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…
Lolotabang shivered. It was not due to the cold air pressing against her skin, but because of the piercing gaze of that robust man. His eyes sent chills down her spine. Her pretty face turned pale with fear. She tidied up her weaving kits in a hurry and went inside her house, slamming its door shut. Then she peeked from the corner of a window. The big tall figure on the horse's back was still…
Wakumoro was a small seaside village. There, in the village, lived La Jampi and his wife Wa Sara. La Jampi and Wa Sara were not people of means, yet they cherished any opportunity to help those in need. It had been years since they got married but La Jampi and Wa Sara had not had any children. They prayed tirelessly so that the Almighty might grant them such a blessing. “Husband, why is it …
Purportedly, there was a wealthy, prosperous, and safe country named Negeri Indra Perjangka. Various kinds of trees and plants grew rapidly in all regions of the country. Large fields extended and provided the farmers with abundant supply of rice. Approaching the harvest time, large extensive fields looked like a golden sea. Various kinds of colourful and fragrant flowers decorated the park of…
Pundit Mustaki left the room immediately. He was very shocked by what Dewi Joharmanik had just said. He was hurt. He threatened to take revenge. He rushed to his room. When Pundit Mustaki had left, Dewi Joharmanik hurriedly close and lock the door. She turned around and went to bed. She slammed her body onto the bed. She buried her body under the pillow and began sobbing. She cursed Pundit Mus…
In the region of Kutai, East Kalimantan, a person with formal authority and acknowledged influence is very respectable and awed by the local people. It can be said that all they wish, whether it is expressed explicitly or implicitly, have to be interpreted and implemented by their subordinates. A respectable leader named Petinggi Jahitan Layar and lived with his wife in a remote mountain far a…
Ainun and Aida were two teenage girls who lived in Desa Sempalang, north Sulawesi. From the time they were children, the two were inseparable. As fate would have it, they were born on the same day and so both Ainun's mother and Aida's mother thought it would be fitting to give their daughters very similar names. They agreed to name one baby Ainun and the other Aida. Although they were not siste…
Blambangan, that was the name of the kingdom located at the eastern end of Java Island. In the beginning of the 14th century, Blambangan Kingdom was ruled by King Menak Sembuyu, one of the descendants of Prabu Hayam Wuruk of Majapahit. King Menak Sembuyu had a wife and a daughter named Dewi Sekardadu. A few days after the birth of Dewi Sekardadu, Blambangan people flocked to the royal palace…
Long ago, on the eastern coasts stood many small kingdoms. One of them was Pagurawan Kingdom. This kingdom was quite prosperous. Pagurawan Kingdom was based at Bandar Khalifah, an area now located in Batubara Regency, bordering Serdang Bedagai Regency of North Sumatra. The king had a very beautiful queen named Queen Putri Halimah. The king and queen were blessed with two beautiful daughters n…
It is told that once there was a mermaid who got stranded in Amza, Sorong, West Papua. The people of Sorong called the mermaid karupet. Amza area in Sorong, West Papua, was famous for its beautiful and clean sea. Various types of fish thrived in the region, ranging from ornamental fish to edible ones. One day, a pregnant female mermaid was stranded on the beach near the settlement. The pregna…
Upiak and Buyuang were common nicknames for daughters and sons in Minangkabau culture. The nicknames could also be used to address and call children whose names were still unknown to someone. In the State of Bayang, there was a child named Buyuang Kacinduan. The name basically means a son who was always be missed. The name was given to him because Buyuang was born after his father and mother …
A jukung was seen splitting the stream of water. A man calmly rowed the canoe. He was around 30 years old. His face radiated serenity. His eyes were calm, even with a sign of weariness on his face. A dog stood firmly in the forefront of the canoe, watching around while wagging his tail like a commander that observed his soldiers. The dog was proud to be the guardian of his master. The golden …
For the Kompeni or VOC or Kompeni, the Battle of Diponegoro is the most damaging war they have ever fought. The battle itself only lasted for five years, from 1825 to 1830, but costed the Kompeni a huge fortune, both money and troops. It is by far the biggest loss in the history of Kompeni colonization in the Indonesian archipelago. Battle of Diponegoro killed about 200,000 Javanese, but als…
Bangka was a peaceful, beautiful, and prosperous country surrounded by forests and jungles inhabited by all sorts of flora and fauna. The land was ruled by a wise king who was loved by his people. His name was King Mahmud Malim Demawan. He had a very beautiful queen, Queen Malika Seri Purnama. During his reign, the King had established a peaceful, prosperous, and rich Bangka with abundant na…
It is told that the earth was once filled with mountains and mountain ranges. Some reached dizzying heights while others looked no bigger than a hillock. It was a peaceful and quiet time and all living beings were living together happily without disturbing each other. They lived in harmony and the nature was well cared for. The land of Minahasa was no different. It was a fertile area surroun…
His name was Nirarta. He was a Brahmin descendant, the brother of Dhanghyang Angsoka, and a son to Dhangyang Asmaranatha. Like any other children who were born to Brahmin families, Nirarta spent his childhood and adolescence learning so many different things from several masters. As a student, Nirarta always based his actions and behaviors on certain moral principles: always worshipping and set…
It was called Nusa Penida, a small island to the south of Bali Island. In order to reach this island from Kusamba, Klungkung, any mainlanders of Bali would need to pass through two more islands, namely Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. The northernmost reaches of Nusa Penida were marked by coastal slopes that grew higher, wavier, and hillier as it went south, with Mundi Hill as the highes…
Bontang City, that is located in East Kalimantan, was once only a small village. At the time, villagers of Bontang Village mainly lived as fishermen. Those who were not fishermen worked the fields as farmers; planting rice, banana, vegetables, and a variety of secondary crops. They all lived comfortably and peacefully, with all the fields that produced crops and rivers that provided fish. Th…
A very diligent young man lived in a thick and eerie forest in the region of Bangka. Every day, he caught fish in the Kepoh River using the fishing rods or scoops. He did that to meet his daily ends. In addition to catching the fish, he also put traps to catch the deer, rabbits, and birds. He did such all activities every day by himself since he had been an orphan since he was only a child. …
Long ago in Lampung, in a village at the edge of a forest, there lived a very poor family with seven stunningly beautiful daughters. The seven sisters lived with their parents in a humble little house. Though it was a far cry from luxury, their tiny abode lay at the edge of a forest on the breathtaking slopes of the Bukit Barisan Mountains. The forest was lush and green and the air was fresh. …
The long dry season had come. The rain had not fallen in Batu Sangkar for a very long time. The well water had totally run out and river water had subsided. Field earth cracked and rice plants withered. Most plants in dry fields had withered too and leaves had totally dried and fallen off. In Limo Kaum village, in the region of Batu Sangkar Minangkabau (currently is included in the Province o…
Once upon a time, in a remote village of Tanjung Lalung in West Kutai in the hinterland of Kalimantan lived a woman and his son named Kerongo. The woman just lived with her only son Kerongo, since Kerongo's father had passed away when Kerongo was only a little child. Kerongo's mother was a humble woman who made a living for her and her son Kerongo by cultivating a field. Kerongo was a dull bo…
Who was that man? Where did he come from? Many people talked about the man, and many were curious about him. The young man of Tidung lived in a village right on the banks of Sibuku River, an area around Tawau. He was known for his good looks and gallantry. That was how he later came to be known by the name of Betawol, which means “man”, or more precisely, a handsome and gallant young man.…
Once in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, lived an old widow with her two daughters. They lived in a rickety shack beneath a shady tree. They were so poor that they did not have sufficient food, adequate clothing, and other basic necessities. However, poverty did not make them live in despair. They were still eager to fill the days. The old widow and her two daughters never complained and lamented th…
Once upon a time, the Kingdom of Surakarta was led by a just and wise king named Raja Dalem Solo. The king was highly respected and revered by his people. King Dalem Solo had three sons and one daughter; they were all very handsome and beautiful. The children were called by their order of birth, the First Son of Dalem Solo, the Second Son of Dalem Solo, the Third Son of Dalem Solo, and the yo…
The middle-aged man was usually called Polem Mahmud. His thin body made him look like a hungry grasshopper, with thin beard growing on his pointed chin. The white color of the shirt he wore had faded, looking duller than the original color. Several patches of stitches overlapped around the collar and the buttocks of his pants. He walked in between rice fields, occasionally hopping to avoid th…
Once upon a time there was a banjar or hamlet under Tabanan Regency, Bali Province. The hamlet was located six kilometers to the north of Soka Beach. The hamlet was still pristine and the weather was cool because it was surrounded by hills. There were indeed many large trees around the hamlet. The view of the rice field was a feast to the eyes. The villagers lived harmoniously, and they dilig…
Once upon a time, there was a king who had three sons. The eldest son’s name was Rhaden, the second Kiemas, and the third Fayyadh. The three sons were always cheerful. Their bodies were healthy and strong, attracting admiration and pleasure of those beholding them. As the days turned into months and months into years, the theree princes grew into teenagers. On a bright morning, just as the …
Unce upon a time, in East Java, lived a youth, named Bambang Widyaka, the son of an invulnerable resi (ascetic), Resi Jati Pitutur. Being a resi’son, Bambang Widyaka was unquestionably skilfull in martial art and knowledgeable in asceticism. His father brought him up in asceticism, so he frequently and regularly secluded himself as a hermit for his spiritual enlightenment. One early morning…
The wooden raft moved slowly upstream Sungai (River) Kandilo. Small hands rowed the raft with long bamboo poles vaulted on the shallow bottom of the river. The hands belonged to a boy with fair coloured skin and hair falling apart on the shoulder. His body was not a large and well-built one, neither did he seem too powerful to steer the raft. The boy’s name was Pego. Like most children livi…
The lullaby was heard from a small hut on the hill’s foot, sung by a mother to make her child asleep, with a voice hardly heard from a distance. The house was so peaceful with the faint voice as the sun set behind the hill on the west. The child was swayed in the pukungan, a sway made of clothes hung on a hanger, the sway commonly used by the people of Banjar. The mother’s heart is so gen…
In front of the lanting (house on a raft) was a pile of wicker, ready to be used. There were also tanggui, mats, and baskets, well piled up, ready to be marketed. On the sides of the house were seedbeds in lines and various seedlings: tree seedlings, medicinal herb seedlings, and cooking spice seedlings. A young woman was busy separating the roots of water hyacinth from their stems. Beside he…
The local people of Sungai Silam (Silam River) narrate that the river is a forbidden fishing spot for a certan period. They may catch the fish in the river only with the consent of the adat leaders and the elders of the community. This tradition is named maawuo. Maawuo is one of the unique traditions of Melayu people in Riau. In the beginning, the prohibition by community leaders to catch fis…
Once upon a time in Lopian, a village in Central Tapanuli, lived a princess named Lopian. Princess Lopian is the daughter of a wise king, King Lopian. The king loved his only child very much. Every afternoon the king played with the princess in palace garden. One afternoon, as usual, Princess Lopian was running around in the garden. Her father was also there. Then, her father asked her to sit…
The sky on the Middle of Nowhere Kingdom was clear with white clouds stroking like a painting. A breeze winded up the leaves and flowers in the garden. King Kasmidun used to enjoy the beautiful ambience together with his daughter, but it was not so that afternoon. His only daughter named Princess Kumalasari fell ill. In her pavilion, Princess Kumalasari had been lying listless on her bed. The…
Once upon a time there was a small village named Tanjung Batu. There were not many people lived there. No one ever thought if the village would become one of trading centers of Berau Kingdom. Generally, it was a quiet village. There would only be a little hustle in the morning. When morning came there was indistinct sound of kitchen utensils used coming from the houses that were a little dist…
The bright sky and the fresh air had ornamented Bukit Arbi village, turning the nuance into the comfort and freshness. All the birds joyfully tweeted within the trees, which was so nice to be listened to. All the tweets touched everything near the river. There were some ladies who were enjoyable washing clothes. Many children also enjoyed the nuance by playing rope and chasing each other. The…
It was told that once upon a time, there lived a Sultan (common addressing for a leader at an Islamic kingdom), named as Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin. He was the first sultan in Banten who was very influencing for Islamic proliferation in Banten area. He was granted a title as Pangeran Sabakingking (Prince Sabakingking) or Seda Kinkin, from his grandfather named Prabu Surasowan, who used to be t…
Without any further consideration, Syekh Akhmad steadfastly packed all his stuff. His willingness and determination had perfectly said so. In the morning, after Subuh prayer (praying in dawn), he had all his children to get prepared. He was going to meet all his friends, the administrators of Masjid Al-Madani, the biggest mosque in the village. All his friends had been waiting for him in fron…
One day, alongside the tweets of the birds, the morning looked a bit flawless. The people around the kingdom were still falling asleep. At the bench on the terrace in front of his palace, there remained Ahwanda Jaya, sitting down and gazing at very thoughtfully. In that palace, he lived with his father and younger sister. His mind wandered. He recalled his mother, Queen Pani, who had just pas…
It was told, on Bukit Napo (Napo Hill) in West Sulawesi, there was a kingdom named as Balanipa. The Balanipa Kingdom was under the leadership of King Balanipa. He was the one with the firmly tough body. Also, he would like to take a lead for the kingdom forever. Everyone, furthermore, put respect to the king. In fact, Balanipa Kingdom was built around the composted area of land. The natural s…