Indonesia

Islands of ShadowsIndonesia’s many islands are home to lots of ghost stories, where old spirits live alongside modern fears. The pontianak (a female vampire who likes men’s blood) lives near banana trees. Her scream warns of coming danger. Toyols (child spirits) cause trouble at night, stealing for their masters. The famous Nyai Roro Kidul (Queen of the South Sea) demands respect from people who enter her waters. Bali has stories of the leak (shape-changing evil magicians). The sundel bolong (a ghost woman with a hole in her back) and the scary genderuwo (a jungle demon) show how different each island’s stories are. From the penanggalan (a flying head with guts) in Sumatra to the pontianaks in Kalimantan, each place has its own ghosts, making spooky stories a big part of Indonesian life.