Local Story

Malin Kundang
A long time ago, in a small village near the beach in West
Sumatra, a woman and her son lived. They were Malin Kundang
and her mother. Her mother was a single parent because Malin
Kundang’s father had passed away when he was a baby. Malin
Kundang had to live hard with his mother.

Malin Kundang was a healthy, dilligent, and strong boy. He

usually went to sea to catch fish. After getting fish he would
bring it to his mother, or sold the caught fish in the town.

One day, when Malin Kundang was sailing, he saw a merchant’s

ship which was being raided by a small band of pirates. He helped
the merchant. With his brave and power, Malin Kundang defeated
the pirates. The merchant was so happy and thanked to him. In
return the merchant asked Malin Kundang to sail with him. To get
a better life, Malin Kundang agreed. He left his mother alone.

Many years later, Malin Kundang became wealthy. He had a huge

ship and was helped by many ship crews loading trading goods.
Perfectly he had a beautiful wife too. When he was sailing his
trading journey, his ship landed on a beach near a small village.
The villagers recognized him. The news ran fast in the town;
“Malin Kundang has become rich and now he is here”.

An old woman ran to the beach to meet the new rich merchant.
She was Malin Kundang’s mother. She wanted to hug him,
released her sadness of being lonely after so long time.
Unfortunately, when the mother came, Malin Kundang who was in
front of his well-dressed wife and his ship crews denied meeting
that old lonely woman. For three times her mother begged Malin
Kundang and for three times he yelled at her. At last Malin
Kundang said to her “Enough, old woman! I have never had a
mother like you, a dirty and ugly woman!” After that he ordered
his crews to set sail. He would leave the old mother again, but in
that time, she was full of both sadness and angriness.
Finally, enraged, she cursed Malin Kundang that he would turn
into a stone if he didn’t apologize. Malin Kundang just laughed
and really set sail.

In the quiet sea, suddenly a thunderstorm came. His huge ship

was wrecked and it was too late for Malin Kundang to apologize.
He was thrown by the wave out of his ship. He fell on a small
island. It was really too late for him to avoid his curse.
Suddenly, he turned into a stone.

Timun Emas
Long time ago in the island of Java, Indonesia, lived a couple of
farmer. They had married for some years but they had no
children. So they prayed to a monster called Buta Ijo to give
them children. Buta Ijo was a ferocious and powerful monster.
He granted their wish on one condition. When their children had
grown up, they had to sacrifice them to Buta Ijo. He liked eating
fresh meat of human being. The farmers agreed to his
condition. Several months later the wife was pregnant.

She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. They named her Timun
Emas. The farmers were happy. Timun Emas was very healthy
and a very smart girl. She was also very diligent. When she was
a teenager Buta Ijo came to their house. Timun Emas was
frightened so she ran away to hide. The farmers then told Buta
Ijo that Timun Emas was still a child. They asked him to
postpone. Buta Ijo agreed. He promised to come again. The
following year Buta Ijo came again. But again and again their
parents said that Timun Emas was still a child.

When the third time Buta Ijo came their parents had prepared
something for him. They gave Timun Emas several bamboo
needles, seeds of cucumber, dressing and salt.

‘Timun, take these things’

‘What are these things?’

‘These are your weapons. Buta Ijo will chase you. He will eat
you alive. So run as fast as you can. And if he will catch you
spread this to the ground. Now go!’
Timun Emas was scared so she ran as quickly as she could.
When Buta Ijo arrived she was far from home. He was very
angry when he realized that his prey had left. So he ran to
chase her. He had a sharp nose so he knew what direction his
prey ran.

Timun Emas was just a girl while Buta Ijo was a monster so he
could easily catch her up. When he was just several steps
behind Timun Emas quickly spread the seeds of cucumber. In
seconds they turned into many vines of cucumber. The
exhausted Buta Ijo was very thirsty so he grabbed and ate
them. When Buta Ijo was busy eating cucumber Timun Emas
could run away.

But soon Buta Ijo realized and started running again. When he
was just several steps behind Timun Emas threw her bamboo
needles. Soon they turned into dense bamboo trees. Buta Ijo
found it hard to pass. It took him some time to break the dense
bamboo forest. Meanwhile Timun Emas could run farther.

Buta Ijo chased her again. When he almost catch her again and
again Timun Emas threw her dressing. This time it turned into a
lake. Buta Ijo was busy to save himself so Timun Emas ran way.
But Buta Ijo could overcome it and continued chasing her.

Finally when Timun Emas was almost caught she threw her salt.
Soon the land where Buta Ijo stood turned into ocean. Buta Ijo
was drowned and died instantly. Timun Emas was thankful to
god and came back to her home.

The Legend of Tangkuban Perahu

Mountain
Once, there was a kingdom in Priangan Land. Lived a happy
family. They were a father in form of dog,his name is Tumang, a
mother which was called is Dayang Sumbi, and a child which
was called Sangkuriang.

One day, Dayang Sumbi asked her son to go hunting with his
lovely dog, Tumang. After hunting all day, Sangkuriang began
desperate and worried because he hunted no deer. Then he
thought to shot his own dog. Then he took the dog liver and
carried home.

Soon Dayang Sumbi found out that it was not deer lever but
Tumang’s, his own dog. So, She was very angry and hit
Sangkuriang’s head. In that incident, Sangkuriang got wounded
and scar then cast away from their home.

Years go bye, Sangkuriang had travel many places and finally

arrived at a village. He met a beautiful woman and felt in love
with her. When they were discussing their wedding plans, The
woman looked at the wound in Sangkuriang’s head. It matched
to her son’s wound who had left severall years earlier. Soon she
realized that she felt in love with her own son.

She couldn’t marry him but how to say it. Then, she found the
way. She needed a lake and a boat for celebrating their
wedding day. Sangkuriang had to make them in one night. He
built a lake. With a dawn just moment away and the boat was
almost complete. Dayang Sumbi had to stop it. Then, she lit up
the eastern horizon with flashes of light. It made the cock
crowed for a new day.

Sangkuriang failed to marry her. She was very angry and kicked
the boat. It felt over and became the mountain of Tangkuban
Perahu Bandung.

The Legend Of Toba Lake

In a village in north Sumatra, a farmer living. He was a farmer
who worked diligently farming land, although not large. He
worked hard enough to be their needs. In fact, he has enough
to get married, but he still chose live alone. On a sunny
morning, the farmers are fishing in the river.

“Hopefully this week I got a big fish,” he said in the heart. Some
time after the hook was thrown, that’s fishhook wiggle. He
immediately set the hook. Farmers cheer that after he got a big
enough fish.

He was amazed to see the skin color of the beautiful fish. Fish
skin is yellow gold reddish. His eyes are rounded and
prominent, emit incredible rays.
“Wait, don’t eat me! I’ll be your friend if you not eat me.”

Farmers are surprised to hear the sound of fish. Because

surprised, that fish fell to the ground. Shortly later, the fish is
turned into a beautiful sweet girl.

“I’m dreaming,” thought the farmers.

“Don’t be afraid, I am also a human like you. I am very

indebted because you have been save me from the curse,” said
that’s girl.

“My name is Puteri, I do not mind to be your wife,” said the girl
seems urgent.

That’s farmers nodded. And they become husband and wife.

But, there was a promise that must be agreed, that is they
should not be told that the origin of a fish Princess. If that
promise abandoned, then there will be a terrible accident.

After reaching the village, the villagers became excited, to see

beautiful girls are lovely with farmers.

“She may be a woman came down from heaven,” they said.

The farmers feel very happy and peaceful. As a good husband,

he continues to work hard for continuance of his life with
farming. Because hard work, the farmers are living without a
shortfall in his life.Many people envious, and they spread the
suspicion that it can throw the success of the business of
farmers.

“I know that farmers keep the spirit!” Someone said to her

friends.

It was up to the ear Farmer and Puteri. But they do not feel
offended, even the more diligent work.

A year later, Farmer and his wife happiness increases, because

the farmer’s wife give birth a male baby. He gave the name of
his son Putera. Their happiness does not make them forget
themselves. Son grow into a healthy and strong child’s. He was
a sweet child but scampish. He had a habit of making wonder
both parents, that is always feeling hungry. Food should be
eaten 3 people can eat their own.

After all, the Son always make irritated his father. If in order to
help working parents, he always refused. Farmer’s wife always
reminds farmers that are patient with their child behavior.

“Yes, I will be patient, even though he was never our children!”

Farmer said to his wife.

“Thanks God!, you think like that. You is a husband and a good
father,” praised Puteri to her husband.

Indeed, people say, patience is no limit. This is experienced by

the farmers. One day, Putera get a job deliver food and drink to
the field where his father is working. But Putera does not fulfill
its tasks. Farmers await the return of her son, while holding
thirsty and hungry. He immediately returned to the house. The
Farmes see Putera playing ball. Farmers became angry while
pinch ear his son.

“scallywag! Not know themselves! Basic fry!” indignation of the

farmers, without conscious have such words.

After the farmers say the words, then and there the child and
his wife disappeared. disappear without trace and former.
Impressions of the former legs, sudden gush of water which is
very swift and the downpours. Farmers village and all the
surrounding villages submerged. Overflow water is very high,
so wide and formed a lake. Lake was eventually known as Lake
Toba. While small island in the middle known as Samosir Island.

The Legend Of Prambanan Temple

Once, there was a beautiful Javanese princess whose name
was Rara Jonggrang. Rara Jonggrang whose beauty was very
famous in the land was the daughter of Prabu Baka, and evil
king.

One day, a handsome young man with super natural power

named Bandung Bondowoso defatted and killed Prabu Baka. On
seeing Princess Rara Jonggrang’s beauty, Bandung Bondowoso
fell in love wither and wantted to marry her.

Meanwhile, Princess Rara jonggrang felt sad due to her death

father. She did not want to marry Bandung because he had
killed her father. But she was also afraid of Bandung. So to
refuse politely, she made a condition. "I will marry you but you
have to build one thousand temples in one night as a wedding
gift" requested Rara Jonggrang. Bandung Bondowoso agreed
with the condition. Helped by the spirit of the demons, Bandung
Bondowoso started building the temples. Approaching
midnight, the work would nearly be done. Rara Jonggrang knew
and thought, "What shall I do? Bandung Bondowoso is smarter
than I. I would lose against Bandung."

Suddenly she got an idea. She woke up all the women in the
palace and ordered them to make the noisy sounds of grinding
rice so that the rooster thought at had already been dawn.
Bandung Bondowoso got frustrated because he failed
completing the thousandth temple.

"The Princess has deceived me!" Following his anger, he cursed

Roro Jonggrang, "You have been cheated. Now, the thousandth
temple is you!"

At once, the Princess turned into a statue. knowing this,

Bandung Bondowoso regretted and he went away into a farm
land. From then people called the temple Prambanan Temple
and the Princess statue Rara Jonggrang statue.

Bawang Merah and Bawang Putih

Bawang Putih lived with her step mother and her step sister,
Bawang Merah. Bawang Putih’s mother died when she was a
baby. Her father remarried another woman and later her step
sister was born. Unfortunately, not long after that her father
died. Since then, Bawang Putih’s life was sad. Her step mother
and her step sister treated Bawang Putih badly and always
asked her to do all the household chores.
One morning, Bawang Putih was washing some clothes in a
river. Accidentally, her mother’s clothes were washed away by
the river. She was really worried so she walked along the river
side to find the clothes. Finally she met an old woman. She said
that she kept the clothes and would give them back to Bawang
Putih if she helped the old woman do the household chores.
Bawang Putih helped her happily. After everything was finished,
the old woman returned the clothes. She also gave Bawang
Putih a gift. The old woman had two pumpkins, one pumpkin
was small and the other one was big. Bawang Putih had to
choose one.

Bawang Putih was not a greedy girl. So she took the small one.
After thanking the old woman, Bawang Putih then went home.
When she arrived home, her step mother and Bawang Merah
were angry. They had been waiting for her all day long. Bawang
Putih then told about the clothes, the old woman, and the
pumpkin. Her mother was really angry so she grabbed the
pumpkin and smashed it to the floor. Suddenly they all were
surprised. Inside the pumpkin they found jewelries. “Bawang
Merah, hurry up. Go to the river and throw my clothes into the
water. After that, find the old woman. Remember, you have to
take the big pumpkin,” the step mother asked Bawang Merah
to do exactly the same as Bawang Putih’s experience. Bawang
Merah immediately went to the river. She threw the clothes and
pretended to search them. Not long after that, she met the old
woman. Again she asked Bawang Merah to do household
chores. She refused and asked the old woman to give her a big
pumpkin. The old woman then gave her the big one. Bawang
Merah was so happy. She ran very fast. When she arrived
home, her mother was impatient. She directly smashed the
pumpkin to the floor. They were screaming. There were a lot of
snakes inside the pumpkin! They were really scared. They were
afraid the snakes would bite them. “Mom, I think God just
punished us. We had done bad things to Bawang Putih. And
God didn’t like that. We have to apologize to Bawang Putih,”
said Bawang Merah.

Finally both of them realized their mistakes. They apologized

and Bawang Putih forgave them. Now the family is not poor
anymore. Bawang Putih decided to sell all the jewelries and
used the money for their daily lives.
The Legend of Batu Menangis
In a village, there lived a mother and her daughter. Her
daughter was very beautiful, but she had very bad behavior.
She was very lazy to help her mother work. Every day the girl
was just spending her time by beautifying herself and admiring
her beauty in the mirror, while her mother had to work hard to
earn a living to support their life. Besides lazy, she was also
very spoiled. She always asked to be given something and if
she wasn’t, she would cry. Of course, that situation made her
mother sad but somehow she still loved her daughter.

One day, the girl asked her mother to buy new gown for her. At
first, her mother rejected her request because she did not have
enough money. Nevertheless, because her mother was forced
to obey her request, she fulfilled her daughter request. Then
her mother asked her daughter to accompany her to the
market. “All right, but I do not want to walk beside you. You
should walk behind me, I’m embarrassed if others see me

“she said. Although her mother was sad, she continued to obey
her request. So they went to the market to buy gown for her
daughter. The girl was walking in front while her mother was
walking behind her and carrying a basket on their way to the
market.

Although they were a mother and a daughter, they looked very

different. As if they did not come from the same family. Even,
they looked like a boss and a maid. How couldn’t be like that?
Her daughter dressed up beautifully and wore a very nice
gown. While her mother looked old and wore very simple dress.

On the way to the market, a man greeted them. “Hey pretty

girl, is that your mother?” asked the man. “Of course she is
not. She is my servant, “said the girl. His mother was sad to
hear her answer. But she was silent though her heart was
crying. Along the street the beautiful girl kept being asked by
people about his mother. But the girl always said that the old
woman behind her was her assistant.
Finally, the mother could not bear any longer to hear the
answer that comes out of her daughter mouth. Then she
prayed to god “Lord, punish this ungrateful child,” she said.
Immediately the girl’s legs turned to be stone. The change
came slowly from her feet up to her head. Seeing his legs
turned to be a stone, the girl screamed “ohhhh no! What
happened to my legs?” She shouted. Then she cried and
realized that she had done something bad to her mother.
“Mom,! Forgive me. Please forgive me! “She cried in panic. The
girl kept crying and crying but it was too late. The whole body
eventually became a stone. Her mother was sad to see what
happened to her daughter but she could not do anything else.
Although she had become the rock completely, people can still
see her tears. That was why the stone named Batu Menangis.

Jaka Tarub and 7 Angels

Once upon a time there was a widow who lived in the village of
Dadapan. She had a son whose name was Joko Tarup. Dadapan
village was close to a wood so Joko Tarup liked to go to the
wood. He liked hunting for animals with his blowpipe.

One day when he was in the wood he saw a beautiful rainbow

and he saw seven angels went down through it. He came closer
and searched for them. The seven angels were swimming and
taking a bath in a lake. Joko Tarup looked at them while hiding
behind trees. When they had finished taking a bath, they flew
through the rainbow to heaven.

The next day he saw the same thing again. This time Joko Tarup
had an idea. He searched for their dress and when he found
them he took one of them. As they had finished swimming and
taking a bath, they looked for their dress. One of them could
not find her dress. Her friends had to come back to heaven so
they left her. She was crying while staying in the water. Joko
Tarup approached her.

‘Why are you crying lady?’

‘I lose my dress so I cannot go home’

‘Where is your home?’

‘I live in heaven. I’m an angel. My name is Nawang Wulan. But I

lose my dress so I cannot fly anymore’

‘I you don’t mind I will take my mother’s dress for you’

‘OK, please do’

‘Wait for me here, I’ll be back’

Then Joko Tarup went home to take her mother’s dress and
gave it to Nawang Wulan. He asked her to stay at her house
with his mother. Not long after that Joko Tarup married Nawang
Wulan.

As an angel Nawang Wulan had spiritual power. She had ability

which far above human being. She could cook rice with just a
bar of rice and when it had done the bowl will be full of rice. But
there was one condition. The bowl must not be opened before it
has done. Joko Tarup was very surprised with her wife’s ability.
He was very curious about it. So when Nawang Wulan was
away he opened the bowl. Consequently Nawang’s spiritual
power disappeared. She had to cook as ordinary human being.

Several months later Nawang Wulan gave birth to a beautiful

baby girl. Her name was Nawang Sih. The birth of Nawang Sih
added happiness to Joko Tarup and Nawang Wulan.

Since Nawang Wulan could not cook efficiently anymore, she

needed more rice than usual. The stock of rice in their store
room diminished

rapidly. Then one day when she took rice there she was very
surprised. Nawang Wulan found her angel dress. It was hidden
there under piles of rice. She immediately wore it and talked to
Joko Tarup.

‘My dear husband, now I know what you did to me’

‘Forgive me, my dear. I admit that I did this because I love you’
‘I love you too. But now I find my dress. I must come back to
heaven. I am an angel. My place is not here. I have to go now’.

‘How about Nawang Sih? She needs you’

‘I will leave her but don’t worry. I will take care of her. Anytime
she needs me I will be here. For that purpose please build a
tower. When Nawang Sih cries put her there then call my name.
I will come immediately. But I will be invisible to you. Good bye
dear’

Then Joko Tarup built a tower behind his house. Every time
Nawang Sih cried he would put her there. Nawang Wulan would
come and take care of Nawang Sih.

Golden Snail
Long long time ago, there lived two princess in a big kingdom in
Java. Their name were Dewi Galuh and Candra Kirana. They
have an opposite personality. Candra Kirana was beautiful and
kind while Dewi Galuh was evil and envious. They were never
really close to each other because every time Candra Kirana
have something, Dewi Galuh will always try to find a way to
make it hers.

One day, Candra Kirana was engaged with the crown prince of
Kahuripan kingdom named Raden Inu Kertapati. He was a wise,
handsome, brave, kind and talented man. A lot of woman in his
kingdom adored him. Dewi Galuh was very jealous of Candra
Kirana because Dewi Galuh had crush on Raden Inu Kertapati.
She started to use her cunning mind to find a way to get rid of
Candra Kirana from him.

Dewi Galuh finally decided to use the help of the great witch to
curse Candra Kirana. The witch agreed to help her but she also
told her that her magic had a weakness. One day, when Candra
Kirana was walking at the beach the witch showed up in front of
her. The witch started to cast

her spell toward Candra Kirana and turn her into a golden snail.
The witch then picked the golden snail up and throw it into the
ocean. Before that, the witch told the golden snail that she will
be able to return to her original form when she met her true
love.

One day an old lady was walking at the beach. She saw the
golden snail from distance. She decided to approach it because
it was beautiful. She thought that it would be a good pet for
her. After that, she picked it up and brought it home. She put
the golden snail in a water jar.

The next day, when she woke up in the morning, she found a
lot of food were served on the table. She tasted it and it turned
out to be very delicious. She was very hungry so she didn’t
think to much about where did the food came from even
though she was actually surprised. When she had finished her
breakfast, the old lady went out to look for some fish and she
returned on the afternoon.

Every day when the old lady woke up, the same thing
happened over and over again. So many delicious food were
served on the table. After a couple of days, she decided to find
out who the person behind all this decent food on her table
every day. One morning, she pretended to went out as she used
to do but she didn’t really go. She hid at her backyard and wait
for a couple of minutes. After that she took a peek inside
through the window.

She saw the golden snail turned into a beautiful lady, she also
watched her cooking and cleaning the house. The old lady
walked back to her house and surprised Candra Kirana. “Who
are you my dear” said the old lady. “I’m Candra Kirana, I was a
princess of Daha kingdom” said Candra Kirana. “What
happened to you?” asked the old lady. “I was cursed by an evil
witch sent by my sister, because my sister was envy to
me.”Candra

Kirana replied to the old lady question. After that Candra Kirana
turned back into the golden snail.

Meanwhile at the palace, Raden Inu Kertapati was doing

everything that he can to find Candra Kirana. He finally decided
to disguise himself as an ordinary villager so he can continue
the search by himself. He walked from one house to another
trying to talk to the villagers and collecting information about
his beloved fiancee. No one gave him a valuable information
about it. So he continued the search to another village.

One day, Raden Inu Kertapati was very tired and thirsty. He saw
a small hut and decided to go there. He knocked the door
several times until finally someone opened the door. He was
very surprised to see that the person who opened the door was
his beloved fiancee, Candra Kirana. They were very happy. The
curse broke forever because Candra Kirana finally met her true
love. Candra Kirana told him everything. They decided to went
back to the palace along with the old lady.

At the palace, Candra Kirana told the whole story to her father,
the King. The king summoned Dewi Galuh to the main hall.
When she showed up in the main hall, she saw Candra Kirana
and Raden Inu Kertapati was standing next to her father. She
realized that her father knew what she did to her sister the
moment she entered the room, so she run away from the
palace into the forest. Unfortunately she felt into a cliff.

A couple weeks after that, Raden Inu Kertapati and Candra

Kirana got married. The King celebrate it by helding a big
wedding party. Everybody in their kingdom was invited. After
that, they live happily ever after.

Lutung Kasarung
A long time ago in west Java there was a kingdom. The king
was Prabu Tapak Agung. He had two beautiful daughters and no
son. Purba Rarang was his first daughter, and Purba Sari was
his second daughter. When the king was about to pass away he
gave the throne to his second daughter, Purba Sari. Purba
Rarang was very disappointed. She thought that she deserve to
replace her father as the ruler. She discussed the situation with
her fiancé, Indrajaya.

Then she got an evil idea. She asked a witch to cast a spell to
Purba Sari. Soon after that Purba Sari had a strange skin
disease. There were black dots on her skin. She also had skin
rash. Consequently Purba Rarang had a reason to tell people
that her sister had a great sin and she was cursed by god. She
told her people that such a person did not qualify to be a
leader.

After that she ordered the army to send Purba Sari to a wood
and had her exiled there. The army then built a wooden house
for Purba Sari in a

wood. So Purba Sari lived in the wood. As there were many

animals in the wood she got along with them well.

Her best friend was a black monkey. She called the monkey
Lutung Kasarung. Lutung was very attentive and very kind to
her. He gave fruits and vegetables to Purba Sari.

Lutung Kasarung was not an ordinary monkey. He often

meditates like human being. One night when there was a full
moon he sat meditating. He was praying to God. Suddenly a
spring emerged beside Lutung. It became bigger and bigger
and finally it became a lake. The water was very clear and
aromatic.

The next day Lutung came to see Purba Sari. He asked her to
follow him. Lutung took her to the lake and asked her to take a
bath. When Purba Sari took bath in the lake something strange
happened. Her skin disease was gone and her smooth fair skin
was back. Purba Sari was very happy and thankful to God.

Meanwhile Purba Rarang who lived in the palace wanted to see

her sister. So she went to the wood with her soldiers. She was
very surprised when she saw Purba Sari was in good condition
and looked beautiful. Her evil heart led her to find a way to
beat her sister. Then she asked her sister to measure the length
of their hair. The one who had the longest hair would win. Purba
Sari’s hair proved to be longer than Purba Rarang’s.

Purba Rarang was very jealous to her sister. She thought hard
to find a way to beat Purba Sari. Then she got another idea. She
asked her sister to compare their fiancé. Purba Rarang was sure
that she would win because Indra Jaya was very handsome. She
was sure that Purba Sari did not have any fiancé. When Purba
Rarang showed Indra Jaya, Purba Sari was confused. So she just
appointed Lutung Kasarung as her fiancé.

Purba Rarang laughed out loud.

‘So your fiancé is a monkey?’

Lutung Kasarung then sat on the ground. He was meditating

and praying to God. Then amazingly he changed into a very
handsome man. Initially Lutung Kasarung was a handsome man
who was punished by God and became a monkey. After some
years that day he got clemency from God and he became
human being again.

Purba Rarang was very surprised. He had no choice but to

accept that her sister was better than her. She asked for
apology. Purba Sari gave her apology. After that they went back
to palace. Purba Sari became the queen and married to Lutung
Kasarung.