Tasik Chini - part 2

Once upon a time, at a beautiful lake in a kingdom of Pahang, dwell a dragon known as Seri Gumum (some said there are 2 dragons, the other dragon is known as Seri Pahang*). Some said the lake is the beast home. Some said the beast stayed in the lake to train it's power. Not one knew whether it true or false. But everyone knew that they cannot disturb the beast. Everyone knew there are a lot of do's and dont's when they go to the lake.

The lake prosper and a lot of native people live there. From the lake, they get fish. From the forest, they hunt for the deer, forging fruits and cut the tree. All the living live peacefully in and around the lake. And all know that the lake will be peaceful as long as the dragon dwell there.

There are rumours about a bad creature that went amok at the sea. The creature disturb other living being, destroyed human ship, and other thing. The rumours was carried by the wing to the inland and then was heard by the dragon(s*). One of the dragons decided to stop the chaos but they know if one of them decided to go to the sea, the human need to move, the water level at the lake and Sungai Pahang will raise and flood will happened. They decide to wait until the monsoon season.

*The dragons contact the human live around the lake. They advised the people to prepare the foods and move to higher ground during monsoon season. The human know that finally the beast in the lake will make their move.

The monsoon season finally came. Rain fall heavily and continued for several days and nights. The human know the worse will come. They will see a biggest flood no one alive ever seen. The flood will become a history known the Pahang people**.

The water has risen. The path to the Pahang river finally open wide for the beast. Then on one night, one of the dragons make their move.

To make the story short, the dragon finally arrived at the sea. It searched for the creature. Then it find the creature. The dragon fought with the creature for several days and nights. The moment of victory is near. The creature finally weaken. The sea colour is also changed. From green the water turned into red. Most of the blood is coming from the creature.

Then the unexpected happened. The creature used dirty tricks during the fought. It make the dragon loss a lot of blood and weaken. The creature ran for it's dear life. The dragon didn't had any energy left to fought. Then the dragon decide to go back for home.

During the journey back, the dragon know it will not live long enough. Using it's power, it contact Sultan Pahang***. It tell the Sultan that the moment for it to live is not long enough. It asked Sultan Pahang to tell others about it's death. Then the dragon died. The Sultan performed royal ceremony for the dragon. Some said the dragon is buried at Kampung Ketapang at Pekan and some said the dragon is left at the sea and as the time came, the dragon became an island known now as Tioman Island.

For the other dragon, some said it still live at Tasik Chini waiting for the right moment for revenge. Some said it already made a move. Nobody know and nobody will. The secret lies as depth as the lake.

Notes :
* This is taken from Juara yang Tewas
** Some said the flood happened in 1970's and some said it happened during Banjir Merah in 1800's. Yes, the two flood is the biggest flood ever happened at the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The flood in 1970's had made my grandfather's family moved from our home to the emergency quarters. From my grandfather's story the flood in 1970 is big enough. He said the water also entered our home. For your information our home is about 2 meters from the ground and the water level in our home is about 1 meter. And the floods happened during my lifetime, the water never enter our home.
*** Some said the Sultan Pahang that received the dragon 'call' was the late Sultan Abu Bakar (father to the current Sultan Pahang). Some said it was Sultan Abu Bakar's father.

Tasik Chini - part 1

I'll try to write about Tasik Chini (or Chini Lake). The legend and myth surrounding Tasik Chini. Before that, let us know a little bit about Tasik Chini.

Tasik Chini is located at negeri Pahang Darul Makmur, one of 13 states in Malaysia. Although from my house to Tasik Chini only take about 1 hour (by car) I never go there (maybe someday I will go, who want to join me??). It is said that Tasik Chini is one of 2 natural lakes exists in Peninsular Malaysia. The other lake is known as Tasik Bera also situated at Pahang (now you know why I'm so proud with my home states, don't you?).

A lot of legend and myth surround Tasik Chini. From what I heard and read, once upon a time a dragon known as Seri Gumum live there (other sources said two dragons, the other is called Seri Pahang); buaya putih (or white crocodile) is also live there; a mystical kingdom where some locals said live in the underwater (the palace will surface on the water during midnight); the late Sultan Pahang which people said still living at the lake; human that can change into tiger and etc. Sound found isn't it?

Some research also been done about Tasik Chini. Some research about ecological, some research about the legend and myth and etc.

For the locals, Tasik Chini become their source of water and food. A lot of fish live in the Lake and a lot of plants too. Surrounding the lake is a forest where become source of income for people that live at the lake.

Locals at Tasik Chini divided the lake into 7 sub-lake and all the name started with Laut (or sea in English). And the most peculiar thing is one of the sub-lake is known as Laut Gumum (Gumum Sea) that based on the name of the dragon that once upon a time resided in Tasik Chini.

During my childhood, I heard from my friends and family that a professional diving team once went diving into the lake. They never encounter the bottom of the lake. And local claims they will never find it until they 'get permission' from 'elders' that live at the lake. I also heard that some tourists and locals, encounter with Buaya Putih that still roam the lake. But they never caught him (or her??) or the pictures of the crocodile.

In the next part, I will write locals legend about the dragon(s) that live in the Lake. The legend was published by DBP under a novel entitled "Juara yang Tewas" but my version will slightly differ than the novel. Until then, bye-bye.

Notes :
For more information about Tasik Chini, you can go to
i. Tasik Chini - Rebirth of Sacred Lotus
ii. Malaysia - Tasik Chini
iii. Tasik Chini

Acknowledgement
i. My grandfather that once upon a time always tell me about Tasik Chini legend and myth. He also told me about Makam Tok Panjang (let's wait for the next part ok?).
ii. My father, mother and uncle because told me about the legend surrounding Tioman Island.
iii. My betrothed because providing support for me to write about this legend. Thanks honey. Love you so much. :)
iv. And to all of you who read my writing. Hopefully after this, someone will send me another legend to be posted here.

The Legend FAQ

This FAQ I edit from my other blog

What your new blog is all about?
This blog is to collect legend, history and folklore stories from around the world. The stories will be posted here and manage by me.

Can we post in the blog?

Nope, you cannot post in the blog but you can email the story that you want to post to me and I will put it in there.

How do we know whether you take the story from someone else and which story that you write by yourself?
Don't worry. I will put acknowledgement in the story whether at the top of the story or at the bottom.

Will you pay us for sending article(s) to your new blog?
Sadly no for the moment but I'm not sure in the future. I'll mentioned it when the time comes.

You didn't tell us what is your email, so how can we send our story to you?
Ooh, did I forget to tell my email? I think not. Do you see the blog title in the box? Do you see the writing in the box? My e-mail is in there.

What kind of story did you accept?
Read the FAQ number 1.

Will you backup all the content?
Of course I'am (if I'm not lazy enough at that time).

How often will you update your other blog?
Depending on how many story that I get from you each day.

Why you blog's title and address is not that 'grand'?
Because when I put the title and address, my half brain is stop working for a while (the creative side). So, if you want to suggest another title drop your suggestion at the comment section ok.

Will you host this stories at the other website later?
For the moment the stories will be host at blogger.com. If I'm rich enough to pay for my own web server and domain name I will transfer all the stories in here to the server. Before I do that, I will inform to all of you.

Can you notify us when you updated this blog?
For the moment I will not provide the services because I'm so damn busy right now. For the future maybe yes.

How often will you updated this FAQ?
Depending on how often I have to answer same question.

The Legend

What is a legend?

From here legend is define as a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events. From my own definition a legend is a story that can make us wonder and proud about our culture. Some legend is based on a true story. Some legend is just create by our great-great-great grandfather to make us impress and love our land. From East to West, we heard a lot of legend. Some are almost same with each other. There are mythical beast and creature such as dragon, unicorn, elves, fairies, undead and etc. There are events such as the red flood, the earthquake and etc that were associated with Gods and Goddess. There are special objects that have powers such as Taming Sari, javelin with a yellow piece cloth, mystical kris, mystical swords and etc. And a lot more.

This blog is my attempt to collect all this legend and put it in one place where one can read all legend from around the world. From this legend, we can learn each other culture, tradition and belief. From this attempt, we can respect each other. From this attempt, I hope it can become a structure for us to understand each other and for us to build a new beginning and a better world where war, greed, hatred and etc will forever unknown by our great great grandchildren.

And now, do anyone want to contribute their stories?? Just email me at ruzaimi@gmail.com.