In this edition of SEA Wave’s Into the Horror-verse mini-series, we will feature urban legends around Southeast Asia. The sightings and stories of these tales and legends are passed down from each country’s generation.
Before the reds and greens and bright lights of Christmas, Halloween comes with eeriness and dark themes that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Today, let’s peek into the various urban legends around Southeast Asia (SEA) embedded into their culture and daily life. Whether as a cautionary tale or real-life experience, these tales passed down from generation to generation will surely give you the spooks.
From phantom vehicles to spirits to haunted buildings, SEA is a melting pot of rich culture and urban legends, and we want to share them with you. Are you ready to get pulled into the SEA horror-verse? Here are the High Five Southeast Asian urban legends that sent chills down our spines.
Brunei
Photo credits: Dilan Kusanc and Elina Araja
Students, have you ever stayed up late to finish schoolwork? Our urban legend from Brunei starts at a library late at night with a student diligently doing her schoolwork. A woman in white approaches the student and asks to sit next to her. The student thinks nothing of it at first, but when her pen fell to the floor and she reached for it, she saw that the legs of the woman were severed and bloodied. As the student began to hastily fix her belongings, the ghost’s form turned into a demon and said, “Ah…kan balik kah banar tu…Atau kau tau sudah keuwujudan ku? (Ah…Isn’t it true that I came back…Or did you know that I had already come into being?)” The student ran as fast and as far away from the ghost as she could until she fainted.
Have you experienced any creepy happenings at your library?
Indonesia
Photo credits: Klas Tauberman and Elina Araja
Have you heard of the maiden of Ancol Bridge? The beautiful bridge in Indonesia has been a subject of a sad and sinister urban legend since the 18th century. It was said that a woman named Ariah married a man who was in deep debt. The husband’s creditor was a rich and greedy man and, because the husband was unable to pay their debt, the creditor demanded to receive Ariah in exchange for the money owed. Upon learning about this, Ariah ran as far away as she could, but the creditor’s men caught up to her in Ancol Bridge where she met her demise. To this day, Ariah haunts the bridge and lures men to their deaths as revenge for what was done to her—bodies have been found under the bridge which is seen as proof that Ariah is still in our plane.
Some say that to keep yourself safe on the bridge, you have to say Maryam the Sweet Maiden to appease her. Would you pass through this bridge?
Malaysia
Photo credits: Lorete M, Anthony Mackajone, Beatrice Gemmi
Have you ever experienced driving in the dead of night and you feel uneasy about the road you’re traveling on? Malaysia is home to such a highway that will send you speeding through the night.
Karak Highway is said to be one of the most haunted roads in the country. The road goes through a dark tunnel and is infamous for multiple accidents happening in the area, the most notable of which was a multiple car collision in the ‘90s, where ten vehicles collided causing the death of 17 people. Since then, it has been a hotspot for supernatural sightings and incidents.
The White Lady of Karak Highway is said to hail cab drivers, silently handing them a piece of paper with her drop-off point. Upon arriving at the destination, cab drivers will immediately notice that the location is a cemetery and their passenger will have disappeared. It is said that the cemetery houses the gravestone of the White Lady, who died in a hit-and-run incident on Karak Highway
The Wandering Boy is also said to haunt the road, asking drivers if they saw his mom. Legend says that the boy and his mother were in a car accident on Karak Highway where both of them died – the boy died inside the car while his mom was flung out of the car, thus separating them and leading the boy to search for his lost mother.
The last legend on this highway is that of the Yellow Volkswagen Beetle. At midnight, this vehicle would slow down in front of your car, forcing you to overtake it and get into an accident. You can escape it by patiently waiting behind the car until you escape the tunnel.
Drive safely, readers!
Philippines
Photo credits: Pixabay and Johannes Plenio
You’ve heard of the Bermuda Triangle, but have you heard of the Romblon Triangle? As the name suggests, the Romblon Triangle is the Philippines’ version of the infamous aquatic location. The three points marking this deadly site are Conception municipality in the northwest, Dos Hermanos Islands, and Sibuyan Island.
At least seven ships have met their end in the middle of this site – the Musashi, Nagato, and Myoko in 1939, MV Doña Paz in 1987, M/S Don Juan in 1980, M/B Jem in 1989, and M/V Princess of the Stars in 2008. There have been accounts as well saying that M/V Don Juan was avoiding a ghost ship during its voyage, causing it to collide with a tanker and sink. People have also rationalized the incidents saying that since the West Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet at this exact point, the riptides they cause are quite dangerous.
Whether it is a natural phenomenon or something supernatural controlling the tides, travelers should beware when boarding ships that take this route.
Singapore, Thailand & Vietnam
Photo credits: Josh Sorenson and Saeful Bahri
While this last entry is technically three stories in one, they all share a common thread – Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam all have urban legends surrounding some historic sites and dilapidated buildings.
Singapore has Bishan, the town built around the dead. Formerly known as Kampong San Teng, the location served as a cemetery in the 1800s and was the site of a firefight during the Battle of Singapore in 1942. It is known as a hotspot for supernatural activity, with stories of “faceless, headless or otherworldly beings” haunting the area.
Thailand has the Sathorn Unique Tower, also known as the Ghost Tower. The tower is an unfinished skyscraper that was abandoned in the ‘90s due to political controversies surrounding its architect and the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The place is eerie in its emptiness, with broken glass and debris scattered all over the place. In 2014, the body of a Swedish man was found in the building, which only added to its legend.
Vietnam has 727 Tran Hung Dao, located in Saigon, which was once a hotel home to American soldiers in the 1960s. It wasn’t until the 13th floor was finished that supernatural occurrences constantly happened. From ghostly whispers and screams to unexplainable silhouettes, this deteriorating building is also home to unexplained hauntings.
Which of the stories above gave you the chills? Do you have any supernatural encounters you want to share? Just comment on them below.
Happy spooky season and stay safe, everyone!
For more Southeast Asian stories, visit seawavemag.com.
SEA Wave’s Into the horror-verse is a mini-series that showcases Southeast Asian countries’ urban legends, horror stories, spooky events, mythological creatures, and folk legends, keeping stories that make each country’s rich culture alive.