Posted by Now that you’ve got the idea about what the story of Malin Kundang is, you tell yourself that is just some old stories parents tell their children in the old days so they will not forget them when they grow older and rich. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just have a quick 3-minute look at this animated video about the story. Just click here.
Basically it is a story of a poor man originating from Padang who left for Malaysia and years afterwards returned to his village with a mighty ship, a beautiful wife and great wealth. His mother came to see him but Malin Kundang denied her and said that he had never seen the woman before. All broken-hearted the old mother cursed the son and the ship and they all turned into a stone.
Myth? Maybe not.
If you go to Padang, do not forget to stop by a beach there that is called Pantai Air Manis, which means the beach of the sweet water. You will find a rock formation there named ‘Batu Malin Kundang’ (the rock of Malin Kundang). You will see a rock that looks like a man prostrating himself, face on the ground and also a part of the ship, a rope, a water drum and a pot… all of them made of stone.
So did the story of Malin Kundang really happen? Go visit the Air Manis beach and decide for yourself!
Rock Formation of Malin Kundang Prostrating Towards You
Rock Formation of Malin Kundang from the Side
This shot gives you probably a better view of Malin Kundang
On the ship: the rope, the water drum and the pot -- all of rocks.
The ship that turned into a stone. This part was the stern.
The ship during high tide. This part was the bow.
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What originally the lessons behind the story the children should learn are, that
1. children should never forget the person who had delivered them to the world;
2. children should always give respects and be polite to their parents – particularly mother, who had carried them for nine months, brought them to the world and raised them up – despite how poor or bad their conditions are;