trunyan" was derived from two words,
"Taru" and "Menyan".Taru means "tree" and Menyan means "nice smell". Menyan Tree, is a tree that is believed absorb a bad smell and produces fragrant smell. Trunyan people has an interesting culture. Unlike the Balinese people, the people of Trunyan do not cremate or bury their dead. They just lay the dead bodies out in bamboo cages on the ground to decompose (under Menyan tree). Their dead bodies are simply covered by white clothes. Trunyan people has 3 cemetries ("kuburan" in their language) at Kuban. One is for the normal dead, second is a cemetry for the children, and third for abnormal death such as fall from the tree, or certain sickness which is considered very dangerous. They also believe that there will be a disaster in the village, such as an earthquake, a volcanic eruption, or a land slide, if a woman comes to the cemetery while a corpse is being carried there. Thats why, The women of Trunyan are forbidden to go to the cemetery when a corpse is carried there. This village is also well-known for its Pancering Jagat Temple. but, sadly visitors are not allowed to enter.

Trunyan people has two 'castes', the Banjar Jero ("inside" banjar) and the Banjar Jaba ("outside" banjar). The Banjar Jero are the descendants of rulers, so they are the upper castes. While, The Banjar Jaba are the descendants of the people, who were ruled by the Banjar Jero. Their castes are not based on the Hindu ideas of purity. This caste system is an important example of when outside influence actually did affect the life of the Trunyan people.

In the past, tourist were recommended not to visit Trunyan village. But, today Trunyan is a real tourist trap. Getting to Trunyan village approximately for about two hours drive north-east of Denpasar (the capital city of Bali province). Then, we must accros Lake Batur by boat. It takes about half an hour in the calm waters.