Brunei Holidays : Jong Batu Brunei

Brunei Holidays - Tourist attractions in Brunei, Brunei has many legends, one of them is the 'Jong Batu'. It was said that Jong Batu is actually a sinking ship of  Nakhoda Manis, a son who has betrayed his own mother. He ordered his crew to push his mother small boat away because he was embarassed that his wife was disgusted with his poor mother. His mother was then heartbroken and she cursed his son, a storm then came and capasized the ship, it sank and everything including the people inside the ship turned to rock.

Jong Batu is located at the Brunei River, on the east side of Istana Nurul Iman. The rock outcroping is a shape of a sinking ship and the size is about 20m long and 15m wide at its widest point. The journey to Jong Batu is about 15minutes by boat from the Kampung Ayer.

source :

http://bruneiinformation.blogspot.com/

Nahkoda Manis Tales From Brunei

Once upon a time there was a widow, Dang Ambon, who lived with her only son in Kampong Ayer Brunei. They lived a comfortable life but were certainly not rich. She loved her son Manis so very much. As a boy she used to sing this lullaby to him: 

Manis, Manis, 
My sweet natured boy! 
Manis, Manis, 
Devoted and kind, 
Manis, Manis, 
Truly a mother’s pride! 

When he was older Manis wanted to travel. He wanted to become rich. As a loving mother Dang Ambon knew she would miss him terribly. But because her love was so strong she allowed him to go. She wanted him to be the happiest he could possibly be. 

For a long time there was no news from Manis. To console herself in her loneliness Dang Ambon sang her song everyday:

Manis, Manis, 
My sweet natured boy! 
Manis, Manis, 
Devoted and kind, 
Manis, Manis, 
Truly a mother’s pride!

Many years passed and there was still no news from Manis. Dang Ambon kept herself busy by helping the poor. She gave whatever she could until the day she herself became poor. Despite her now sad situation she still sang everyday:

Manis, Manis, 
My sweet natured boy! 
Manis, Manis, 
Devoted and kind, 
Manis, Manis, 
Truly a mother’s pride!

One day a large trading ship docked at Kampong Ayer. There was a rumour that the owner of the ship was Manis! He was already called Nakhoda Manis for being the rich captain of the ship. Excitedly Dang Ambon paddled her small boat in the direction of the big ship. She was to be reunited with her beloved Manis! In anticipation she sang:

Manis, Manis, 
My sweet natured boy! 
Manis, Manis, 
Devoted and kind, 
Manis, Manis, 
Truly a mother’s pride!

Nakhoda Manis was proud and he was indeed rich. When he saw his mother he was ashamed of her and turned away claiming not to know this poor old woman. Dang Ambon was heartbroken. In her despair she cursed the ship full of riches – riches that had taken her son’s love away from her.
She would never sing her song again…
Suddenly, lighting flashed and there was a heavy storm. Rain, thunder and lightning!!!
When the storm cleared, her son’s ship was gone and in its place was a huge rock in the sea.
Today this rock is known as Jong Batu.

source :

http://asianfolktales.unescoapceiu.org/folktales/read/brunei_1.htm

Jong Batu Nakhoda Manis Kampong Ayer

Last week I took a boat ride, when we came across an oddly shaped rock, at a glance it shows nothing more than a large rock, but viewed an angle the rock reveals itself to resemble a capsized ship.

When ask about this,the boat driver, he said there a story that goes way back,,,,way way way back

The story goes there was a young man named by Nakhoda manis who lived with his wealthy widowed mother,Dang Ambon in Kampong Ayer ,disputed being wealthy Nakhoda manis grew restles.He longed for adventure so being a young man he decided to travel to seek opportunities, The mother like any other mother was sad to see him go as he was the only son she had,Dang Ambon pleaded his son not to see the world and leave her all alone, but Nakhoda Manis promise her to return soon.

Year pass with no sight of Nakhoda Manis.Dang Ambon Had spent all her wealth on charity in return

For prayers of his safe returned,

Than one day news came that Nakhoda Manis had returned, he had prospered through his journey and had a beautiful wife which he was so excited to introduce to his mother, which he missed so much

Dang Ambon in her old and worn out boat, eagerly row towards Nakhoda Manis ship, only to be dismissed by her new daughter in law who thought she was a filthy beggar wanting money

Nakhoda Manis recognized his mother but was embarrassed by the looks of her appearance,

Denied her and asked his crew to push the old lady

Dang Ambon was so heartbroken and insulted; with this she cursed her son, as the saying goes

Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned and at once the clouds gathered on what was sunny day and a great thunderstorm broke loose.

A massive bolt of light struck Nakhoda Manis ship causing it to capsize. After the storm subsided,

The villages of kampong Ayer was surprise and shocked to see that the ship had morphed into a giant rock, which is now known as Jong Batu..There u go on the story of Jong Batu...

http://kaporsirih.blogspot.com/2011/12/jong-batu-kampong-ayer.html