Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Twin Sister Story - I Bawang teken I Kesuna

In this story, Onion is Bawang, and Garlic is Kesuna. They are two sisters who lived with their parents. Bawang and Kesuna have different characters. Bawang is a lazy and do not like to work hard. She is also jealous and gossipy. Kesuna is a quiet, honest and diligent worker. She does almost all the housework, but due to clever Bawang propitiate his parents, then she is loved by them.

One day their father went to the fields and their mother to market. Kesuna asked Bawang to help her doing the homework, but Bawang is always refused. Finally Kesuna did everything herself. After all has been done, she went to the river to bathe. When Kesuna still in the river, their mother came home, and Bawang quickly smeared her body with ashes and said that she worked all day long and Kesuna just play and did not want to help her.

When Kesuna back from the river, his mother hit her with a broom stick and drove Kesuna. Sadly Kesuna went to the woods and cried. There were many yellow birds cerukcuk.

Kesuna said:
"Yellow cerukcuk, yellow cerukcuk
Peck my fontanel
Let me die quickly"

Cerukcuk bird was perched on her head and then peck Kesuna fontanel. Kesuna thought the top of her head had been injured, but on her head was attached by gold wreaths. The bird came and pecked the neck, and grew a gold on the necklace. Then the bird pecked the ears, wrists and feet, fingers, and grew the earrings, bracelets, and diamond ring.

Kesuna realized that she has been helped by these cerukcuk birds. So she decided to return home. But when she got home, his family did not want to welcome her again. Then Kesuna went to her grandmother's house, who received her gladly because she thought that her granddaughter was dead.

One day Bawang came asking for fire to his grandmother. Then Bawang saw Kesuna was spinning. Bawang saw a lot of Kesuna’s jewelry, she requested a flower of gold. Because she has been slandered by Bawang, Kesuna did not want to give it. Bawang came home crying and told his parents that Kesuna had gone home.

Eventually Bawang and her parents knew the secret of jewelry that Kesuna weared. Then Bawang was pretended being scolded by her parents, and was expelled. Bawang pretended to cry out to the woods. When met a bird cerukcuk, Bawang told it to peck her body:

"Yellow cerukcuk, yellow cerukcuk
Peck my fontanel, ears, my neck, my hands, my legs, my fingers,
My whole body.
Let my body full of gold and diamond "

Cerukcuk bird alighted on the body and pecked Bawang. But not gold and diamond that grew, but severe injuries on her body. Then Bawang died on the spot. Crime and greed lead her to disaster.

The writer's note: Being not English native speaker, I do apologize for the grammatical mistakes. For the native speaker, I do appeal you to correct this writing.
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Sunday, January 3, 2010

Balinese Tragedic Romance - Jayaprana and Layonsari

There was a couple resided in the village of Kalianget, they have three children, two boys and a girl. Due to a plague that struck the village community, then four people from these poor families died together. Only one youngest boy survived. He named I Jayaprana. Because he was an orphan, so he ventured to serve in the king's palace. At court, the man was very industrious and the loved him very much.


Now I Jayaprana was twelve years old. He was very handsome and his smile is so sweet and attractive.


A few years later.

One day the king decreed I Jayaprana, to choose an existing handmaidens in the palace or the girl who was outside the palace. At first I Jayaprana refused it, on the grounds that he was a child. But because he was forced by the king finally I Jayaprana obeyed. He was strolling to the market in front of the palace to see the girls who moving around the market.



Suddenly he saw a very beautiful girl. She was named Ni Layonsari, son of Jero Bendesa, came from Banjar Sekar. Seeing that beautiful girl, I Jayaprana very attracted and his eyes kept following the girl movement into the market. In the other side, Ni Layonsari was extremely devastated looking handsome young man who was sitting in front of the palace. After the girl slipped behind the people who were in the market, then I Jayaprana quickly returned to the palace to report to the presence of the king. I Jayaprana’s report accepted by the king and then the king wrote a letter.


I Jayaprana are commanded to bring the letter to Jero Bendesa. Nothing is told in the middle of the road, so I Jayaprana arrived at Jero Bendesa home. He handed over the letter he brought to Jero Bendesa with respect. Jero Bendesa received and held a direct read from the heart. Jero Bendesa agreed if his daughter, Ni Layonsari, is married to I Jayaprana. After he delivered his heart out "agree" to I Jayaprana, then I Jayaprana asked permission and returned home.



In the palace, the king was having a session in the pavilion. Suddenly I Jayaprana came there.


Then King announced at the hearing which, among others: That later on Tuesday, the king will make I Jayaprana marriage ceremony with Ni Layonsari. So the king gave orders to all perbekel, that began to build buildings, homes, etc. for I Jayaprana.



By the day of their marriage all the buildings was completed in mutual cooperation with all beautiful things. When the wedding day arrived I Jayaprana accompanied by his village communities went to Jero Bendesa house, to beg Ni Layonsari with complete ceremonial tools.


The king was sitting on the throne in front of the servants and the perbekel. Then came the company of I Jayaprana in front of the palace. The bride and the groom had to drop from the palanquin, and took a bow to the king with respect. When looking at Ni Layonsari’s face, the king could not say anything.


After dusk the bride and the groom asked permission to return home and leaving the king hall. After the couple left, the king then said to the perbekel, asking how to bamboozle I Jayaprana so that he die. And then, his wife, Ni Layonsari, will become the empress of the king's palace. The king said that if he could not marry Ni Layonsari, he could be dead because of grief.


After heard that, one of his perbekel set forth his consideration, which, among others: that the king should decreed I Jayaprana to go to Celuk Tarima in company, to investigate the boat that was destroyed and the Bajo people who were hunting animals in the region Pengulan. That was the considerations which has been proposed by one of the perbekel named I Saunggaling, which have been agreed by the King.


Now I Jayaprana was very happy with his wife enjoying their honeymoon. But only seven days of their honeymoon, there came a messenger to their home, which meant to call I Jayaprana to attend to the king session hall. I Jayaprana immediately went to the king session hall to meet the king with the perbekels. In the king session hall they were ordered on the morning to Celuk Tarima to investigate the sinked boat and the other chaoses.


After dusk, the court was disbanded. I Jayaprana returned home. He was greeted by his beloved wife. I Jayaprana explained the results of meeting in the king session hall to his wife.

That night, Ni Layonsari was dreaming, their house had been floating by a great flood, she rose from her bed then explained the contents of the terrible dream she had to I Jayaprana. She appealled her husband to cancel his departure tomorrow morning based on the cues of his dreams.

But I Jayaprana did not dare to refuse the king’s order. He said that death lies in the hands of God Almighty. In the morning I Jayaprana with his company left for Celuk Tarima, leaving Ni Layonsari at home in sadness. In the course of the party, I Jayaprana often gets the bad signals. Finally they arrived at the forest Celuk Tarima. I Jayaprana already felt himself will be destroyed. Then I Saunggaling said to I Jayaprana handing him a letter. I Jayaprana received the letter then read its contents in the hearts:


"O thou Jayaprana
Useless human
Walk thou
It was I who ordered to kill you


Your sins are very great
You've exceeded the king's behavior
Your wife truly belongs to a great man
I pick her up, I make her as the king's wife

Give your soul now
Don’t you fight
Layonsari do not you recall
I marry her to be my wife until the end of time. "

that’s the contents of the letter of the king to I Jayaprana. After read the letter, I Jayaprana then he broke into sobs as he mourned. "Well, so was the king, I won’t refuse. Indeed, he planted me and raised me up but now he want to pull me out, that’s okay. I willingly killed for the sake of the king, eventhough I’m not guilty and innocent.


So was lamentation of I Jayaprana while shedding his tears. Then I Jayaprana asked I Saunggaling getting ready to stab him. After I Saunggaling announced I Jayaprana that he just obeying what are commanded by the king with a heavy heart and sadness he was plugging his keris on I Jayaprana’s heart. His blood was gushing with fragrant smell along with the strange signals in the sky and the earth such as earthquakes, hurricanes, rain flowers, and so forth.



After the corpse of I Jayaprana was buried, all perbekel backed home, feeling very sad. On the way they often get put to death. Many of the perbekels died. They dead because of tiger attacked, snakes bitting. The news of the assassination of I Jayaprana had been heard by his wife, Ni Layonsari. Then she immediately drew her dagger and stabbed herself.



That was the contents of a short story of two young people who just enjoying their honeymoon on the basis of pure love but got the obstruction from a king and finally died together.


The writer's note: Being not English a native speaker, I do apologize for the grammatical mistakes. For the native speakers, I do appeal you to correct this writing.
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Friday, January 1, 2010

Origin of Bali Strait

A long ago in the past, in the Daha kingdom there lived a Brahmin who named Sidi Mantera, whose miracle was very famous. Sanghyang Widya or Batara Guru endowed him property and a beautiful wife.


After years of marriage, they have a child whose name Manik Angkeran.

Although Manik Angkeran was a handsome and clever young man but he has an unfavorable nature, that like to gamble. He often lost, so he had risked his parents' wealth, even in debt to others. Unable to pay debts, Manik Angkeran asking for help from his father to do something. Sidi Mantera fasted and prayed for help of the gods.


Suddenly he heard a voice, "Hi, Sidi Mantra, in the crater of Mount Agung there is guarded treasure of a dragon named dragon Besukih. Go there and ask him to give a little treasure."


Sidi Mantera went to Mount Agung to overcome all obstacles. Arriving at the edge of the crater of Mount Agung, he sat cross-legged. As he rang the bell he casted a spell and summoned dragon Besukih.


Afterwards the dragon came out. After hearing his intention Sidi Mantra, dragon Besukih squirmed and the scales out of gold and diamonds. After saying thank you, Sidi Mantra excused himself. All acquisition of property given to Manik Angkeran with hope that he would not gamble again. Of course not long afterwards, the treasure was gone for a bet. Manik Angkeran once again asked for assistance from his father. Sidi Mantra of course refused to help his son.


Manik Angkeran heard from friends that the property was obtained from Mount Agung. Manik Angkeran know to get there he must cast a spell but he never learned about prayer and spells. So, he just brought a bell that was stolen from his father when he slept.


Once on the crater of Mount Agung, Manik Angkeran rang his bell. He was very thrilled when saw the dragon Besukih. After the Dragon heard Manik Angkeran’s intention, he said, "I will give property you wish for, but you must promise to change your ways. Do not gamble again. Remember the law of karma."

Manik Angkeran fascinated by gold, diamonds, and jewels in front of him. Suddenly there was malicious intent that may arise in his heart. Wanting to get more treasure, he cut the dragon’s tails when the dragon Besukih rotates back to its nest. Manik Angkeran fled immediately and were not overtaken by the dragon. But since the miracle of the dragon, Manik Angkeran burned to ashes when the dragon licked his tracks.


Hearing the death of his son, Sidi Mantra was very sad. Soon he visited the dragon Besukih and begged her son brought back to life. The dragon agreed in condition he get back his tail to normal. With a miracle, Sidi Mantra can restore the dragon’s tail. After Manik Angkeran had been revived, he apologized and promised to be a good person. Sidi Mantra knew that his son already repented but he also understood that they no longer could live together.


"You have to start a new life but not here," he said. In a second he was gone. Where he stood arised a water source that increasingly large and became a sea. With his cane, Sidi Mantra made the line that separated him with his son. Now the place become the strait that separates Java island with Bali island.

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The writer's note: Being not English native speaker, I do apologize for the grammatical mistakes. For the native speaker, I do appeal you to correct this writing.
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