In a village called Wanua Uner, lived a pair of husband and wife, Pontohroring and Mamalauan, respectively. They had been married for a long time, but they had not got any children. Despite their old age, they still had a hope that one day they would get children. “What are you doing, dear?” Pontohroring asked his wife, Mamalauan, one afternoon. “Oh.... Look at this! I’m making a shir…
It was a fine day. The sun shone brightly and the sea water was blue and clear. The white sands on the beach were greeted by the rolling waves, whose sound mixed with the cries of the seagulls. It was such a beautiful scene. However, the group of men could not enjoy such beauty. They were busy felling coconut trees and cutting mangroves. They did not fell randomly; instead, they selected onl…
On a fine morning, as the winds blew softly touching the leaves and the colourful flowers in the garden at Kadipaten (a region ruled by an adipati) Surabaya, some flowers were red, some yellow, and some others white, increasing the beauty and coolness of the garden, the cheerful voices of the princess and her maids could be heard from a distance. That fine morning, they were busy making crow…
This is the graceful land they speak of, the land surrounded by a vast and clear, turquoise ocean. The sands are yellowish white like shiny pearls under the sun light, with the sea waves gently breaking on the shore. On one side of the island is a stretching ridge of towering rocks, while the other side is a lush mangrove forest, home to spawning crabs and fish. Along the coast, windswept co…
The amber glow of twilight dimmed as it bade farewell to the dusk, ushering the coming of night. Leaves were bowed and limp, as if exhausted from having spent the day in the company of the sun. The birds had stopped chirping, retiring one after the other to their nests. Once in a while the flapping of bat wings could be heard as they flew over the house where Sasandewini and Suntre lived. The…
It was almost dusk, and the sun had just greeted the western horizon. Buffaloes and cows over the dried rice paddies were approaching a hamlet in the Priangan realm. Shepherds played merrily in the vast rice paddies. The squeal and the moos of the buffaloes and cows described the serenity and peace of the village. Smoke puffed from the roofs of the houses that looked like a giant’s cigaret…
Jaka Prabangkara was the son of the King of Majapahit, Prabu Brawijaya V, born to a commoner. The king had met Prabangkara’s mother when he was in disguise as a commoner in order to know the lives of his subjects beyond the palace’s walls. When he was disguised in commoner outfit, he was accompanied by his two most loyal aides, Semut and Gatel. After some tour to inspect the real situation …
There was once a kingdom in the depth of a forest named the Jungle Kingdom. It was inhabited by all creatures but the human beings. Despite the fact that it had been inhabited by beasts and plants, the inhabitants acted as though they were human. Though each kind of animals had its own king, the highest power of the kingdom was invested in their Supreme Ruler, King Mouse-deer.
Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a kingdom in Babolo ruled by King Babolo. The King lived with his wife and they had a pair of boy and girl. The elder, the boy, was named Madianggalang, and the younger, was named Vulangnembua. King Babolo was very much revered by his people for his just leadership. King Babolo cared about his people so much. If he found out his people were sick or…
Once upon a time, in Kampung Timbulon, there was an old woman who lived in a small shack. The shack was made of wooden boards and roofed with palm leaves. There were only guest room, bed room and a very cramped space one might call kitchen. The lawn of the shack was adorned by various kinds of colourful flowers. Tall trees grew next to the shack. Between those trees grew feral grass. From th…
There was once a boy named Ijo who lived with his grandmother, Nana Tupu, in Kampung Tanjung Babia, Mandar Pattae. When he was five, his parents set off for the Island of Borneo, leaving him behind. Ijo was much too young to remember any of it and he had never once asked Nana Tupu about his parents’ whereabouts. Though it was usually just the two of them, Ijo was never lonely. And neither was…
The wounded swordsman collapsed and stared up at the sky. His eyes always accidently met with the white clouds that looked like sitting cross-legged, with a wide blue background that stretched out. No breeze dared to move the position of the cotton white objects. The nature was silent. Between the blurred vision and the unfailing consciousness, Serunting's eyes saw the clouds resembling the h…
On the west coast of Biak Island there was a village called Sopen. The people lived in harmony and peace. To maintain their survival, every day they worked in the garden. Behind Kampung Sopen there were three towering mountains called Mount Yamnaibori, Sunbiyabo, and Manswarbori by the local people. In Yamnaibori Mountain lived a young man named Yawi Nusyado. He was very handsome and his bod…
King Arya Seta looked uneasy. He had just walked back and forth in his room since in the morning. He did not want to be disturbed. He had ordered everyone in the palace not to disturb him all day. No one questioned King Arya Seta's order because they understood his feeling. He was thinking about the fate of a young man who was fighting in a cave of the foot of Mount Arga Dumadi. Whatever the o…
Kampung Seberang was located on a clear, watery seafront. White sand spread along the beach. The palm trees waved in the wind. The fishing boats leaned before and after catching fish in the sea. The residents of Kampung Seberang lived a simple life. Their houses had poles that were high enough so that tidal water did not enter their homes. The pillars of the house were made of solid wood. Th…
There was once a kind-hearted bird called Bayan in this story. Bayan was the name of a bird that could speak, very kind, and possessed such commendable qualities as human beings. He was also good at telling about all things that contained wisdom for anyone who heard it. The content of the story was usually useful advice, especially for humans, such as stories about children who must respect …
Once upon a very prosperous time, there lived a grandmother with her granddaughter, Kirana. They lived on the border of a village with some neighbours around the house. Every day, after school, Kirana always helped her grandmother keep the rice in the rice fields. Kirana's grandmother would soon harvest so that the paddy had to be guarded from the birds. Makeshift food supplies were always bro…
Andini jumped over two steps with a sobbing breath. In her heart, she blamed herself. In fact her mother had awakened her so many times to quickly prepare herself. Andini had just opened her eyes, peering at the clock in her room. "Ah. It’s 04.00 o’clock, still too early," she muttered as she hugged her pillow and faced the wall. It was her fault. Andini was forced to rush when her mother w…
The rice expanse is yellow like a giant rug. It stretched over the valley of Bukit Resam. The rustling of the wind and the waving of the tree branches made the morning more and more cheerful. A cool mountain breeze and dew drops in the leaves were still very clear dangling the morning light. There was a golden glow rising from the east of Bukit Resam indicating an owl's chirp had been replaced…
The morning sunshine swept Kampung Separi in Tenggarong, Kutai. The shady village with all kinds of trees made its own elegance for every eye looking at each corner of the village. Rows of hills like sleeping giant ranks slipped into their own power for everyone who saw. Especially for anyone who woke up during the morning greeted after a full day of activity from the clatter of life, slashi…
The land of Mandar was endowed with tremendous gift from The Most Benevolent. There were rice fields with yellowing ripe rice and dense forest on the hill and mountain. The sea on the coast of Mandar was also rich in fish. Nature has sufficed the needs of human inhabiting the land of Mandar. The people of Mandar showed their gratitude by working on the gifts. The farmers worked hard on the ri…
Dauppare was a pretty girl. She was fair-skinned, tall, and slim. She carried herself with a humble personality. Dauppare was the only child of a wealthy couple. Her parents owned vast fields, where they planted fruits and paddy, in several places. Dauppare and her parents were known to be generous people, particularly to the poor people around them. Even though she was born with a silver spo…
In a village in Batubara Regency, North Sumatera Province, there once lived a married couple. They led a normal life, like everyone else in the village. They earned their living by farming, cultivating their fields every day with the man’s parents. Their happiness was complete when the wife gave birth to a boy. They became parents. They named the boy Tador. He was a cute, healthy baby. As h…
Bungbulang Village is located on the south part of Garut Regency, close to the Indian Ocean. Bungbulang village has beautiful scenery. In fact, Garut Regency is famous for its beautiful nature. When creating Garut, God must have been smiling. Garut Regency is comprised of flatlands and mountains, as well as a stretch of beach on its southern part. Natural resources are plenty in Garut, from its…
King Bidarba sat on his throne and coughed, one hand over his mouth. For the last few months, a putrid smell wafted and lingered in the air around the palace. The smell became worse and worse every day. As the air smelled worse, the palace of Madura Kingdom became more restless. A lot of people who lived or worked in the palace began to feel uncomfortable. The King himself spent more time hun…
Centuries ago, on the banks of Musi River, there was a prosperous kingdom called Palembang. It was a lush, prosper, and peaceful land with quite dense population. Palembang was a sultanate, led by Prince Riyo. Prince Riyo was known to be handsome and strong. He was a master of martial arts. Prince Riyo was the firstborn of the Sultan of Palembang. Unfortunately, Prince Riyo had not had a wife. …
Sungai Tolang is a jorong, a village, in Minangkabau. Beyond jorong is nagari, the district. Jorong Sungai Tolang is a part of Nagari Tareh in Limopuluah Kuto Regency, West Sumatera Province. The native people of Limopuluah Kuto Regency belong to a cultural group called Minangkabau. Minangkabau people are proud that they are ‘people with culture’ and that their land is ‘a land of culture…
Haruku Village was a peaceful and happy village. The people lived in harmony with each other. When a villager had a misfortune, the others would immediately help him. Haruku Village also had an abundance of natural resources. The forest and the sea provided everything that the people needed. Most of Haruku people earned a living by farming. They usually cleared a little piece of land in the for…
The birds chirped happily, welcoming the sun. The breeze swayed the yellowing paddy stalks on the field. Water flowed from the spring in the mountains, following every bend of the rivers. That was how it was in the beautiful land of Sunda, a land surrounded by mountains. In the land of Sunda, with its cool air and beautiful mountainous scenery, there was a kingdom called Galuh Kingdom. It was …
Thousands of years ago, Bangka Island was mesmerizingly beautiful. On its fertile land, myriad kinds of trees and plants thrived, creating a lush green scenery as far as one could see. Fair white sand adorned its beaches, clear blue water filled its seas. Looking at the calm sea, one would always find tranquility. The sound of crashing waves was a beautiful song in the quiet island. Its beaut…
Once upon a time, there lived a boy in Sangkan Gunung Village. He was called I Tundung. When he was six, his father passed away. Since then, he lived only with his mother who loved him very much. Wherever she went, I Tundung was always there. They were inseparable. After he lost his father, I Tundung grew up under his mother’s compassionate care. One day, his mother took I Tundung to the mar…
Arung Paria Kingdom was led by a very wise king. He was just and strict in ruling his subjects. Anyone who broke the law would receive punishment proportionate to their crime. Thus, all his subjects were afraid to break any rules. They became lawful citizens because they knew how strict their king was. Arung Paria King had two children, a boy and a girl. Everyone called them the Prince and the…
The sun had just risen on the east. A column of smoke rose to the air at the top of a mountain. That smoke meant that people lived there. On the mountain, the Blackwood trees thrived. Blackwood trees, sometimes were also called Ebony, were unique to Sulawesi. Some of the trees were tall and big, some were shorter with dense foliage. These trees formed a dense forest on the mountain. On the tr…
In Kulisusu Island, there was a vast forest. Many kinds of animals lived there, including monkeys, Sarere birds, cranes, ants, snakes, and worms. These animals were all friends and often talk to each other. The island was surrounded by beautiful sea. The sand on its beach was shimmering white; it was so clean. The air was fresh. The sound of waves crashing on the sand was like music. The waves…
Once upon a time, there was a kingdom on Kaili Land called Bulava Kingdom. Bulava Kingdom was ruled by a just and wise king. The people in the kingdom shared a strong sense of solidarity. They always helped each other and lived peacefully together. Bulava Kingdom was located on a beautiful hill. The scenery was captivating in almost every corner of the kingdom. The beauty of Palu Cove could be…
Besemah was a tribe that lived in the valley of Dempo Mountain, now Pagaralam City, South Sumatera. This area was part of the vast Suwarnabumi Island (now is called Sumatera). The area where Besemah tribe resided was called Besemah Land. The tribe referred to themselves as jeme (the people of) Besemah. The Valley of Dempo Mountain was a highland with cool air, fertile land, and clear rivers. I…
The afternoon was clear. The children in Tampeuyan Village were playing outside. For the past few days, they had been cooped up inside because the rain had kept pouring. A clear afternoon like this was too good an opportunity to miss. Kosim ran as fast as he could, pursuing his friends. He only needed to touch one of them. Playing ‘It’ in the afternoon was a habit of those children. Every…
Once upon a time in Talang Siambul, Indragiri Hulu Regency, Riau Province, there lived a man and his wife. They were known as Mr. and Mrs. Sardim. They lived in a village along with other families. Their house was tiny. Its walls were made of tree barks and its roof was of palm leaves. It was built on a stilt, a common practice in the area, so that wild animals would not be able to attack the…
One night, our grandfather told us about a land. The land we know not yet. On the mainland of Sumatra, there was an area surrounded by mountains. It had cool air. When night approached, the area was misty white as if wrapped in cotton. In the morning, the dew-covered leaves looked wet. In a sloping valley the sound of gurgling water was heard from a stream. When exposed to sunlight, the clear w…
A mountain stood tall in the distance. White clouds covered its peak. Anyone who ever stood at the peak of that mountain would feel like they were floating (manglayang) above the clouds. That was why the local people called it Manglayang Mountain. Every people took care of the environment around Manglayang Mountain. They put a taboo on cutting the trees on and around the mountain. They only us…
Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Burinaga, reigned a wise and prudent king. Under his leadership the people in the kingdom could enjoy labor and had prosperous, safe, and peaceful life. Unfortunately for the king, his life was incomplete because he had not had a child, a successor for his throne. Many ways to seek the cause and to have a child had been done to no avail. “I wish I can have…
Once upon a time, when the earth was still full of wilderness, clear flowing rivers, and beautiful scenery, there was a great kingdom on the Land of Anoa ruled by a king called Lakinolipu. He was known for his integrity, and thus respected by his friends and opponents. During his reign, the people lived in peace and serenity. He never hesitated to find a way in solving the problems faced by h…
In a seaside village, its dwellers who mainly worked as fishermen had prosperous life. The sea provided them unlimited supply of fish. It was more than adequate for their own consumption, so they also sold it to other villages. The village was then known as fish producer. In addition to beautiful ocean, there was also a mountain called Mount Eriwakan in the village. The mountain possessed imme…
This is a story of a mother and her daughter, named Enten, who lived in a small hut, on a mungguk (hill) called Segasing Sebemban. The mungguk is in Tayan, Sangau Regency, West Kalimantan. It is located near the magnificent Tayan Palace and the so-called second longest bridge in Indonesia after Suramadu. Tayan is a hilly region with large branched river streaming through the valley. It is ble…
Sunny morning. The chirping of magpie marked people’s activity in Sebedang Village. Most of the villagers were on their way to their rice field. Some children came along helping their parents bringing farming supplies. Some of the children looked joyful chasing each other. What a bright morning in Sebedang Village! At the further end of the village, there lived a married couple named Tohari a…
The young man was stunned. He watched the watermelons, oranges, tomatoes, spinach, chili trees, and other plants were crumbled and scattered on the ground. It was as if a bunch of wild animals had been partying all night long there. "This is too much!" He said irritably. His face wrinkled with displeasure. Unconsciously he clenched his hands. He had lost patience with the destroyer. A few week…
From far away, a rumble of two fighting troops was heard. The sounds of flying arrows were also constantly heard. Occasionally there were flashes of fire from baras, typical swords of Dagho society, which clashed. Faint moaning sounds of humans hit by arrows and baras were also heard. The neighs of horses responding to each other accompanied their steps. Both forces continued to press forward…
Riri observed the man dressed in a black shirt who was talking to a large, tall foreigner wearing a uniform with red-white-and-blue sign on his left breast. The foreigner's hair was dark-blond and his eyes were blue, while the man in black shirt was only as tall as the foreigner’s shoulder. He was wearing a brown cot with a red line on his head. "They will try to attack Muko-Muko area tomorr…
Under the scorching sun, an elderly man staggered toward a tree that was almost dead. He had no choice but to rest for a moment in that place. His vulnerable body was propped against the large tree trunk. The old man's mind wandered into the past when his wife was alive. Since her death, the old man had had to support their son La Upe. To earn his livelihood, the old man could only sell grass a…
Once there was a fishing village located within the land of Wakat. The land was governed by a king named King Wadirah,renowned far and wide for his wisdom. He had four ministers who also served as his teachers. One day, when King Wadirah was having an audience withthe four teachers,the king said, ”O my ministers, I have heard of Mahsyud Hak's wisdom. I want to appoint him as minister so tha…