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…
One sunny morning, the cool air made its way lazily through the village of Pasirluhur and blanketed much of the surrounding countryside. The village, located in West Java, was very fertile, serene and was home to the friendliest people one could ever meet. The morning rays shining through the green of the trees, casting a golden glow on the rice paddies made Pasirluhur all the more beautiful. …
Since her husband’sdeath, the woman had to take care of and raise her two sons. Every day she had to work hard to support them. The two sons, Rojali and Somad, had already grown up. However, they were not mature yet. They had not come to realize that their mother was old. They were also poor. They only ate every other day. "Rojali and Somad, my sons," the mother said."Yes, Mom," replied Roj…
As the story goes, the Great Kingdom of Khairan Langkawi was famous in the four corners of the world. This kingdom, which was blessed with abundant natural resources, had vast fields, vegetable gardens, and orchards. The coastal areas that extended from west to east were so rich with various fish. The people lived in peace, prosperity, and happiness under the leadership of the Great King Bikr…
The Kingdom of Paguruyung was located in Benia City, Pagaruyung, West Sumatra. Despite the fact that it was led by a female leader, the Kingdom of Pagaruyung was famous and well respected by the leaders of the neighboring small kingdoms. Its people were living prosperously in their safe and peaceful country. The Lady King’s name was Putri Sangka Bulan. She had seven children, i.e. Sutan Ser…
In the hinterland of Kalimantan there was a village called Uteh Village, which was said to be located not far from Melawai River, in such a scenic plain. On the outskirts of the village, there was a simple house where an elderly widow and her two daughters lived. The eldest daughter’s name was Tima, while the youngest one’s name was Numa. The elderly widow’s name was Ma Kili, or that was …
It was very quiet that afternoon, when even the wind seemed reluctant to blow and the leaves around that old hut did not make any sound. In that silence, a witch girl named Galuh Gagalang was sitting alone in front of her hut with eyes were staring out blankly, confused. Her mouth quivered, casting her magical spells. “Oh Gods I worship, do listen to me. Grant me an incredible strength to b…
Once upon a time there was a kingdom named Kobat Syahrial. The palace of Kobat Syahrial Kingdom stood tall extravagantly and luxuriously. The wall of the kingdom palace was made of marble and alabaster coated with gold, while beautiful fine rug covered its floor. The name of the King who ruled in the Kingdom of Kobat Syahrial at that time was King Indra Bungsu. He was a very wise King and alw…
Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Bima, there was a Sultanate ruled by a king named Sultan Salehudin. Sultan Salehudin reigned with wisdom. Therefore, his people loved him very much. He was still young, good-looking, and strong. Nevertheless, the king had not thought of getting himself a queen. If only he had wanted to, it would not have been difficult, since there were many noble princesses …
Once upon a time in Pasundan land, there was a country so fertile and prosperous that everything planted on its ground would surely grow, even rocks and wood, so they said. The land’s fertility was sufficient to support the life of all people in Sumberkarang country where nobody lived under the poverty line. In addition to its fertile land, the Kingdom of Sumberkarang had also a just, h…
Once upon a time, there was a mighty kingdom in the region of Puncak. The name of the Kingdom was Kuta Tanggeuhan. The kingdom stood on the slopes of Gunung Lemo, in the hills of Mega Mendung. It was a magnificent kingdom, with sprawling gardens around its palace. The garden were lush with thriving green plants, with colorful flower beds weaving their way in between the tall trees – reds, w…