Legend Story of Indonesia in English

A.            Cerita Bahasa Inggris tentang Malin Kundang

Once upon a time, in the coastal area of Sumatra, lives a poor family. The family had a kid named Malin Kundang. Due to very poor condition of their families, Malin kundang's father decided to go to the country side.  Malin kundang and his mother hope that he could bring some money and support their daily needs. Time after time, they wait for him, but he did not come. They even believed that he is already dead.  Feeling sad, Malin kundang thought that he could make a living in the country side in the hope that later on when returning to my hometown; he has become a very rich. Finally Malin kundang go sailing along with a merchant ship captain in his hometown that has been successful.

During his stay on the ship, Malin kundang lot to learn about seamanship on the crew that has been experienced. Malin studied hard on his friends shipping on more experienced, and ultimately he's very good at shipping.  Many islands have been, up to a day in the middle of the trip, suddenly Malin kundang ships were attacked by pirates. All merchandise traders who were on the ship seized by pirates. Even most of the crew and people on the ship were killed by the pirates. Malin kundang very lucky he was not killed by the pirates, because when it happened, Malin immediately hid in a small space enclosed by the timber.  Malin Kundang floats amid sea, until finally the host ship stranded on a beach. With the rest of the existing power, Malin Kundang walked to the nearest village from the beach. Arriving in the village, Malin Kundang told the ntives about the incident that happened to him. Malin village where villagers stranded is very fertile. With tenacity and perseverance in work, over time Malin had become a very rich. He has many fruit merchant ships with the children of more than 100 people. After becoming rich, Malin Kundang marry a girl to become his wife.

After a long marriage, Malin and his wife make the voyage with a large and beautiful ship with the crew and a lot of bodyguards. Malin kundangs wife want to know his husbands hometowns. In the other side, poor Malin kundang mothers was worried about his son, and goes to the beach everyday, hope that her son will be back from the journey. She saw a very beautiful ship landed on the town harbour. Malin's mother who always checks every ship that arrived, hoping there is his son among the passenger, surprised to see a man. She founds out that he is her son Malin kundang.  Malin Kundang stepped down from the ship. Once close enough, his mother saw the birthmarks on Malin kundangs arm. She is now convinced that Malin is her son. Missed so much, she hug his son and asked "Malin Kundang, my son, why did you go so long without sending any news to me?". Arrogantly, Malin immediately released her mother's arms and pushed him up to fall. "Old women, I do not know who you are" said Malin Kundang at his mother. Malin Kundang pretended not to recognize her mother, because of shame with her mother who is old and wearing tattered clothes. "She was your mother?" Malin's wife asks him. "No, he was just a beggar who pretended to be admitted as a mom to get my property".

Hearing statement and treated arbitrarily by his son, the mother of Malin kundang is very angry. He did not expect him to be rebellious child. Because anger is mounting, Malin's mother tipped his hand, saying "Oh God, if he my son, I curse him became a stone." Malin's mother goes away with sad feelings. Knowing that his only son, which she always loves and missed all days, come and treat her like that. Malin kundang and his crew departed shortly after visiting the hometown.Soon after departed, the calm, nice weather suddenly changed. The winds roared fierce and storms come to destroy the ship Kundang. Malin himself knows that it might be the curse from his own mother. That makes Malin prays, to beg a mercy from the God. The ship are destroyed and dumped into the beach. Malin's body and the shipwrecks scattered. After that Malin' body slowly becomes rigid and in time they finally shaped into a rock. Malin's mothers feel sorry about her son's fate. But it was too late.

 In moslem tradition, it is believed that prays from the parents are easily granted by God, either bad or goods. This story told people to be humbles and do not forget his family after being successful, the story also told the parents that they must not easily pray a bad things to their children, and guide their children with care and lots of patients.

B.            Dongeng legenda Batu gantung di Kota Parapat

Once, in a rural village next to Lake Toba North Sumatera, there lived a husband and a wife with a beautiful daughter named Seruni. Not only was she beautiful, Seruni was also very diligent in helping her parents in the field. Every day this family worked in this field on the edge of Lake Toba, and the outcomes are used for their daily needs.

One day, Seruni went to the field alone, because his parents went to a neighboring village. Seruni was only accompanied by her beloved dog named Toki's. Arriving at the farm, she didn’t work but he just sat there looking at the natural beauty of Lake Toba as if she had solved a difficult problem. While the dog, the Toki, came sitting next to her, staring at her face as if he knew what Seruni thought. Once in a while the dog barked to distract Seruni, but she is not teased. The last few days Seruni looked glum. He was very sad, because she was given in marriage by her parents with a young man who was his cousin. Though she had chosen his loved man and she had promised to live together with him. She was very confused. On the one hand she did not want to disappoint her parents, and she could not afford to part with her love. Because of being unable to bear the heavy burden, he was getting hopeless.

 "Yes, Lord! I am not able to live with this burden, "complained the Seruni.

A few moments later, Seruni moved from his seat. With tears, she walked slowly toward the Lake Toba. Apparently she wanted to end his life by jumping into the lake's and the Toki, followed his master from behind while barking. With a mind raging, Seruni walked toward the cliffs of Lake Toba without paying attention to the road in its path. Unexpectedly, she suddenly fell into a hole. The rocky ground that made the hole was getting dark. Seruni girl is very scared.

"Help.. Help.. Help.., Toki! "Seruni voice asking for help to her beloved dog.

The Toki understood  if Seruni required his help, but he could not do anything except just barking at the hole. Seruni screamed several times for help, but the Toki really could not afford helping her. Finally she was getting desperate.

"Ah, I'd rather die than live a long time to suffer," Seruni resigned. Rock walls were moving ever closer.

 "Parapat...! Parapat Parapat ... "ordered Seruni to press her body withthe stone. Being unable to help Seruni, Toki immediately ran home to ask for help. Arriving at the master's house, he immediately went to Seruni parents.

"Auggg ...! auggg ...! auggg ... "Toki's barking while clawing at the ground to tell the parents that the Seruni in danger.

"Toki ..., where is Seruni? What happened to her? "Asked the father to the dog's Seruni.

 "Auggg ...! auggg ...! auggg ...! "he continued barking and ran back and forth to invite them to a place.

 "Sir, it looks like Seruni in danger," said the mother of Seruni.

 "Mom was right. The Toki invites us to follow, "said the father of Seruni.

"But how do we get there? "Said the mother.

"You prepare a torch! I'll be looking for help to neighbors, "cried the father.

Soon, the whole neighborhood had gathered at the home page Seruni's father, carrying the torch. After that they followed the Toki to the scene. Once they were in the field, the Toki directly toward the mouth of the hole.

Both parents of Seruni immediately approached the mouth of the hole. What a surprise when they saw a hole big enough rock on the edge of their field. In the pit was heard the faint sound of a woman: "Parapat ...! Parapat Parapat stone ...! "

"Sir, listen to that voice! That voice is of our child! Seruni’s mother cried frantically.

"Yes, ma'am! That sounds Seruni! "Replied the father panic.

"But, why would he shout: Parapat, parapatlah stone?" Asked the mother.

"I do not know, mom! It seems like there's something wrong in there, "said the father anxiously.

A Farmer was trying to light up the hole with a torch, but the bottom of the hole was so deep that it can not be penetrated by torchlight.

"Seruniii ...! Seruniii ...! "Cried the father of Seruni.

"Seruni ... my daughter! The mother and father came to help you! "Her mother shouted. Several times they yelled, but they did not get a response from Seruni. Only voice drifted Seruni who sent the stone closer to squeezing.

"Parapat ...! Parapatlah stone ...! Parapat! "

"Seruniiii ... my daughter!" Once again the mother screaming and crying hysterically Seruni.

People in attendance at the place were trying to help. One held ropes to the bottom of the hole, but the slap was not touched at all. Seruni's father increasingly concerned with the state of her father. He also decided to follow her foray into the rock pit.

 "Mom, hold the torch!" Command of the father.

 "Where do you want to go?" Asked the mother.

 "I'm following the Seruni into the hole," he replied firmly.

"No dad, it's dangerous!" Prevent the mother.

 "Yes sir, the hole was very deep and dark," said people.

A moment later, suddenly heard a roar. The earth shook violently as if to an end. Rock hole suddenly closes itself. The cliffs at the edge of Lake Toba was falling. Seruni's father and mother and all the people ran thither to escape. They left the mouth of the hole the rock, so that poor Seruni could not be rescued from the crush of rock. Some time after the earthquake stopped, suddenly appeared a large rock that resembles a girl's body and as if hanging on the wall of the cliff at the edge of Lake Toba. Local people believe that the stone is the embodiment Seruni oppressed in the hole. By those stones were then given the name "Hanging Rock". (BATU GANTUNG)

 A few days later, fame spread the word about the events that befall her. The people flocked to the scene to see the "Hanging Rock" is. Residents who witnessed the incident told other people that before the hole was closed, a voice: "... Parapat Parapat parapat stone ...!"

C.            Cerita Bahasa Inggris tentang Aji Saka dan Alfabet Jawa

A long long time ago in the island of Java there was a kingdom of Medang Kamulan.   The land of Java was very fertile and productive.  Most of the island of Java are arable.  And water are abundant.  Java was very rich with plants.  They had almost all fruits in the world.  All year long the weather is always sunny.  As a result farmers can grow any kinds of fruits, vegetable and all kinds of plant all year long. The land of Java was also very rich with gold and many kinds of mineral.  Many people earned their living by working on gold mine.  Since Java was also rich with mine they also made weapons like sword, lance, trident etc.  They sold those weapons to China, India and many other countries.  But if you think that the Javanese people were prosperous you are wrong. 

At the time Java was ruled by a monster.  His name was King Dewata Cengkar.  He was a very cruel king.  He ordered his people to pay tax on everything they had.  Farmers had to pay tax on their land.  Merchant had to pay high tax for their profit.  Workers had to pay tax on their salary and wages.  Even poor people had to pay tax.  And if they had no money to pay tax then they had to work for the king without any payment.  The money was not for the welfare of the people for for the king’s private matters. Worse still, the king’s official were very corrupt.  When they took one hundred from the people then they gave only eighty for the king.  They took it for themselves.   As a result the king was very very rich while his people were very poor.      Besides that the king also like to eat the flesh of human being!  This habit started when he was a child.  One day his mother made a mistake while she was cooking.  She accidentally cut her thumb and blood spit on the food.  Her maid then continue cooking without knowing that blood and a small piece of her mother’s flesh was in the food.  When Dewata Cengkar ate the food he really like it.  Then he found out the reason.  Since that day  he demanded the flesh of human being as part of his food.  So his army killed people every day for his food.  When he was adult and became king this habit grew.  He ordered every chief of a district to sacrifice young and healthy people for the king to consume.  Consequently the people of Java diminished.  The people were restless but they did not dare to rebel because the king was very cruel and his army was very strong.

Until one day someone named Aji Saka came to Java.  He had two guards.  Their name were Dora and Sembada.  Before coming to Java they landed in a small island in the north of Java, called Pulau Majeti.  After several days there Aji Saka decided to go to Java.  Aji Saka left his weapon, a powerful traditional dagger called Kris there.   He told Dora to stay in the island of Majeti to guard his Kris.  And he told Dora not to give it to any body else.  After that he went to Java with Sembada. Then he settled in Java as a merchant.  The people of Java told him about his sorrow because of Dewata Cengkar’s cruelty and injustice rule.   Aji Saka was very concerned to the sorrow of Javanese people.  He told the chief of the district where he settled to send him as sacrifice when the king wanted to eat people.  So the chief send him to king Dewata Cengkar.

As his turn came to became sacrifice, Aji Saka asked to say his last words to the king.  The king granted him opportunity to speak.

‘O, great king of Java.  The father of development of Java.  The one who make people live prosperous life.  The richest man in the world.  I am honored to demand your Majesty one last wish before I die’

‘Tell me what  you want’

“Your Majesty the great king of Java, I just want a piece of land, the same size as my turban’

‘I grant it.  Just spread your turban’

Then Aji Saka put off his turban and put it on the ground.  Aji Saka hold one side of it and asked the king to hold the other side.  Amazingly it became larger so Dewata Cengkar had to step back.  And everytime it became larger and larger so Dewata Cengkar finally stood at a beach.   Aji Saka kincked him to the sea and and he died.  The Javanese people were very happy to hear the cruel king had died.  They were very thankful to Aji Saka and elected him as the new king of Java.

Aji Saka remembered that one of his guard, Dora was still in the island of Majeti.  As he was a king, it was impossible for him to go there.  So he told Sembada to go there and bring his kris back.  So Sembada went to Majeti island.  As he got there he told Dora that Aji Saka asked him to take the kris.

‘His Majesty King Aji Saka ordered me to take the kris to Java’

‘Maybe you make mistake.  Aji Saka is our superiot but he is not a king.  And he told me not to give his kris to any boldy else.  It is my duty to guard it here until he came back and take it’

‘It is my duty to take the  kris’.

‘It is my duty to guard it’

The dialogue came to a dead lock so the tension grew.  Then it became on armed conflict.  Finally both of them were killed.   Several days later Aji Saka was shocked to hear the news that they both died.  Since that day he created an alphabet, a Javanese alphabeth based on their story.  Here is the alphabeth.  It is like a poem.  The poem consist of four lines.  Each line consist of one sentence.  Each sentence consist of a combination of characters.  All characters are pronounced like hall.  Here is the poem.

Ho (h) , No (n), co (c), ro (r) ko (k).

Do (d) to (t) so (s) wo (w) lo (l)

Po (p) do (d) jo (j) yo (y) nyo (ny)

Mo (m) go (g)  bo (b)  to (t) ngo (ng) 

Hono = there is / there are in English, coroko = envoy

Do to so wolo = bring a letter / matter

Po do jo yo nyo = they are equally powerful

Mogo botongo = they are killed.

These characters are used widely by the Javanese, Sundanese, Balinese and Madurese.  But today only very few people can read it.  That’s why in the province of Yogyakarta it is taught at schools.

D.            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.

E.            The Legend of Danau Maninjau..

Long ago, in an area in west sumatra, there is a very active volcano named Mount Tinjau. In one village at the foot of Tinjau's brothers lived ten people consisting of nine men and one woman. Ordinary citizens about their call Bujang Sembilan. These ten brothers are Kukuban, Kudun, Bayua, Malintang, Galapuang, Balok, Batang,Bayang, and the youngest man named Kaciak. While their brother the youngest was a girl named Siti Rasani, nicknamed Sani. Both their parents died long ago, so Kukuban as the eldest son became the head of household. All decisions in his hand.

Tenth brothers lived in a house of their parents' heritage. To make ends meet, they worked on farms large enough legacy of their parents. They are very skilled at farming, because they diligently to help his father and mother when they were alive. In addition, they are also guided by their uncle named Datuk Limbatang, which they called Engku familiar.  Datuk Limbatang is a mamak in the village and has a son named Giran. As a mamak, Datuk Limbatang have great responsibility to educate and watched the life of its citizens, including the nephew's tenth man. For that, every other day, he visited the house Kukuban brothers to teach them farming skills and various customs procedures for the area. Not infrequently Datuk Limbatang also took his wife and son to participate with him.

On one day, when Datuk Limbatang with his wife and visited the house of Bujang Sembilan, Sani accidentally exchanged Giran. Apparently, both boys and girls are equally placed liver. Sani was invited to meet Giran in a field on the riverbank. With hearts pounding, Giran even express his feelings to Sani. Datuk Limbatang wanted to marry his son with Sani. But the elder brother Sani, Kukuban, did not agree because Giran has been embarrass him in the martial arts arena. But eventually Datuk Limbatang not force.

One day, Giran found treat wounds in the thigh Sani. But people think they do custom distortion. Sani and Garin brought to court. They try to convince citizens that they did not do anything.  After that, of the second Giran lifted his hand to the sky and praying. "My God! Please hear and grant our prayers. If we were really guilty, destroy our bodies in the water hot crater of this mountain. However, if we are not guilty, this mountain letuskanlah and curses Bujang Sembilan to fish!"

It turned out that prayer was answered. Sani and Giran jump down and submerged in the water crater. Mountain erupted, Bujang Sembilan into fish. Over time the crater of Mount View expanded and formed a lake which we now know as Lake Maninjau.

F.            Nyi Roro Kidul 

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess named Kadita. Because of her beauty she was called Dewi Srengenge which mean The beautiful sun. Her father was King Munding Wangi. Although he had a beautiful daughter he always unhappy because he always expected to have a son. The King decided to merry Dewi Mutiara, and he had a son from her. He was very happy. Dewi Mutiara wanted her son to become a king in the future so she must make sure for it. Dewi mutiara came to the king and asked him to send away his daughter. Of course, the king did not agree. "It is ridiculous, I will not allow any body doing such cruel thing to my daughter", said King Munding Wangi. When she heard the answer, Dewi mutiara smiled and said a sweet thing until the king has not anger anymore. However, she kept her bad intention deep in her heart.

In the morning before the sun raised, Dewi Mutiara sent her maid to call a black magician. She wanted the black magician to curse Kadita, her step daughter. " I want her beautiful body full with scabies and itch. If you succeeded I will reward you with the present you never thought before". The black magician did the queen order, in the night Kadita body has been full with scabies and itch. When She waked up , she found her body was smell stinky and have a ulcer all over her body. The beautiful princess cried and did not know what to do.

 When The King heard he was very sad, he invited many physician to cure her daughter illness. Day by the day nobody could cure her daughter. He realized that her daughter illness it was not a ordinary illness someone must send a curse or magic spell. His problem became more difficult when the Queen Dewi Mutiara forced him to send away her daughter. "Your daughter will bring a bad luck to whole country, said Dewi Mutiara. The king did not want her daughter become a bad rumour in whole country. Finally he must agree to send her only daughter to leave the country.  The poor princess went alone, she didn't know to where she should go. She almost could not cry anymore. She had a nobble heart. She did not have any bad feeling with her step mother, instead she always asked the God to accompany her passed her suffer.

 Almost seven day and seven night she has walked until she came to south ocean. She looked at the ocean. It was so clean and clear, unlike other ocean which have a blue or green colour. She jumped onto the water and swim. Suddenly when the south ocean water touched her skin there was a miracle happened. Her ulcer has gone and there was no sign that she has ever had a scabies or itch. Even more she became more beautiful than before. Not only that she has a power to command whole of the south ocean. Now she became a fairy called Nyi Roro Kidul or The Queen of South Ocean who lived forever. This is the most spectacular legend until now in the modern life even when you read this story, many people from Indonesia or from other country has admitted that they have met the beautiful fairy queen wear a traditional dress of Java. One of the famous beach hotel has made a suit room specially for her.

G.            (The Golden Butterfly).

KEMBANG MELATI, a beautiful young princess, lived with her old nurse and many serving-women in a palace on the bank of a great river.  Rajah Banjir, the monarch of the rains, lived in his rainbow-colored palace on the other bank of the river. He could cause floods to appear at his will, and his tears made brooks and rivers swell. From his windows he could see the little princess weaving her bridal dress, and he could hear her singing a song for luck. But the princess never looked toward his side of the river.  The monarch of the rains kept gazing at her with great sad eyes. Because he was so sad, he wept many tears, and the river swelled and the wind sighed softly through the high trees around the palace. The princess heard the sighing of the wind, and saw the river rising higher and higher. But she did not know that it was her future husband who was weeping and calling to her.  For many days the monarch of the rains yearned for the princess. Finally, to be near her, he changed himself into a golden butterfly and flew back and forth before her window until at last the princess saw him and opened the window so that she could admire his dazzling wings. Then the golden butterfly lighted on Kembang Melati’s little hand, kissed her finger tips, and flew out of the window.  A few days later the butterfly returned and perched on Kembang Melati’s right ear and whispered to her, "Weave your bridal dress quickly, princess, for soon your bridegroom will come."

The princess heard only the word "bridegroom." She asked, 'Where is my bridegroom?" The butterfly did not answer her, for he had flown out of the window.  But someone else had heard her question. That was Nasiman, the wicked son of the princess's old nurse. He went to his mother at once. "Mother," he said, "I was standing outside the princess's window and I heard her ask, 'Where is my bridegroom?' I want you to go to her and tell her that I am her bridegroom."

'That you can never be, son/' the old woman said, "because you are not of noble birth."

"Nevertheless, I wish to marry the princess," he answered.

 "Go to her, Mother, and tell her that her bridegroom has come”

Nasiman was wicked and cruel, and his mother was afraid of him. So she went to the princess and told her of the bridegroom who had come to claim her hand. Just then the golden butterfly flew back and whispered in the princess's ear, "The real bridegroom has not yet come, princess. The one who is now under your roof is a wicked man. His name is Nasiman, and he is the son of your old nurse, Sarinah. Do not many him. . . . Wait till the true bridegroom comes!"  When the golden butterfly had flown away, the princess said, "I will wait, nurse, till the true bridegroom comes/'

"This is the true bridegroom/' the nurse insisted. She clasped her hands and begged, "Oh, princess, dear princess, marry him at once, for if you do not, we shall both die!”

The princess did not want to die. So finally she said to her nurse, "Tell the bridegroom who has come that I must have seven days to think it over. Tell him to wait on the bank of the river and I will send him my answer there’ Nasiman found this idea good, and agreed. He took a big basket, filled it with food to last him seven days, and had it carried to a spot on the bank of the river. On that same day the monarch of the rains called to him a white crow, one of his best and biggest messenger-birds, and gave her a little chest full of costly ornaments and a letter.

"Take these immediately to the Princess Kembang Melati," he ordered, "and make sure that you don't lose anything."

"Don't worry, master," the crow replied. "I myself will take everything to the princess."

The white crow flew off with the little chest bound fast to her back and the letter between 'her claws, and winged her way to the opposite bank of the river. There she saw Nasiman eating the last of a delicious-looking fish. The white crow, who loved fish, flew over swiftly, and cried, "Oh, how good that looks! May I have a little bite?"

"How do you dare ask me that?" Nasiman demanded crossly. "Who are you, and where do you come from, with a letter in your claws and a chest on your back?"

"Well," the crow answered smugly, "I happen to be the messenger of the great magician, the monarch of the rains! And I am to take this letter and this little chest to the Princess Kembang Melati, as my master ordered. What's more, I am to give them to her myself."

"Hmm/' Nasiman said with a false little laugh. "In that case, Til let you eat some of my fish. Put down your letter and take the chest from your back, and fall to!"

The white crow didn't have to be invited twice. She laid the letter and the little chest in the grass, and began to eat greedily of the delicious bit of fish.  Nasiman lost no time. He opened the chest, took out the beautiful golden ornaments and in their place put some "big spiders and some gruesome-looking scorpions. Then he hurried to his mother with the letter. "Mother/ 7 he said, "I can't read, but I imagine that this letter must be full of lovely words. Now I want you to change them, at once, into ugly words. Meanwhile I'll hide these ornaments."  The white crow was so busy eating that she did not notice what was going on. She ate the fish, down to the last scrap. Then she went to get a drink at the spring. The spring murmured to her, "Ah, white crow, why didn't you take the letter and the little chest to the princess as Rajah Banjir said?"

But the white crow didn't hear. She didn't hear the wind, either, sighing to her, "Ah, white crow, something dreadful will happen because of your greediness!"  And something dreadful did happen. When the princess saw the white crow come, bearing the letter and the little chest, she believed that the bird came from her true bridegroom, and in great excitement she decided to read the letter first. As her eyes flew over the words, she could hardly believe what she read: "You are very ugly," the letter said, "and what is in the little chest is foul and old. That goes, too, for your green hair and your blue skin."

She was so angry that she tore the letter into shreds and tossed the little chest, without opening it, through the window. The spiders and the scorpions swarmed over the garden to the great astonishment of the white crow who could not understand how her master could have sent such horrible things to the lovely princess.  But Nasiinan laughed to himself. Now the princess would marry him, he thought  But the princess had no thought of marrying anyone now. She was bitterly grieved by the ugly letter. Weeping, she paced back and forth in her chamber. No one could comfort her, and she cried, "Take away my weaving stool! I will never weave again on my bridal gown!"  Toward evening of that sad day the golden butterfly came back and flew through the open window. He lit on the princess's ear. "Darling princess," he whispered, "why don't you wear the beautiful ornaments that your bridegroom sent you?"

At that the princess hit at him with an angiy hand. The great monarch of the rains thought surely she was only teasing him. He whispered in her ear again: "Beloved little princess, would you like to see your bridegroom tomorrow morning? He will take you to his rainbow-colored palace where the golden rays of the sun are magnified a thousand times into the most wonderful colors, and where you shall see woven cloth so fine, so dazzling, that it is like moonbeams! Come, darling princess, finish weaving your bridal gown, for tomorrow your bridegroom comes!"

The princess grew even angrier. She called her serving women to her and bade them chase the golden butterfly away and never again to let it come inside. When the great magician heard the princess say these words he became so angry that he caused a mighty flood to come over the land that very night. Everything that was not submerged drifted away, torn loose from the land. The palace with Princess Kembang Melati and her nurse and the wicked Nasiman and all the others who lived in it, drifted on the floodwaters.  The palace drifted farther and farther, until it came near the other bank where the palace of the great monarch of the rains stood. The king was in his doorway, watching, but when he saw the princess's palace floating toward him he pretended not to see it. The princess cried piteously for help, but he pretended not to hear.  They were drifting out of sight when the nurse cried out in despair, "It's my fault! I bear the blame! It was I who changed the beautiful words of the letter into ugly ones! And my son, Nasiman, filled the little chest with spiders and scorpions while the white crow was eating the fish 1 /'  When he heard the nurse's confession, the monarch of the rains understood everything. He leaped down and dragged the princess and all the others out of the drifting palace and brought them into his own. Only her old nurse and the nurse's wicked son were not permitted to enter,  "May great waves engulf you!" he thundered. And at his words mighty waves, as high as the heavens, rose in the water and swallowed up the nurse and her son.

The white crow was punished, too, for her greediness. She was changed into a black bird which could never speak again.  All she could say was, "Kaw . . . kaw . . . kaw . . . kr - kr. . . ." It meant "gold . . . gold/' But though the crow searched, she never could find the gold and jewels with which the little chest had been filled.

When the evildoers were punished, the monarch of the rains caused the flood to subside. In a short time, the whole world was dry once more, and when he had accomplished that he turned to the princess and told her that he was the son of a nobleman and that for days and nights he had yearned for her.  Kembang Melati took pity on him. She knew that he was truly her bridegroom from the way he spoke to her. So she married him and lived the rest of her happy life with him in the rainbow-colored palace on the bank of the river.

But, strange to tell, no mortal has ever found the spot where that palace stood.

H.            Situ Bagendit

Far away in an isolated village there was a young rich woman. The house that she had been living in was very big. Her wealth was plentiful. The young woman lived by herself. She didn’t have any friend at all.

“Wouw, I am very rich! Ha…ha…ha, I am the richest woman in this village!” said the young woman while she was looking at her gold and jewelries. It was so pity, that the young woman was very miserly. Her plentiful wealth never been used to help others.

“All of the wealth is mine, isn’t it? So what am I give it all to other for?” The young woman thought. However, many of villagers were poor. They lived in less condition. Sometimes some villagers were hunger, and didn’t get any food for days.

Because of the young woman miserly, the villagers called her Bagenda Endit. Bagenda Endit meant the miserly rich person. “Bagenda Endit, have mercy on me! My child has not eaten for few days”, said an old woman sadly.

“Hi, you crazy old woman! Get away from me!” yelled Bagenda Endit threw the old woman away. Because the old woman didn’t want to go, Bagenda Endit splashed her with water. Splash!, and all over the old woman body and her baby became wet.

Bagenda Endit was a feeling less woman. She didn’t even have a little bit mercy to the old woman and her baby. She even got more angry. After that, she asked the old woman to get out of her house yard. And then, she was dragging her out of the yard. Although Bagenda Endit was very miserly, the village people kept coming in. The came for the water wheel. “No, I won’t let you to take away the water from my wheel! The water in the wheel is mine!” Bagenda Endit yelled angrily.

“Ha…ha…ha…you’re all stupid! You think you just can take the water from my wheel!” Bagenda Endit said while she was watching the thirst villagers outside the fence. Suddenly, a decrepit man was standing in Bagenda Endit house yard. He was walking tottery to the wheel while holding his stick.

When the old man was trying to take the water, Bagenda Endit saw it. Then, she hit the old man with a founder. “Have mercy on me Bagenda Endit! I want to take the water just for a drink”, said the old man when he was trying to get up. Bagenda Endit kept beating the old man. And then, an astonishing thing happened. Suddenly the old man got up with a healthy body. He walked closer to Bagenda Endit. He pointed his stick at the cruel rich woman’s nose.

“Hi, Bagenda Endit, take the punishment from me!” said the old man loudly. Then he pointed at the wheel with his stick. Wus…byuur, the wheel was sprinkling the water swiftly. Not long enough, the water was flooding up. Bagenda Endit couldn’t save herself. She drawn with all of her wealth.

The village was disappeared. The thing that left was a wide and deep lake. The lake was named Situ Bagendit. Situ means a wide lake. It was named Situ Bagendit, because the wide lake came from a wheel that belongs to Bagenda Endit. (taken from the legend of Situ Bagendit).

I.            Patih Gajah Mada dan Pencuri Misterius : 

The kingdom of Majapahit was at its peak in the 13th century.  The wise king who ruled was King Hayam Wuruk.  He was young, intelligent, and brave.  He had a smart prime minister, his name was Gajah Mada.  Besides that, he had smart and young aides and ministers.  Under Hayam Wuruk Majapahit ruled over most of the present day Indonesia.  Majapahit was very prosperous.  The palace of Majapahit was very big.  It was very luxurious.  Inside of the palace there is a special building called ‘Gedong Pusaka’.  It was a house or more precisely a luxurious warehouse to store all the treasure of the kingdom.  There were jewelries, gold crown, earrings, gold coins, gold Kris and many other luxurious things.  That’s why the building was heavily guarded.  There was a high wall surrounding it.  Inside and outside the wall soldiers were on duty twenty four hours a day.  All of them were fully armed.  It was almost impossible for anyone at that time to get into the Gedong Pusaka.

One night the situation in the palace was very different.  There was a thick, very thick fog surrounding the whole palace, even the capital.  The temperature which usually warm was cool.  This situation was very rare in Majapahit.  The Javanese people (the people of Majapahit) interpreted this strange phenomenon as a signal from god.  They were sure that a great event would take place. King Hayam Wuruk immediately called Gajah Mada.  After a shirt discussion they decided to call the army generals.  The king told the generals to put the army in the highest alert.  Soon they ordered all of their boys in highest alert.  The number of soldier who guarded the palace was doubled.  The king and the prime minister stay awoke until midnight.  Every hour they received report that everything was OK.  The night was very quiet.  So at midnight the king and Gajah Mada were asleep. But when it was almost dawn something happened.  A group of soldier who guarded the front gate of Gedong Pusaka reported to the army general that the door of Gedong Pusaka was opened.  When they checked inside they found that the collection of gold coins was missing.  The army chief immediately reported the event to Prime Minister Gajah Mada. Gajah Mada immediately ordered that the commander of the guard was arrested.  Without waiting for the sun to arise he questioned the commander.  Gajah Mada thought that the commander was the one responsible for the lost of the cold coins.  But the commander refused.  He was sure that someone else did the wrong doing.  When the king woke up Gajah Mada reported to him.  But the king was silent.

The following night the situation was very different.  The sky was clear and the temperature was warm.  Although tension had diminished Gajah Mada ordered the army to stay in highest alert.  That time the king was ignorant.  The night was very serene.  Suddenly at midnight the soldiers who guarded at the front gate of Gedong Pusaka was shocked when they saw someone ran very fast from it.  Soon they chased him. But he ran very fast and soon the soldiers lost him.  However they could see that he ran toward the king’s compound. Their commander soon reported to Gajah Mada who immediately came.  He ordered the soldiers to siege the king’s compound.  He also ordered more soldiers to surround it.  Amazingly the king’s compound was covered with cloud.  Nobody saw where it came from but suddenly thick cloud surrounded it.  The fog was so thick that nobody could see the king’s compound.  The cloud even grew larger that finally the whole palace was covered by cloud. The next morning the people of Majapahit was shocked to see the strange phenomenon.  The sky was clear and the sun was shining bright but the palace was covered by cloud.  No one could see it.  The king never came out of the palace.

Soon rumors spread that the thief was hiding inside the king’s compound in the palace.  The army kept surrounding it.  They cried to tell the thief to surrender.  Suddenly someone threw stones to the soldiers.  Some of them were hurt.  Then Gajah Mada got in to see the king.  When he came from inside the palace he told soldiers that the king was all right and that the   thief was not there.  After that rumor spread that the thief was ghost, not human being.  Months later the mystery thief had not arrested and the palace was still cloudy.  Years later the thief remained a mystery and he palace remained cloudy.  Majapahit suffered from a great loss.  It was a serious blow to the economy.  Several years later the kingdom of Majapahit collapsed.

Today territory of Majapahit becomes Indonesia.   People miss the glory of Majapahit.  They are dreaming that the glorious Majapahit will return someday.

J.            Legenda ular Dandaung:

Once upon a time, lays a great kingdom. The region of the kingdom are rich in natural resources the people of the kingdom are prosperous, because the kingdom is lead by a wise king. Many people coma to the kingdom and lives there. The prosperity is well spread among the people of the kingdom. The other kingdoms are amazed and respect the kingdom because of the prosperity. They are getting some benefits too with fair trades with the kingdom. Unfortunately, peace did not last long. Unexpected disaster came upon them. They are not attacked by enemies who envied the prosperity and harmony of the kingdom, but by a giant bird that suddenly appeared. The sky became pitch black as the bird's body is very big. Flap wings deafening. Because the invasion of giant bird was so sudden, the people of the kingdom of extraordinary panic. They are confused and do not know what to do deal with that atmosphere. They thought doomsday had arrived. In the blink of an eye, the kingdom was destroyed perish with everything in it. Building razed to the ground. Trees fall. People met death by falling trees or buried in the rubble of their homes and buildings. Like a lost country, which previously fertile prosperous kingdom into an open field. No plants, animals and humans there, accept the king with the empress and the seventh daughter. They are confused and scared, perhaps came the second attack. If that happened, this is the end their history. With the giant bird is easy to see them because not even a leaf weeds can be a place for shelter.

However, they remain thankful to God because they have survived the catastrophe. In the uncertain situation, they were surprised again by events that made them increasingly desperate. I do not know where it came from; all of a sudden a giant snake is appears in front of them. The snake opened its mouth so big and venomous tongue moving in and out of her mouth. King along with the empress and the seven daughters gathered into one group. The king thought, if they should die, at least they die together although as a giant snake prey.

Snake dandaung "Your majesty needs not be afraid," suddenly the snake speak the human language. "I'm not going to interfere with His Excellency, the empress, and the daughters of your majesty, if your majesty granted one of my requests. The king is surprised to hear the giant snakes could speak human language

 "Who are you? What is your wish? "The king asked

 "My name is Dandaung"said the giant snake. "I want to marry one of his Majesty's daughters."

The king stunned for a moment, after hearing the request of Dandaung Snake. A giant snake wanted to marry his daughter? It makes no sense to marry a human with a snake. But he did not dare to refuse for fear of consequences.

 "I do not deny, but did not receive your proposal," said the king. "I must ask this to my daughter one by one!"

The king asked his daughter one by one. The eldest daughter until the sixth one, refused to marry the Dandaung Snake. The king gets worry about the consequences they will receive if his entire daughter refused.

"I'm willing to be his wife," youngest daughter said to his father.

The youngest daughter decision made her older sister mocking her. But her decision is already set and cannot be changed. They soon married. In their first night, the youngest daughter woke up from sleep. She was very surprised because it was not Snake Dandaung lying on his side but a handsome man. The man said to his wife, "I'm not someone else, I'm your husband, the Snake Dandaung. I am a king who was freed from the curse. "

The king and queen were surprised to see the incident. However, they were proud to him, who is very handsome, and a royal degree. The other princess feels regrets and wondering why they would not want to accept the marriage proposal. The man also have great skill, a giant bird that destroys the royal can be conquered and killed. He also builds up a new empire, complete with all equipment and buildings. The people come again and live in the kingdoms territory, they believe that living in the new kingdom will make them feel comfort and guarded from the giant birds attack. They also have heard about the king's wisdom and the prosperity of the kingdom in the past. The king now ruled the new kingdom once again. He is replaced by the snake Dandaung in the later time and live happily ever after with his wife.

K.            Dongeng Legenda Telaga Warna berbahasa Inggris.

Long, long ago there was a kingdom in West Java. The kingdom was ruled by a king. People called their king His Majesty Prabu. Prabu was a kind and wise king. No wonder if that country was prosperous. There’s no hunger in this kingdom. It was a very happy condition. But it was a pity that Prabu and his queen hadn’t got any children. It made the royal couple very, very sad. Some old men and women who was respected by Prabu suggested the king to adopt a child. But Prabu and the queen didn’t agree. “No, thank you. But for us, our own daughter or son is better than adopted children.”

The queen was very sad. She often cried. That was why Prabu decided to go. He went to the jungle. There he prayed to God. Everyday he begged for a child. His dream came true. A few months later, the queen got pregnant. All people in the kingdom felt happy. They sent many presents to the palace to express their happiness.  Nine months later a princess was born. People sent their presents again as a gift to a little princess. This baby grew as a beautiful teenager then.

Prabu and Queen loved their daughter so much. They gave what ever she wanted. It made Princess a very spoiled girl. When her wish couldn’t be realized, she became very angry. She even said bad things often. A true princess wouldn’t do that. Even though the princess behaved badly, her parents loved her, so did the people in that kingdom. Day by day, the princess grew more beautiful. No girls could compare with her. In a few days, Princess would be 17 years old. So, people of that kingdom went to palace. They brought many presents for her. Their presents gift were very beautiful. Prabu collected the presents. There were really many presents. Then Prabu stored them in a building. Some times he could take them to give to his people.  Prabu only took some gold and jewels. Then she brought them to the goldsmith. “Please make a beautiful necklace for my daughter,” said Prabu. “My pleasure, Your Majesty,” the goldsmith replied. The goldsmith worked with all his heart and his ability. He wanted to create the most beautiful necklace in the world because he loved his princess.

 The birthday came. People gathered in the palace field. When Prabu and queen appeared, people welcomed them happily. Prabu and his wife waved to their beloved people. Cheers were louder and louder when the princess appeared with her fabulous pretty face. Everybody admired her beauty. Prabu got up from his chair. A lady gave him a small and glamorous pillow. A wonderful necklace was on it. Prabu took that necklace. “My beloved daughter, today I give this necklace to you. This necklace is a gift from people in this country. They love you so much. They presented it for you to express their happiness, because you have growing to a woman. Please, wear this necklace,” said Prabu.

Princess accepted the necklace. She looked at the necklace in a glance. “I don’t want to accept it! It’s ugly!” shouted the princess. Then she threw the necklace. The beautiful necklace was broken. The gold and jewels were spread out on the floor

Everybody couldn’t say anything. They never thought that their beloved princess would do that cruel thing. Nobody spoke. In their silence people heard the queen crying. Every woman felt sad and began crying too. Then everybody was crying.  Then there was a miracle. Earth was crying. Suddenly, from the under ground, a spring emerged. It made a pool of water. The palace was getting full. Soon the place became a big lake. The lake sank all of the kingdom.

Nowadays the water on that lake is not as full as before. There is only a small lake now. People called the lake “Talaga Warna”. It is mean “Lake of Colour”. It’s located in Puncak, West Java. On a bright day, the lake is full of colour. So beautiful and amazing. These colors come from shadows of forest, plants, flowers, and sky around the lake. But some people said that the colours are from the princess’s necklace, which spreads at the bottom of the lake. Sumber Talaga Warna.

L.            Dongeng Sejarah Terbentuknya Banyuwangi dalam Bahasa Inggris

Banyuwangi is a name of a district in the province of east Java, Indonesia. It is located in the earternmost part of the island of Java, next to Bali. Bali strait is between Banyuwangi and the island of Bali. The culture of Banyuwangi is unique because it is a blend of Javanese, Balinese and Madurese influence. Here is a well known legend about Banyuwangi.

Long time ago Banyuwangi was called Blambangan. It was a kingdom under a wise king who had a handsome and smart son. Raden Banterang was his name. He liked hunting very much. He often went to forest around Blambangan to hunt for animals. One day when he was in a forest he saw a deer. He chased it and the deer ran deeper into the forest. His horse was so good and strong that he left his guards behind. Unfortunately he lost the deer. As he took a rest under a big banyan tree suddenly a lovely lady appeared in front of him. Raden Banterang was very surprised to see a beautiful girl alone in the forest. He was suspicious that she was not a human being. So he asked her.

'Excuse me lovely lady, do you live around here?'

'No, I don't. I'm from Klungkung, Bali. My name is Surati. I'm a princess, the daughter of the king of Klungkung. I need your help'

'I will gladly help you, but please tell me what your problem is'

'I'm in danger. There was a rebellion in Klungkung. The rebel killed my father but I could escape. My guards took me here but I lose them. Now I'm alone. I don't know where to go. I have no relative here. Please help me'

'You are coming to the right person. I'm prince Banterang from the kingdom of Blambangan. I will protect you. Please come with me.'

Then Raden Banterang took Surati home. He fell in love with her and then several months later he married her. One day when Surati was in the street he met a man. The man called him.

'Surati, Surati'

She was surprised to realize that the man was her brother Rupaksa. Rupaksa told her that it was Raden Banterang who killed their father. He came to Blambangan to take revenge and asked surati to join him. Surati was shocked but she refused to join.

'I'm really shocked to hear the news. But I'm not sure. Raden Banterang is now my husband. He's very kind to me. He never hurts me. He's protecting me. As a good wife I will never betray him. It is my duty to serve him.'

'But he killed our father'.

'It is hard for me to believe it. When I met him he was here, not in Klungkung'

Rupaksa was disappointed with her sister. He was also very angry to her. 'OK then. I have to go now. But please keep my head dress. Put it under your pillow'

Rupaksa gave his head dress to his sister Surati. To respect her older brother Surati put it under her pillow. Several days later Raden Banterang was hunting in a forest when he met a man that looked like a priest. The man greeted him politely. Then he said something.

'Your life is in danger. Someone has an evil intention to you'

'Who is he?'

"Your wife Surati'

"Surati? How do you know?'

'I am a priest. I have clear spiritual vision. I just want to save you. Search her room. If you find a head dress under her pillow then my words are correct. It is from a man who will help her kill you

'Thank you your Holiness'

Raden Banterang was shocked. He was very angry to his wife then he immediately went home. When he got to the palace he immediately searched Surati's bed room. As he found the head dress under her pillow he was sure that the priest was right.

'You are unfaithful wife. I know that you want me dead. This is the evidence. This is from a man who will help you kill me. Tell me who he is'. Surati was shocked and cried.

'It is my brother's head dress. I met him several days ago when you went hunting. He gave me his head dress and told me to put it under my pillow. So I put it there to respect him. It is him who want to kill you, not me'. But Raden Banterang did not trust her. He gave her a death sentence. He took his wife to a river bank as he would stab his wife and throw her body into the river.

'Before I die, let me say a few words'

'Please do'

'After I die, just throw my body into the river. If the water become dirty and smelly, it means that I am guilty. But if the water become clear and fragrance come out of it, it means that I am innocence'.

Then as Raden Banterang would stab her wife with a kris Surati threw herself into the river. Amazingly the water became clear and fragrance came out of it. Surati was innocent! Raden Banterang regretted his emotional behavior. Since then on he changed the name of his kingdom into Banyuwangi. Banyu means water and Wangi menas fragrance.

M.         Gunung Bromo

Long long time ago there lived a couple in the village near the top of mount Bromo. Joko Seger is his name. He lived peacefully with his wife Roro Anteng. But they were not happy because after some time they did not have any children. Then Joko Seger meditated in mount Bromo asking for god to give them children. Some times later Joko Seger had a dream. In his dream he was told that he would have descendants but on one condition. The god asked him to sacrifice his children to the crater of mount Bromo. If he refused to sacrifice, then the god will be angry. Without thinking twice Joko Seger agreed to the condition. After that every year Roro Anteng gave birth to twenty five children. They were very happy and they loved their children so much that they were reluctant to sacrifice them to the crater. They did not give anything to the crater. Then something happened.

One day there was a big eruption of mount Bromo. Smoke, fire, hot cloud of ash came out of its crater. The earth was trembling. The sky was dark. Animals ran away from the mountain. People were very scared since some of them became victims of the hot cloud. Joko Seger and Roro Anteng remembered their promise to god. He realized that god was very angry. So he decided to sacrifice one of his sons. Then he went to the crater with his youngest son Kusuma. Because Joko Seger did not really want to sacrifice his son to the crater, he tried to hide him. But suddenly an eruption began and made Kusuma fall. Afterwards, Kusuma, who had fell to the crater, gave a voice, "I have to be sacrificed by my parents so that you will all stay alive. From now on, you should arrange an annual offering ceremony on the 14th of Kesodo (the twelfth month of Tenggerese calender.)"

Since then on Joko Seger and Roro Anteng gave offerings to the crater. Every year on the 14th day of the month of Kesada the people of Tengger held a ceremony to give offerings.

N.            Damar Wulan

Damar Wulan was born in the village of Paluh Amba, not far from the capital city of Majapahit. He was the son of Udara, the former prime minister of Majapahit. Since his father had retired his family live in a quiet and prosperous village outside the capital. Damar was a smart boy so he could easily learned the lessons his father taught him. He learned martial art, religion, politics, and literature. He was very good at all those subjects. When his father thought that he is mature enough, he asked Damar to find job in Majapahit. He told Damar to apply for a job at the Prime Minister's office. He hoped that his close relation with the new prime minister would help him get the prime minister's attention. Furthermore Damar was a smart boy so his father was sure Damar was capable to do any job. Damar was very confident he would get a good position at the prime minister's office. Early morning he left his village. At midday he got to Majapahit and he directly went to the prime minister's house. Prime Minister Logender was his name. The guards sarcastically questioned him when he told them he would see the prime minister.

'Who do you think you are?'

 'I am Damar Wulan. I am the son of the former prime minister Udara. My father told me to see the prime minister here'

'If you think you can impress us by telling us about your father, you are completely wrong poor boy. The son of a prime minister would never go anywhere on foot'

'But, that's true. My father told me to find job here'

'Listen poor boy, the prime minister is a very busy person. He does not have time for job seeker like you. But if you need a job, there is a vacant position here. Let me report my chief'

Then the soldier reported to his superior. After that someone called Damar to get into the commander's chamber. He told Damar that the prime minister's office needed several boys to take care of the horses. Damar was surprised because he expected clerical job but then he accepted the offer. Since that day he lived in a simple hut behind the prime minister's house. Damar did a good job so his superior was satisfied with him. He was also very sociable. Soon he had a good relationship with the prime minister and his family. The prime minister had two sons - Layang Seto and Layang Kumitir and a daughter - Anjasmoro. His sons were very arrogant and lazy. They treated Damar cruelly. They wanted Damar to do whatever they want. Every body hated them but nobody dare to express their feeling. Anjasmoro, on the other hand, liked Damar very much. Gradually she fell in love to Damar. So did Damar. They had a secret love. When Layang Seto and Layang Kumitir knew what happened to Damar and Anjasmoro, they were very angry. They treated Damar more and more cruelly. At the time the kingdom of Majapahit faced a very serious problem because of the rebellion of Menak Jinggo. He was a half brother of the Queen Kecono Wungu. He was a prince of Majapahit and a highly respected general of the Majapahit army. For his great achievement for his country his father appointed him as the ruler for the kingdom of Blambangan, a vassal state under Majapahit. When his father passed away he was sure that he would become the successor. But he was very disappointed when his father appointed his sister instead. He thought that he was more capable than Kencono Wungu so he rebelled.

Menak Jinggo proved to be a good general. Under his leadership the Blambangan army could win several battles with Majapahit army. The territory of Majapahit one by one fell to Blambangan. At the time the morale of the Majapahit army was already down. They were not sure that they could win the war. So the queen and the prime minister met everyday to discuss the worsening situation. Some weeks went by but still they did not have any ideas to solve the problem. Every report they received about the war was only about the defeat of the Majapahit army. Prime Minister Logender was shocked when his wife reported to him about the affair of Anjasmoro and Damar Wulan. For a highly respected person like him, it was a very serious blow to his ego. He was a very respectable person while his daughter dated with a poor boy. It was a serious humiliation. He could not accept it. This fact made him very angry. He thought very hard to find a solution. Suddenly an idea struck his sharp mind when he was meditating at midnight.

Early in the morning he went to the palace and asked the queen for an audience. Then he explained his plan.

'Your Majesty, last night I had an idea'

'Tell me about it'

'Our army could not win because we apply a wrong strategy. The Blambangan army is very good at a frontal open warfare like that. Furthermore our army's morale is now down. So we have to avoid open warfare. Since now on we have to launch a new tactics of secret operation. We must send a small army unit to kill Menak Jinggo secretly'

'Who will do that?'

'I have a body guard. His skill in martial art is excellent. He is very capable at individual fight. So he is ready for this duty. I am sure he is the right person'

'OK, I think you are right. Send him as soon as possible to Blambangan. If he can do his job well I will give him great reward'

When Logender got home he called Damar Wulan immediately. He asked him about his martial art skill. Damar said he had mastered some fighting skill. His father had trained him Pencak Silat, the Indonesian martial art. As a result, he was very skillful at using sword, lance, as well as empty hand fighting technique. Then Logender asked him to fight both Layang Seto and Layang Kumitir. Both of them fought emotionally since they hated Damar very much. But Damar was smart, skillful, strong and tough. In just several minutes he could beat both of them without difficulty. Logender was angry but also satisfied since he found a way to get rid of both problems - his home and his country.

'Damar, you are a great fighter. I am very proud of you. And that's why you will receive a great honor to fight for your country. Now there is a rebellion in Majapahit. The king of Blambangan has done a crime. His name is Menak Jinggo. Find him in his palace and Blambangan and kill him. Are you ready?'

'I am ready any time Sir'

'Good. Today you have to prepare everything and tomorrow you must leave for Blambangan secretly. Do not tell any one about this duty. Not even Anjasmoro. Don't be afraid because the Majapahit army will fully support you. They will back you and provide all your needs. When you can kill Menak Jinggo behead him and bring his head here. If you can do this job well you will be promoted to a high position as the commander of Majapahit army'

'Yes, Sir. I am very glad to receive this order. I will do my best'

The next day, very early in the morning Damar Wulan left Majapahit alone. Meanwhile Prime Minister Logender had implemented his own plan. He prepared a small army unit under the leadership of his two sons. They went behind Damar in a distant so that Damar did not notice them. They went secretly so no one knew it. Their task was not to protect Damar but to kill him and seize the head of Menak Jinggo if he could kill Menak Jinggo. But if Damar was killed then they had nothing to do. Several days later Damar Wulan arrived in Blambangan. The Majapahit army kept on spying on him. They were surprised to see Damar did not directly attack the palace. He applied for a job instead. Once again he was accepted to work in the palace to take care of the horses. Everybody including the king Menak Jinggo liked him because he was very polite and he did his job well. He was also very handsome that two of the king's wife fell in love with him. Waito and Puyengan were the wives of King Menak Jinggo.

As everybody trusted him, it was easy for Damar to search the palace. He knew where Menak Jinggo lived. One night he secretly jumped the palace wall to kill the king. Finally he was inside the king's bedroom. But unfortunately the king was ready to welcome him. A small army unit was there to arrest him. He was no match for Menak Jinggo. But Menak Jinggo was a smart person. He did not kill Damar instantly. He wanted to gather information from him. So he ordered his guards.

'Don't kill him. Let him alive, treat him well. I will question him tomorrow'.

 'Yes, Your Majesty'

He ordered his men to treat him well. He even let Waito and Puyengan to see Damar. By doing so he hoped that Damar would give him valuable information. But Damar was also a smart person. He dated Waito and Puyengan and he asked them the way to kill Menak Jinggo. Since the two women loved Damar they revealed a secret.

'Nobody can hurt him. He is a tough guy and he is protected by god. God gave him a secret weapon called Wesi Kuning'

 'What is that?'

 'That's a golden amulet. It is just a small amulet, as small as a thumb but it is very powerful. Its shape is like a stick. It is stored in his bedroom'

'He is a dangerous man. We have to stop him. Could you help me find his amulet?

'I will help you if you marry me'

'Sure I will marry both of you as soon as I can arrest him'

When their turn to amuse the king arrived Waito and Puyengan could get into the kings chamber. They used that opportunity to steal the amulet. Then they gave it to Damar Wulan. Menak Jinggo did not realize their conspiracy. When the night was very quiet they opened the door for Damar Wulan. There was a fight but it was too late for Menak Jinggo. The sudden attack did not give him much chance to survive. Consequently Damar could beat his enemy and Menak Jinggo was beheaded.

Damar Wulan immediately left Blambangan palace that night while promising Waito and Puyengan to be back after he received the rewa.

O.            (Cursed Sword, Keris)

The king of Kediri Kingdom in East Java, Kertajaya thought himself as a deity, and he was opposed by the Brahmana (priests) caste. When he threated the Brahmanas, they ran to Tumapel and asked the ruler, Ken Arok, for his protection. Ken Arok thought that Kediri army would attack his territory, and ordered his troops to fortify.  Kediri army came to Tumapel as Arok was expecting. The Battle of Ganter, in 1222, was the end of Kediri Kingdom, then Ken Arok formed his own empire, Singosari. Ken Arok proclaimed himself as the son of Shiva. Historians has been argued on Ken Arok's new dynasty because his origin wasn't clear . Who is he? Why he could forma kingdom? Does he have a dark past?

After Kertajaya lost, the Kediri Kingdom was ruled by Tunggul Ametung.  He had a very beautiful wife, Ken Dedes. A statue in Leiden Museum, Netherlands, shows Ken Dedes as Prajnaparamitha, Goddess of Wise.

One day Ken Arok accidentaly saw Ken Dedes, then a wind hiked her gown. Suddenly Ken Arok got a vision, that he had to have Ken Dedes as his wife, at any risk. Ken Arok decided to kill Tunggul Ametung. He ordered a "keris" (a sacred short sword) to a priest, Mpu Gandring. It took a long time to make a "keris" because only englighted priest could make it, and they had to do some rituals for that.  Ken Arok was impatient to wait the keris to be done. His lust to Ken Dedes is getting bigger and bigger. He came up to Mpu Gandring to ask if the keris was completed. When Mpu Gandrig said no, Ken Arok kill him with that incompleted keris. Before he died, Mpu Gandring cursed the keris.

Later, Ken Arok lent the keris to Kebo Ijo, a petty criminal Kebo Ijo was so proud. that he showed the keris to everyone. At night, Ken Arok stole the keris again, and he succesfully kill Tunggul Ametung. Kebo Ijo was framed as the killer, but before he could talk, Ken Arok killed him with the keris. In the 5th year of his reign, a man called Anusapati wanted the throne of Singosari from Ken Arok. Ken Arok had abandoned Mpu Gandring's keris but Anusapati killed him with that.  Ken Arok had a concubine named Ken Umang, and their son, Tohjaya decided the revenge.

At the 21th year of Anusapati's rule, Tohjaya invited Anusapati for gambling, and when Anusapati was having fun, Tohjaya killed Anusapati, again with Mpu Gandring's keris. After Anusapati's death, his son Ranggawuni wanted the throne. Tohjaya sent Lembu Ampal to attack Ranggawuni and his companion, Mahesa Cempaka. Lembu Ampal realized that Ranggawuni was the right person to be the king, and they fought against Tohjaya. Tohjaya was killed with Mpu Gandring's keris. Ranggawuni and Mahesa Cempaka realized that Mpu Gandring's keris would only make chaos and death, so they threw the keris to the Java Sea. Legend said that the keris turned to be a dragon.

P.            Lutung kasarung

Prabu Tapa Agung had led a kingdom in West Java for a long time. He was getting old and therefore wanted to choose a successor. But unfortunately, he had no son. He thought of choosing one of his daughters, Purbararang and Purbasari. But it wasn’t an easy choice. They were both very pretty and smart. The only difference was their temperament. Purbararang was rude and dishonest, while Purbasari was kind and caring. With those considerations, Prabu Tapa Agung finally chose Purbasari to be his successor. Purbararang didn’t agree with her father’s decision. “It’s supposed to be me, Father. I’m the eldest daughter!” Purbararang said. Prabu Tapa Agung smiled. “Purbararang, to be a queen takes more than age. There are many other qualities that one must possess,” explained Prabu Tapa Agung wisely. “What does Purbasari have that I don’t?” Purbararang pouted. “You’ll find out when Purbasari has replaced me,” Prabu Tapa Agung answered.

After the discussion, Purbararang went back to her room. “Is there something wrong?” asked Indrajaya. Indrajaya is Purbararang’s future husband. “I’m upset! Father chose Purbasari as his successor and not me! I have to do something!” Purbararang said. Driven mad by her anger, she came to a witch and asked her to send rash all over Purbasari’s body. Before going to bed, Purbasari started to feel itch all over her body. She tried applying powder to her body, but it’s no use. Instead, the itching grew even worse. She didn’t want to scratch it, but she just couldn’t help it. In the next morning, there were scratch mark all over Purbasari’s body. “What happened to you?” asked Purbararang, pretending to be concerned. “I don’t know, sis. Last night, my body suddenly felt very itchy. I scratched and scratched, and this is what happened,” Purbasari answered. Purbararang shook her head. “You must have done something really awful. You’ve been punished by the gods!”.

That day, the whole kingdom was scandalized. “What have you done, Purbasari?” demanded Prabu Tapa Agung. Purbasari shook her head. “I didn’t do anything that would upset the gods, Father,” she answered. “Then how can you explain what happened to your body?” Prabu Tapa Agung asked again. “If you don’t confess, I’ll banish you to the woods.” Purbasari took a deep breath. “Like I said before, I didn’t do anything wrong. And I’d rather be thrown into the woods than to confess to a deed I didn’t commit.”

After a short discussion with his advisor, Prabu Tapa Agung ordered Purbasari to be moved to the woods. Purbasari was very sad, but she couldn’t do anything to defy her father’s order. She was accompanied to the woods by a messenger. He built a simple hut for Purbasari. After the messenger left, suddenly a black monkey came to Purbasari’s hut. He carried a bunch of bananas. From behind him, some animals looked on. “Are the bananas for me?’ Purbasari asked. The black monkey nodded, as if he understood what Purbasari said. Purbasari took the bananas with pleasure. She also said thanks. The other animals that were looking on also seemed to smile. “Are you willing to be my friend?” Purbasari asked them. All the animals nodded happily. Although she was living by herself in the woods, Purbasari never lacked of supplies. Everyday, there were always animals bringing her fruits and fish to eat.

A long time had passed since Purbasari was banished to the woods, but her body still itched. At some places, her skin was even ulcerating. What am I supposed to do?” Purbasari sighed. The monkey who was sitting next to her stayed still, there were tears in his eyes. He hoped Purbasari would remain patient and strong. One night, on a full moon, the monkey took Purbasari to a valley. There is a pond with hot spring water. The monkey suddenly spoke, “The water of this pond will heal your skin,” he said. Purbasari was surprised, ”You can talk? Who are you?” she asked. “You’ll find out, in time,” the monkey said. Purbasari didn’t want to force the monkey. She then walked to the pond. She bathed there. After a few hours, Purbasari walked out of the pond. She was shocked to see her face reflected on the clear pond water. Her face was beautiful again, with smooth and clean skin. Purbasari observed her entire body. There were no traces of any skin ailments. “I’m cured! I’m cured!” Purbasari shouted in joy. She quickly offered thanks to the gods and also to the monkey. The news of Purbasari’s condition quickly spread to the kingdom, irritating Purbararang. She then accompanied by Indrajaya go to the woods to see Purbasari. Purbasari asked if she would be allowed to go home. Purbararang said she would let Purbasari return to the palace if Purbasari’s hair were longer than hers. Purbararang then let her hair down. It was so long, it almost touched the ground. But it turned out that Purbasari’s hair was twice longer than Purbararang’s hair.

“Fine, so your hair is longer than mine.” Purbararang admitted. “But there is one more condition you must fulfill, do you have a future husband who is handsomer than mine?” said Purbararang as she walked toward Indrajaya. Purbasari felt miserable. She didn’t have a future husband yet. So, without much thought, she pulled the black monkey beside her. Purbararang and Indrajaya burst out, but their laughter didn’t last long. The monkey meditates and suddenly transformed into a very handsome young man, a lot more handsome than Indrajaya. “I’m a prince from a kingdom far away. I was cursed to be a monkey because of a mistake I committed. I could regain my true form only if there’s a girl who would be willing to be my wife,” said the young man. Finally, Purbararang gave up. She accepted Purbasari as the queen, and also confessed everything she had done. “Please forgive me. Please don’t punish me,” Purbararang said, asking for forgiveness. Instead of being angry, Purbasari smiled. “I forgive you, sis,” she said. Soon after, Purbasari become queen. Beside her was the handsome prince, the former monkey known as Lutung Kasarung.

Q.            Mouse Deer and Tiger

One upon a time, there was a mouse deer living in a forest. Although he was small, he wasn’t afraid of the other bigger animals who wanted to eat him. He was so smart; he always managed to ditch them. One day, a tiger was wandering around for food. He hadn’t been eating for days. He was really hungry. While he was walking in the forest, he saw Mouse Deer. The tiger wanted to eat him.

Tiger slowly ducked, crawled, approaching Mouse Deer, then…”Gotcha!” said Tiger. He caught Mouse Deer. “Hello, Mouse Deer! I’m really hungry right now. You’ll be my lunch!” said Tiger. Mouse Deer didn’t want to be his lunch. He tried to be calm. He looked around and saw some buffalo’s dung. He had an idea. “I’m sorry, Tiger. I can’t be your lunch now. The King has ordered me to guard his cake,” said Mouse Deer calmly. “His cake?” said Tiger curiously. “Yes, there it is. It’s very delicious. The King doesn’t want anyone else to eat it, so he ordered me to guard it,” Mouse Deer pointed the buffalo’s dung. “Can I taste it?” Tiger asked. “Of course you can’t. The King would be very angry,”

said Mouse Deer refused. “Just one little bite, Mouse Deer! The King will never know,” said Tiger. “Well, okay, Tiger. But first let me run far away, so the King won’t blame me,” said Mouse Deer. “All right, Mouse deer. You can go now.” Mouse Deer ran quickly out of sight. Tiger then took a big mouthful of the ‘cake’. “Phoooey!” He spit it out. “Yuck, that’s not cake. That’s buffalo’s dung.”

Tiger ran through the forest. He caught up with Mouse Deer. “Mouse Deer, you tricked me. But now you will be my lunch.” Mouse Deer looked around and saw a wasp nest in a tree. “I’m sorry, Tiger. I can’t be your lunch now. The King has ordered me to guard his drum,” said Mouse Deer calmly. “His drum?” said Tiger curiously. “Yes, there it is. It has the best sound in the world. The King doesn’t want anyone else to hit it,”

Mouse Deer pointed the wasp nest. “Can I hit the King’s drum?” Tiger asked. “Of course you can’t. The King would be very angry,” said Mouse Deer refused. “Just one little hit, Mouse Deer! The King will never know,” said Tiger. ”Well, all right, Tiger. But first let me run far away, so the King won’t blame me,” said Mouse Deer. “All right, Mouse Deer. You can go now.” Mouse Deer ran quickly out of sight. Tiger then reached up and hit the wasp nest. Bzzzzzzz…! “Ouch…ouch! That’s not a drum. That a wasp nests!”

Tiger ran away. But the wasps keep following him. He came to the river. He jumped in and stayed underwater as long as he could. At last the wasps went away. Then he jumped out. He ran through the forest till he found Mouse Deer. “Mouse Deer, you tricked me again. But now you will be my lunch.” Mouse Deer looked around and saw a cobra. The snake was coiled asleep on the ground. “I’m sorry, Tiger. I can’t be your lunch now. The King has ordered me to guard his belt,” said Mouse Deer calmly. “His belt?” said Tiger curiously. “Yes. There it is. It’s the best belt in the world. The King doesn’t want anyone else to wear it,” Mouse Deer pointed the cobra. “Can I wear it?” Tiger asked. “Of course you can’t. The King would be very angry,” said Mouse Deer refused. “Just for one moment, Mouse Deer! The King will never know,” said Tiger.

”Well, all right, Tiger. But first let me run far away, so the King won’t blame me,” said Mouse Deer. “All right, Mouse Deer. You can go now.”

Mouse Deer ran quickly out of sight. Tiger then took the snake and started to warp it around himself. The cobra woke up. It squeezed Tiger and bit him. SSssssstt! “Oouch! Ow! Ooow! That’s not a belt! That’s a cobra! Help! Mouse Deer! Help!” But Mouse Deer was already far away. He laughed aloud. Mouse Deer was safe from Tiger now.

R.            Legend Of Sangkuriang

Once upon a time in west Java, Indonesia lived a wise king who had a beautiful daughter. Her name was Dayang Sumbi. She liked weaving very much. Once she was weaving a cloth when one of her tool fell to the ground. She was very tired at the time so she was too lazy to take it. Then she just shouted outloud.

‘Anybody there? Bring me my tool. I will give you special present. If you are female, I will consider you as my sister. If you are male, I will marry you Suddenly a male dog, its name was Tumang, came. He brought her the falling tool. Dayang Sumbi was very surprised. She regretted her words but she could not deny it. So she had to marry Tumang and leave her father. Then they lived in a small village. Several months later they had a son. His name was Sangkuriang. He was a handsome and healthy boy. Sangkuriang liked hunting very much. He often went hunting to the wood using his arrow. When he went hunting Tumang always with him. In the past there were many deer in Java so Sangkuriang often hunted for deer.

One day Dayang Sumbi wanted to have deer’s heart so she asked Sangkuriang to hunt for a deer. Then Sangkuriang went to the wood with his arrow and his faithful dog Tumang. But after several days in the wood Sangkuriang could not find any deer. They were all disappeared. Sangkuriang was exhausted and desperate. He did not want to disappoint her mother so he killed Tumang. He did not know that Tumang was his father. At home he gave Tumang’s heart to her mother. But Dayang Sumbi knew that it was Tumang’s heart. She was so angry that she could not control her emotion. She hit Sangkuriang at his head. Sangkuriang was wounded. There was a scar in his head. She also repelled her son. Sangkuriang left her mother in sadness. Many years passed and Sangkuriang became a strong young man. He wandered everywhere. One day he arrived at his own village but he did not realized it. There he met Dayang Sumbi. At the time Dayang Sumbi was given an eternal beauty by God so she stayed young forever. Both of them did not know each other. So they fell in love and then they decided to marry.

But then Dayang Sumbi recognized a scar on his Sangkuriang’s head. She knew that Sangkuriang was his son. It was impossible for them to marry. She told him but he did not believe her. He wished that they marry soon. So Dayang Sumbi gave a very difficult condition. She wanted Sangkuriang to build a lake and a boat in one night! She said she needed that for honeymoon.

Sangkuriang agreed. With the help of genie and spirits Sangkuriang tried to build them. By midnight he had finished the lake by building a dam in Citarum river. Then he started building the boat. It was almost dawn when he nearly finished it. Meanwhile Dayang Sumbi kept watching on them. She was very worried when she knew this. So she made lights in the east. Then the spirits thought that it was already dawn. It was time for them to leave.

They left Sangkuriang alone. Without their help he could not finish the boat. Sangkuriang was very angry. He kicked the boat. Then the boat turned out to be Mount Tangkuban Perahu. It means boat upside down. 

S.            The Legend Of Rawa Pening

Once upon a time in old Java there was a village. Pening was its name. Pening was a prosperous village. The land was fertile and the weather was always good all year round. It was on the slope of Mount Merbabu so the climate was cool. People made their living by cultivating rice, vegetables and fruits. The harvest was always satisfying. So all of them lived a happy life. That’s why once a year they held a ceremony called ‘ Bersih desa ’. It was a kind of thanks giving day. It was a day when they express their thankfulness to God for a successful harvest. They would clean their village and then they would pray together. At night they would have a dinner together and held teater performances.

One day after a succesful harvest they would celebrate it. That time they wanted something special. They wanted more meat for dinner. So they went hunting in a wood. Just outside of the village there was a wood where there were many animals like deer, buffalo, mouse deer, lamb and many other. But that day there was no animal at all. Animals were nowhere to be seen. They had searched every inch of the wood but still their effort were in vain. When it was almost dark, they were very tired so they took a rest. They sat on something that look like a rock and a big root. Everybody was silent because they were exhausted and disappointed. Then suddenly someone chopped the big root with his sword to relief his disappointment. Amazingly there was blood coming out of the root. They were surprised.

Someone tried to chop it deeper. He found meat ! So they chopped more and more. After their bags were full of meat they were satisfied. Then they went home happily. That night the people of Pening were preparing a big dinner. They wanted a special dinner with the meat they got from the wood. Just as they were preparing dinner, a boy came to the village. He looked poor. He begged food to some people. But they refused. Someone said :

‘We are preparing dinner. You may come to our dinner tonight. But not now’.

‘But I am very hungry, please’.

‘Just come here tonight’.

But then there was an old widow who took care of him. She was just a poor widow. She gave him food and shelter.

‘You may take a rest here. Join us tonight for dinner’.

‘Thank you very much. You are very kind to me. You are the only one who helped me. That’s why I will save you. Tonight there will be a great event here’.

‘Yes, there will be a great party’.

‘No, I mean something special’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I cannot say now. But listen to me. Prepare a boat for you’

‘Why? What will happen?’

‘Just do as I say’

‘Please tell me what will happen?’

‘OK, you are very kind to me so I will tell you but please promise me you won’t tell anyone’.

‘OK, I promise’

‘I am Naga Baru Klinting. I am a dragon. I was meditating in the slope of Mount Merbabu when your people hurt me. They hurt me by chopping my body. Now they are preparing dinner with meat from my body. So I will take my revenge tonight, but I will save you. Prepare a boat for you’.

‘Oh, please don’t do that. Forgive my people’

‘Whatever will be , will be. Good bye’.

Then the boy left. Just before the dinner began at the village hall some boys were playing in the yard. Suddenly a boy came to them.

‘Hi guys a have a game for you’

Then he held a small bamboo and attached it to the ground.

‘If you can pull it, I will give you a special present’

‘Oh, that’s very easy’, a boy said.

He tried to pull it but it was very strong so he could not pull it. Another boy tried but he also failed. Everybody failed. Then this game drew adult’s attention. One by one they tried to pull but all of them could not make it. When many people gathered then the boy said.

‘O people of Pening. I am Naga Baru Klinting. I am a dragon. I was meditating in the slope of mount Merbabu when you chopped me. Now I will take my revenge. Enjoy your party’. Then he pulled the bamboo. Amazingly, water poured from the ground. The water

immediately flooded the village. Finally the whole village sank under water. They were all drowned and died in the lake. There was only one survivor. The poor old widow. She had prepared a simple boat so she could survive. Since then on the lake is called Rawa Pening. Rawa means lake in Javanese and Indonesian language. Today the lake is located in the province of central Java, Indonesia.

T.            Toba Lake

In ancient times in a village in North Sumatra, there lived a farmer named Toba alone in a flat and fertile valley. The farmer was working on the farm for the purpose of his life. Besides working on his farm, sometimes he went fishing to the river w hich is not far from his home. Each time he was fishing, it's easy because the fish got in the clear river that is a lot of fish. Pancingannya he cooked the fish to eat.

One evening, after returning from the fields he went straight to the river for fishing. But it was quite a long time he did not provoke any iakan gets. Events like that, never experienced before. Because usually fish in the river is easy to hook him. Because already too long no one takes the bait rod, he was so upset and decided to quit fishing. But when he was about to pull rod, fishing rod suddenly was struck by a fish pulled it away ketengah river fishing. His heart had been upset that turned into a happy, Because he knew that the fish grabbed the pole was a big fish. After a while he let the rod is pulled to and fro, then hook it disentakkannya, and there was a big fish hanging and floundered at the end of the rope pole. Quickly the fish was pulled to the ground so as not to loose. Smiling, happy eyes pole he was separated from the fish's mouth. By the time he was off the hook, the fish looked at him meaningfully. Then, after the fish was placed into one where he got into the river to bathe. His feeling elated because he had never had fish that big. He smiled as he imagined how good the fish's meat later when it's baked. When leaving the river to return to his house was getting dusk.

Arriving home, he immediately brought a big fish to the kitchen pancingannya results. When he was about to light a fire for grilling fish, firewood in the kitchen turns out her home was gone. He immediately went out to get firewood from the ground under the house. Then, carrying a few pieces of firewood she climbed back into the house and went straight to the kitchen.

By the time he arrived in the kitchen, he was surprised at all because the big fish that is not there anymore. But where the fish was placed seemed stretched a few pieces of gold. With shock and surprise experienced a strange situation, he left the kitchen and entered the room.

When he opened the door, suddenly tersirap blood because in the room stood a woman with her hair long and curly. The woman was combing her hair as she stood facing the mirror that hung on the bedroom wall. A moment later the woman suddenly turned and looked at the man that stood bewildered at the mouth of the door. The man became very fascinated because the face of the woman who stood before him extraordinary beautiful. He had never seen such a beautiful woman that though formerly he had wandered far into the various countries.

Because it was late, she asked that the lights on. After he turned on the lights, he invited her to accompany him go to kitchen because he wanted to cook rice for them. While waiting for the rice is cooked, as told by her that he was an incarnation of the great fish that had gained him when fishing in rivers. Then explain also that some pieces of gold located in the kitchen it was an incarnation scales. After several weeks she states willing to accept his proposal on condition that he must swear that all his life he would never bring up the origin of her incarnate myang of fish. After he had thus sworn, kawinlah them.

A year later, they were blessed with a son they named Samosir. Sngat spoiled child that resulted in the boy's mother who is less good tempered and lazy . Once large enough, the boy told his mother drove rice every day for his father who worked in the fields. However, he often refused to do the job that forced her mother to deliver rice to the fields.

One day, the boy told his mother again to deliver rice to the farm for his father. At first he refused. However, because of continued forced his mother, with kesl he went to deliver the rice. In the middle of the road, mostly rice and pauknya she eats. Arriving in the fields, the rest of the rice it is only a little he gave to his father. When received, the father was feeling very hungry because the rice was delivered late. Therefore, it is the father became very angry when he saw the rice given to him are the remains. Growing anger when his son confessed that he who takes up most of the rice it. Patience is the father is lost and she beat her son, saying: "Son of insolent. Not ungrateful. Really you're the offspring of women who come from fish! "

Sobbing, the boy ran home to find her mother at home. To his mother he complained that he had beaten his father. All the words uttered slur on his father tell him anyway. Listening to his son, the mother was so sad, especially because her husband has violated his oath with the words slur he spoke to his son. The mother told her to immediately go up the hill which is located not so far from their home and climb the highest tree located at the top of the hill. Without asking again, the child's mother immediately take command. He ran toward the hill and climb it.

When seen by the mother her son was almost to the top of trees that climb up the hill, he

ran toward the river that are not so far away from their homes. When he arrived on the

banks of the river is lightning accompanied by thunder, which megelegar. A moment later he jumped into the river and suddenly turn into a big fish. At the same time, the river was flooding and down too heavy downpours. Some time later, the river was already overflowing everywhere and tergenanglah valley where the river flows. Mr. Toba could not save himself, he was drowned by a pool of water. Eventually, it expanded pool of water and turned into a huge lake that later called the Lake Toba. Being a small island in the middle named after the island of Samosir.

U.            Cindelaras

Raden Putra was the king of Jenggala kingdom. He had a beautiful queen and concubine. Unlike the queen, the concubine had bad personalities. She was envious and jealous with the queen, so she planned to make the queen leave the palace. The concubine then asked the royal healer to help her in her plan. One day, the concubine pretended to be ill. Raden Putra called the royal healer to give the concubine treatments.

“What is her disease?” Raden Putra asked the royal healer. “I’m very sorry, My Majesty. She is sick because the queen put poison in her meal,” the royal healer lied.

Raden Putra was shock and angry to hear the explanation. He called the queen and asked her if the story was true. Of course the queen denied, but Raden Putra won’t listen. “Please Your Majesty, have mercy. I really didn’t do anything,” cried the queen in her tears. Raden Putra’s anger ended in a decision. The queen should be banished to the woods and terminated. He did not know that the queen was already pregnant. Raden Putra commanded one of his general to do the punishment. The queen was banished to the woods, but the wise general didn’t have the heart to kill her. He built a simple house in the woods for her. On his way back to the palace, he smeared his sword with rabbit blood, so Raden Putra would believe that he had killed the queen.

After the general left, the queen lived by herself in the woods. Several months later, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. The baby was named Cindelaras. He grew up as a nice, healthy, and handsome boy. One day, while Cindelaras helped her mother to collect some fire woods, an eagle dropped an egg. Cindelaras brought the egg to be brooded by a chicken behind their house. The egg hatched into a chick and then it slowly became a strong rooster. The rooster is no ordinary rooster. The rooster could sing. Every morning, the rooster woke Cindelaras up with its beautiful song, “My master is Cindelaras. His house is in the woods. He’s the son of Raden Putra.” The rooster often sang that song. Cindelaras always woke up early in the morning and listen happily to his rooster’s song. He didn’t realize the meaning of the song until one day, he started to think. “Who is Raden Putra?” he asked his mother. The queen then told him the whole story. She also told him why they were banned from the kingdom and lived in the woods. Cindelaras was very surprised. He decided to go to the palace to meet the king, his father. Cindelaras asked her mother’s permission to go to the kingdom and to tell the king what really happened. He also brought his rooster

that grew bigger and stronger each day.

On his way, Cindelaras stopped at a village. There, he met some people who were involved in cockfighting. They challenge him to see how strong his rooster was. “If your rooster wins, you’ll get a reward,” said the man who challenged him. Cindelaras accepted the challenge. In a few minutes, his rooster defeated the opponent’s rooster. He was challenged again by other man, and one more time, his rooster won. He won again and again. The news about Cindelaras’ rooster quickly spread to the whole Jenggala kingdom and made Raden Putra curious. So, he invited Cindelaras to the palace. “What is your name, boy?” Raden Putra asked as Cindelaras arrived in the palace.

“My name is Cindelaras, Your Majesty,”

Cindelaras answered. He felt both thrilled and happy to see Raden Putra. Raden Putra challenged Cindelaras with one condition. If Raden Putra’s rooster won, Cindelaras’ head would be cut off. But if Cindelaras rooster won, Raden Putra would share half of his wealth. Cindelaras accepted the condition. The competition was held in the front yard of the palace. The two roosters fought bravely. But in just a few minutes, Cindelaras’ rooster won the fight! Raden Putra shook his head and

stared at Cindelaras from his seat, “That rooster is no ordinary rooster, and the boy is not an ordinaty boy either. Who is he exactly?” he thought. Raden Putra was about to asked when suddenly Cindelaras’ rooster sang the song, “My master is Cindelaras. His house is in the woods. He’s the son of Raden Putra.”

Raden Putra was surprised. “Is it true?” he asked. “Yes, My Majesty. My name is Cindelaras and my mother was the queen,” said Cindelaras. Raden putra called the general who had banished the queen. The general then confessed that he never killed the queen. Later, the royal healer also admitted his mistake. Raden Putra was so shocked. He immediately went to the woods to pick up the queen. Ever since, Cindelaras and his parents lived happily together. As for the concubine, she was sent to the jail as punishment.

V.            Roro Jonggrang

Long time ago, there was a kingdom named Prambanan. All the people of Prambanan lived peacefully. But then, Prambanan kingdom was attacked and occupied by the Pengging kingdom. Prambanan then was ruled by Bandung Bondowoso of Pengging kingdom. He was a mean king. He also had great supernatural power. His soldiers were not only humans, but also genies. The king of Prambanan had a beautiful daughter named Loro Jonggrang. Bandung Bondowoso fell in love with her and wanted to marry her.

“You’re very beautiful. Would you be my queen?” asked Bandung Bondowoso. Loro Jonggrang was shocked. She didn’t like Bandung Bondowoso because he was a mean person. She wanted to refuse, but she afraid that Bandung Bondowoso would be angry and endangered the people of Prambanan. Then, she came up with a plan.

 “If you want to marry me, you have to build a thousand temples for me in just one night,” said Loro Jonggrang. “What? That’s impossible!” said Bandung Bondowoso. But he did not give up. He consulted with his advisor.

“Your Majesty can asked the genies to help built the temples,” said the advisor.

So, Bandung Bondowoso summoned his entire genies soldier and commanded them to help him built a thousand temples. The genies worked in unbelievable speed. Meanwhile, Loro Jonggrang heard from her servant that the building of a thousand temples was almost finished. She was so worried. But again, she came up with a great idea. She asked all of her servants to help her.

 “Please prepare a lot of straw and mortar. Please hurry up!” said Loro Jonggrang. “Burn the straw and make some noise pounding the mortar, quickly.” All those servants did what Loro Jonggrang ordered them; burning straw and pounding the mortar, making the genies think that the sun is going to rise.

“It’s already dawn. We have to go,” said the leader of the genies to Bandung Bondowoso. All the genies immediately stopped their work and ran for cover from the sun, which they afraid of. They didn’t know that the light was from the fire that burning the straw, not from the sun. Bandung Bondowoso can’t stop the genies from leaving. He was angry. He knew Loro Jonggrang had just tricked him.

 “You cannot fool me, roro Jonggrang. I already have 999 temples. I just need one more temple. Now, I will make you the one-thousandth temple.” He pointed his finger to Loro Jonggrang and said some mantras. Magically, Loro Jonggrang’s body turned into stone. Until now, the temple is still standing in Prambanan area, Central Java. And the temple is called Loro Jonggrang temple.

W.         Jaka Tarub And Nawang Wulan

Jaka Tarub was a handsome and diligent young man. He lived in a village near a lake. One day, when Jaka Tarub passed the lake, he heard some giggles and laughs of some girls who were bathing in the lake. He was curious, so he peeped through the bushes. There were seven beautiful girls in the lake. They’re fairies from the heavenly kingdom of kahyangan. Jaka Tarub saw a scarf near the bushes. It belonged to one of the fairies. Jaka Tarub then took it and hid it. Crack!!! Accidentally, Jaka Tarub stepped on a twig. “There’s someone!” said one of the fairies. “Let’s get back. Hurry!” she said. They pulled over and wear their scarf. “Where is my scarf?” one of the fairies couldn’t find her scarf. She was the youngest fairy called Nawang Wulan. They tried to search for it, but it was no where to be found. “We’re sorry, Wulan. We have to go back to kahyangan,” said the eldest fairy.

“You’ll have to find it by yourself. We’ll wait for you in kahyangan,” she said in empathy. The other fairies then flew to the sky leaving Nawang Wulan behind. Nawang Wulan saw them leaving in tears. She was so sad.

“Excuse me …,” said Jaka Tarub, startling Nawang Wulan. “Are you okay?” he asked. Nawang Wulan moved backward, “Who are you?” she asked.

“My name is Jaka Tarub. I was passing by and I heard you crying, so I came to see what happen,” Jaka Tarub lied. Nawang Wulan then told him about her problem. “I can’t fly without my scarf,” she said. Jaka Tarub then asked Nawang Wulan to come home with him. At first, Nawang Wulan refused the offer. But since she didn’t have anywhere else to go, Nawang Wulan then decided to follow Jaka Tarub.

Nawang Wulan stayed with Jaka Tarub in the village. A month passed, and they decided to get married. Nawang Wulan was willing to marry a human because she fell in love with Jaka Tarub. After a year, they had a beautiful daughter. They named her Kumalasari. They lived happily.

Jaka Tarub was also happy to live with Nawang Wulan and Kumalasari. Especially because he always got a lot of harvest since he married Nawang Wulan. He couldn’t even keep all of his harvest in the barn because it was always full. “It’s so weird. Nawang Wulan cooked everyday, but why is my barn always full,” Jaka Tarub mumbled to himself. He was so curious. One day, Jaka Tarub stayed at home. “I want to stay home today. I’d like to play with Kumalasari,” he said to his wife. “Well, I’ll go to the river to wash the clothes. Please keep an eye on Kumalasari,” asked Nawang Wulan. “I’m cooking rice now. Please do not open the pan cover before it’s done,” she said just before she left.

“Could this be the secret?” Jaka Tarub thought. After Nawang Wulan left, he curiously opened the pan cover. He found only one single paddy.

“How come?” he wondered.

Before lunch, Nawang Wulan came home. She headed to the kitchen to see the rice she had cooked. She found that the rice turned into only a few grains. “Did you open the pan cover?” she asked her husband. “I… I’m sorry. I was curious,” Jaka Tarub said as he realized his fault.

Ever since, Nawang Wulan had lost her power. She couldn’t cook rice with only a single paddy. Their paddy supply was slowly lessened. Their barn was almost empty. One day, Nawang Wulan went to the barn to get some paddy. When she took one of them, she found a scarf.

“What’s this? This is my scarf,” said Nawang Wulan startled.

That night, Nawang Wulan asked her husband about the scarf. Jaka Tarub’s eyes widened, “You found it?” he asked. Jaka Tarub looked down and asked for her forgiveness. “Because I’ve found my scarf, it’s time for me to go back to where I belong,” Nawang Wulan said. Jaka Tarub tried to stop her, but Nawang Wulan had made up her mind. “Please take good care of Kumalasari,” she said. “If she wanted to see me, take seven grains of candlenut and put it into a basket. Shake it as you play the bamboo flute. I’ll come to see her,” she explained.

Jaka Tarub promised to take good care of their daughter. He once again asked for forgiveness for all of his mistakes. “I’ve forgiven you, so you don’t have to feel guilty. I must go now. Take care,” said Nawang Wulan as she flew to the bright full moon.***