Taman Ayun, the Water Temple at Mengwi, is very attractive,
peaceful place. Built on rising grass slopes and partly surrounded
by a wide moat, it is spacious and almost trim in a way that
is nit very characteristic of Balinese temples. As if to establish
this garden-like quality, there is a pool with fountain in
it on the left as you enter the first compound.
In the second compound, in the bottom left-hand corner, is
small tower that can be climb; the top provides a good viewpoint
for photos of the temple and its watery surrounds. Immediately
below, gnarled frangipani trees exhibit their fabulous blossoms.
The last or inner court contains ten very fine meru, the
tall tiered towers thatched in black ijuk, a fiber derived
from the sago palm. The number of tiers is always uneven,
as with tiers on the cremation towers. Here the tallest have
11.
The
inner court also contain a fine stone padmasana, in effect
a giant and highly ornate chair on which it is hoped unseen
supreme God will deign to sit on days of high festival. The
back of the chair is oriented toward Mt.Agung. Also notable
is an ornate brick and stone shrine with thatched roof on
the left. At the corner of each base is a carving of Garuda
attacking Naga. The entire inner court is surrounded by a
miniature walled moat that echoes the great moat that nearly
encircles the temple as a whole.
To the left of the upper part of Taman Ayun is lush, overgrown
area, abandoned to nature and silent except for the chirping
of insect. It is a place for the poetic moment and for thought
such as that somewhere, somehow it may be possible to be happy.
With its spaciousness and lily-covered waters, Taman Ayun
is itself naturally host to such thoughts.
