AreWeDreaming

The small village of Trunyan in Bali is home to the Bali Aga, the original inhabitants of the island. On the east shore of volcanic Lake Batur in the centre of the island the villagers lay their dead to rest above ground, protected beneath bamboo cages, in a cemetery reachable only by boat. The fragrant scent of the large tree that dominates the cemetery masks the smell as the bodies are reclaimed by the wind. Traditionally only men are allowed to accompany the bodies to their final resting place and after the ceremony is complete they swim back to the village… Once the bodies are reduced to skeletons the bones are collected and stacked up on a stepped altar, and room is made for the next occupants. More information here on WonderfulBali.