Scary legends in Southeast Asia

Mysterious and magical folk tales are a part that attracts curious visitors everywhere to explore.

Discover some lands, visitors will hear about the mysterious legends. No one knows whether these stories are real or not, but it is still conveyed by each other, creating a unique attraction for each land.

Nak's story in Phra Khanong, Thailand

Nak simulation image.

This legend is about Ms. Nak, who loves her husband very much. When Mak went to the battlefield, Nak and his unborn child died at home. But when Mak returned, he still saw his wife and children alive. They lived happily and happily until Mak heard the rumors of the villagers that he was living with ghosts and witnessing many strange things happening in the house. Mak runs to hide in a temple (where demons cannot step in).

That made Nak angry, disturbing the whole region of Phra Khanong until a high-ranking magician held her soul in a jar of earthenware. There are many end versions for this legend. Some people said Nak was rescued from the jar in a flood. Another told a monk who advised her to become reincarnated and would meet Mak in another life.

Today, people and visitors often visit the temple in Phra Khanong, Bangkok to beg for a healthy birth, hoping their husband does not have to leave home for war service.

Origin of garlic, Philippines

The teeth of the beautiful young girl whose tragic fate turned into garlic.

In the past, a young girl was betrothed by her mother to the richest son of the region. The girl who possessed the enchanting beauty of his heart made the envious man to kill the future fiancée to usurp her. The slaves serving the ill-fated fiancé immediately killed the killer. News of the deaths spread throughout the country, the girl fled to the sacred mountain invoking Bathala (who created the universe) to take her away so that her beautiful face did not cause any more painful death.

Bathala accepted the plea, took her to heaven with a lightning bolt. The mother suffering from the death of her daughter had to bury her and cry on her grave every day. Soon after, she noticed that there were many sprouts on her grave when she spit out strange seeds. Bathala gave her a dream that it was her daughter's teeth. The poor mother thanked the god and brought seed distribution throughout the region to remember her daughter. Today, that plant is called garlic.

Pontianak, Malaysia and Indonesia

Pontianak often disguised as beautiful women in white clothes to seduce men .

Ghosts of women dying at birth turn into a Pontianak vampire . According to Malaysian and Indonesian legend, Potianak always appeared in the form of a beautiful girl dressed in white to seduce men, then kill them.

In Indonesia, this witch name was also given to a city. According to legend, Pontianak often appeared when there were cries of children or barking dogs, along with sudden drafts. Initially, the wind will bring a faint floral scent then turn to stink.