The legend of Tasik Chini

Lake Chini is Malaysias second-largest natural freshwater lake, 12.565 acres of lush
wetlands comprising a dozen interconnecting bodies of water. Historians believe
that the lake is the site of an ancient Khmer city, from an era when the Khmer
empire extended into the Malay peninsula. Locals, on the other hand, believe that
the mysterious lake is guarded by a dragon-like beast known as Naga Sri Gumum.
Over the decades, there have been occasional reports of sightings, but as in the
case of the Loch Ness monster, these have never been scientifically proven.

Over time, the existence of seven pyramidlike hills near Lake Chini has sparked
interest in the possibility of a lost Khmer civilization that could date back to the 12th
century. While there is no proof that the hills are man-made, there is a likelihood
that it is part of a lost city that lies at the bottom of the lake. This is based on a
theory that the area was submerged in water after the fall of the Khmer empire, of
which the city was a part of in the 15th century. Although many have made claims
of this elusive sunken city, little effort has been made to unravel the mystery. Based
on pieces of porcelain found in the area, the city could have been built when the
Khmer empire was at its zenith. Ruled between 802 and 1432 by a succession of
god kings, the Khmer empire had its capital in Siem Reap, Cambodia, home to the
famed Angkor Wat. According to locals, the pyramids became more evident when
one of the unique hills in the nearby vicinity of Padang Kerbau was cleared by a
plantation company.
Legends of Langkawi

Tasik Dayang Bunting

Tasik Dayang Bunting is a fresh water lake on the island of Dayang Bunting, the
second largest in the Langkawi archipelago. There appears to be several versions of
the Dayang Bunting legend.

One version has it that Dayang Bunting was a giant guardian spirit that kept watch
over the islands. The lady's defenses include her pet lion and poison from the tuba
root, potent weapons for her protection. Hence, the two islands closest to Pulau
Dayang Bunting, whose silhoutte resembles that of a reclined pregnant giant, are
named Pulau Singa Besar (Great Lion Island) and Pulau Tuba (Poisonous Root
Island). The story goes that, a group of rude merchants failed to pay the obligatory
respects to Dayang Bunting as they passed by the islands. Rudely awakened by the
intrusion, she summoned her pet lion to despatch the trespassers. She roused the
spirits of wind and water, stirring up a tropical storm that unleashed its fury on the
incoming fleet of sailors.

The howling winds and tossing waves threw and dashed vessels on Pulau Jong (Junk
Island), hence the remains of wrecked vessels. In the stormy affair, a cargo of black
and white water buffaloes escaped to Pulau Gubang Darat (Land Stable Island) and
Pulau Gubang Laut (Sea Stable Island) while the white buffaloes sheltered at Pulau
Balar (White Water Buffalo Island). Yet other boats, laden with rice, was stranded at
Pulau Beras Basah (Wet Rice Island).

In another story, a prince once ate half cooked rice during a wedding feast. He
suffered indigestion and farted at two spots now known as Pulau Kentut Besar (big
Fart Island) and Pulau Kentut Kecil (Small Fart Island)!

The second version of Dayang Bunting is closely associated with the romantic
exploitery of Mambang Sari, a beautiful female genie and Mat Teja, a male genie.
Mambang Sari used to frequent the island accompanied by her maids. Their
favourite spot was Pasir Teluk Air Tahun and Teluk Lawak. One day Mat Teja saw
Mambang Sari and was struck by her beauty. He fell in love with her and used to
follow her wherever she went. Once while on a lookout for her, he met Tok Diang an
old man from the village. Mat Teja told him of his love for Mambang Sari but just did
not know how to reveal this secret. He feared that his love might not be
reciprocated.

Tok Diang asked Mat Teja to get the tears of a mermaid from the sea and to wipe
them on his face the next time he met Mambang Sari. He did just that and when
Mambang Sari saw him she fell in love with him. They often met at various places to
enjoy the beauty and serenity of these spots. They became more intimate and as a
result Mambang Sari became pregnant.

She chose to retire at Tasik Dayang Beranak (Lake of Born Maiden) to give birth.
Unfortunately the child died after seven days. Saddened by the death Mambang
Sari took the child's body and threw it into the lake, Tasik Dayang Beranak. The lake
later came to be known as Tasik Dayang Bunting. Some people believe the water of
the lake possesses some mystical power of helping barren women to bear children.
Bujang Senang Origin Glad :

Bujang Senang crocodile said to incarnate Iban warrior named Simalungun. He killed
and cursed be a crocodile and he vowed to kill all the generations mistreat them.
Simalungun is a Iban warrior known around Skrang river, Sarawak. His greatness is
during the expedition Mengayau (Head Hunter) his enemy and the enemies not only
a little bit has been killed by him.His greatness is not only Skrang River, but also in
river Lupar trunk. Simalungun enemies believe that he has the knowledge tanks
that are not translucent brown, and kidnapping his wife so secret immunity
Simalungun can be found.

Dilemma between tribes and the pride and love, come to Batang Lupar Simalungun
hoping he can free his wife and killing her kidnapper. But his wife died by spear
when she immediately released, while Simalungun tooth and nail with the enemy
until Lupar river trunk. Enemies have learned Simalungun weakness immunity
destroyed if he was in

river waters.

They lance Simalungun struck and impaled by his enemies. body Simalungun and
his wife left until submerged deck on the river stem the tide Lupar.Lucky the deity
who gave miracle on again Lungu poured over his body and magical his wife, and
his arrival tide Lungu and his wife turned into a huge crocodile which has a white
stripe behind to haunt the descendants of the killers Stick around Lupar. So born
Bujang Senang, as is known. Easy self-named Senang Name in conjunction with
Senang River, one of Batang Lupar branch where crocodiles Bujang Senang the
legends often found.
The Princess Hindered By Moonlit (Puteri Lindungan Bulan) from Kedah;

2.Cik Siti Wan Kembang & Princess Saadong from Kelantan;

3.Princess Walinong Sari from Pahang; &

4.Princess Santubong & Princess Sejinjang from Sarawak

The first one is about a mythical princess from Kedah, The Land Of Peace (Darul
Aman); the state where my parents live now; and also the home for most of my
mothers side of family. It was said that once, Fort (Kota) Seputeh was the hub for
the administration of Kedah Sultanate. Now, so happened that Seputeh is not far
from Jitra, of where my parents are now; and it is actually my Mak Langs
hometown! That is why I am quite excited to narrate this as the first story.

Anyway, it is told that the Sultan had 2 princesses which were Princess Zaleha &
Princess Mariam. Princess Zaleha was the more beautiful and she was said to be
white-blooded. Stories of the Princess Zalehas beauty and rare white-blood traveled
far across the country and even reached Acheh at Sumatera. The Acheh Prince who
happened to be a so-called casanova was eager to have Princess Zaleha as the wife
although he had no idea how she looked like. I guess having a beautiful and white-
blooded wife could boost the ego of a king as a trophy wife. So, to avoid Kedah
from being attacked yet despised the casanova Acheh Prince, Sultan decided to give
the red-blooded Princess Mariam instead of the white-blooded Princess Zaleha.

Everything was going according to the plan when one day, Princess Mariams hand
was cut and hence, her red blood was revealed! Alas, the casanova Acheh Prince
finally knew he was being duped into marrying the wrong princess!! Without
hesitation, Acheh attacked Fort Seputeh and this make the Sultan panicked. He hid
the white-blooded Princess Zaleha into a fort (and some say a hole) that is so deep
and unseen that even the moonlit could not penetrate the darkness. Legend told us
that Sultan was defeated and brought back to Acheh and died there but the Princess
Zaleha was never to be found by the soldiers. It was said that because she was
being left alone for too long in the impenetrable fort/hole, she finally died and her
tomb was put rest at the Seputeh Hill. Hence, Princess Zaleha was nicknamed as
Puteri Lindungan Bulan or The Princess Hindered By Moonlit, due to the idea that
even moonlit could not find her whereabouts

The second tale I want to share is about a popular legendary figure from Kelantan,
The Land Of Blissfulness. If you see the state-emblems of Kelantan, you will notice
there are two deer holding the coat-of-arms. Now, actually those two deer
representing recognition of the Kelantanese to the popular legendary Queen, Cik Siti
Wan Kembang that was said to reign Kelantan years ago and deer was her most
favourite pet. Legends described Cik Siti Wan Kembang as a very beautiful Queen
who was not only very shrewd in trading but also a very excellent horse-rider and
archer. She was famous for being an unmarried Queen; not only champion in beauty
but also horse-riding, archery and speaking Turkish. The deer was said to be her pet.

Her mystical presence was poised with the fact that she never married and her
presence in history could be linked to Ibn Batuttas record in 1345 that he met a
turkish Queen (who spoke Turkish very fluently) that was an excellent horse rider
and archer at Kuala Krai (it was Kilu Krai in Ibn Battuttas record). Nevertheless, the
claim is disputed by some historians as they said that Ib Batuttas voyage was 30
years earlier than the reigning of Cik Siti Wan Kembang.

Now, this character is very synonymous to another famous Kelantan legendary icon
which is Princess Saadong. It was said that Princess Saadong was Cik Siti Wan
Kembangs adopted daughter and equally beautiful with mystical powers as well.
Princess Saadong was married off to her cousin Raja Abdullah; but then was
captured as concubine to King Narai of Siam. Initially, Raja Abdullah vowed to wait
for Princess Saadong but after few years, he gave up and remarried. When Princess
Saadong found out that Raja Abdullah remarried, she was so angry that she killed
him with her hair pin! Both Cik Siti Wan Kembang & Princess Saadong vanished from
the legends via description that they just disappeared.

The 3rd tale is yet about another legendary princess from Pahang, The Land Of
Harmony. This is the tale of Princess Walinong Sari who is very famous among the
Pahang people and even immortalized in a folk song. Princess Walinong Sari was a
beautiful princess in Inderapura (old name for Pahang) and she was very good in
silat, the Malay martial arts. Apart from that, she also very good in throwing
spears, handling swords and also interested in cock fights, all depicted in the song
lyric, made famous by Siti Nurhaliza (try find it!) !!!! Indeed, she wasnt exactly
behaving like a prim and proper princess and that make her father, the Bendahara
Paduka Raja worried that she might not get any hands for marriage.

Anyway, the unique traits of Princess Walinong Sari was well-known and spread
even to Malacca. Although Princess Walinong Sari was not into the idea of becoming
a concubine/wife to Sultan of Malacca, she followed her fathers wish. A celestial
King named Raja Mambang Segara who dwell in Tahan Mountain heard about the
beauty of Princess Walinong Sari. He turned himself into a pigeon so he could see
for himself the beauty of the princess. He flew into the Malacca palace and saw
Princess Walinong Sari; although veiled with only her eyes visible. He had fallen in
love with Princess Walinong Sari and decided to get to know her better. He then
transformed himself as an ugly young man who challenged the princess in the
silat, the Malay martial arts! Princess Walinong Sari never lost in martial art and
she dared to take the challenge. But as the wife/concubine to the Sultan, she
covered her beautiful face to honour the Malacca Palace and fought with the ugly
young man. 3 days and 3 nights yet the fight was still intense until there was a
moment when Princess Walinong Sari thought for the first time ever, she could lost
this battle! As a last resort, she took off her veil and exposed her beautiful face.
That was the first time the celestial king, Raja Mambang Segara saw the full
beautiful face of Princess Walinong Sari and he fainted because of the extraordinary
beauty! He was then washed and his handsome face was revealed to Princess
Walinong Sari who fell in love for him.

The celestial kings father, Raja Laksamana Petir saw the commotion from the apex
of Tahan Mountain via his magical mirror and very angry as no celestial being could
have faint or defeated by the mere beauty of a mortal! Angrily, he sent thunders
and Raja Mambang Segaras body disappeared into thin air! Princess Walinong Sari
who clearly besotted by Raja Mambang Segara was panicked and she also fainted!
When she was unconscious, Princess Walinong Sari met wise hermit who told her
that the ugly young man was a celestial king dwell in Tahan Mountain. It was told
that the next day, Princess Walinong Sari disappeared from Malacca palace,
rumoured to have gone to Tahan Mountain to find her true love.

Now, the last one is about a legendary tale of Princess Santubong from The Land
Of Hornbill, Sarawak which is in the island of Borneo (Eastern Malaysia). It was told
that once, 2 princesses named Princess Santubong & her cousin, Princess Sejinjang
from the celestial world were descended to earth by the Gods so that they could
bring peace to 2 places that were in raging of war, provided that they MUST NOT
QUARREL WITH EACH OTHER. Both princesses resides in the 2 places respectively.
Each of the princesses has her own specialty; Princess Santubong was good in
weaving and embroidering clothes whereas Princess Sejinjang was good in
harvesting and planting paddies. As time passed by, both of the places became
harmonious and peaceful.

So happened that both of the princesses had fallen in love with the same man,
Prince Serapi. When Princess Santubong found out about it, she was furious and
confronted Princess Sejinjang. It was definitely a sign of calamity that at the same
time, both places of where the princesses were entrusted to protect were attacked
by Admiral Puteh who was angry that his marriage proposal was turned down by
Princess Sejinjang as she had fallen for Prince Serapi. Princess Sejinjang was so
angry that she clubbed Princess Santubongs cheeks with the paddy-club (antan);
this had caused Princess Santubongs cheeks to be one-side-ajar and askew! Now,
Princess Santubong on the other hand refused to submit without a fight! She took
the weaving pole (batang belida) and hit Princess Sejinjangs head and it smashed
into smithereens!!!

The Gods were angry and transformed both princesses into mountains Princess
Santubong into the Mount Santubong (which is visible as a little bit askew-
positioned and seemingly like a woman lying down with her hair spread all over)
and Princess Sejinjang into Mount Sejinjang which was situated across Mount
Santubong; but because her head was hit so hard with the weaving pole, the
smithereens of the head were turned into small islands such as The Monkey Island
(Pulau Kera), Satang Island & Talang-Talang Island.