Birthday Week; Day Two
Still, I await presents.
In other news, I went to Palace of the Sultan of Deli yesterday. There is still a Sultan of Deli although he exercises no power. The palace was constructed, or reconstructed in 1888 using Dutch architects. I took pictures and will some day post them (yes, I know, don't hold your breath). The palace houses one half of a cannon that was used in a war between the territory that later became Deli in 1612 and Aceh. J. told me a legend that she had heard about the cannon that went like this: There was a princess of the Sultanate that would become Deli but which wasn't Deli in 1612 (I don't know what it was called but bought a book on the history of Medan which should tell me more). She fell in love with an Acehnese prince and when their union was objected to, she turned herself into a cannon. The cannon is supposedly magical and flies to far off places when it wants to. I am sure that she will correct my recollection of the legend she told me but, nevertheless, I think that was the jist of her version. When we got to the palace we heard another version which made a little more sense. There was this war between this particular Sultanate and Aceh. There were three brothers (princes, I think) and one of them went missing. This cannon that they were using (of Portuguese origen) fired continuously throughout day and night and it was assumed that the missing brother had transformed himself into the cannon. Some people here take this seriously so I tried not to laugh. Anyway, people still come to this place to give offerings to the cannon--which in this version, too, has magical powers. The other half is in the mountains near Berastagi in a region which is Muslim and has had a good relationship with the Sultanate. The cannon was also supposed to have fired all the way to that location, which is some distance.
This is a superstitious place. During my first month here, a girl committed suicide in Sun Plaza (the main mall of Medan). People stayed away for a short while, I'm told, for fear that she would haunt the place. J. pointed out that it is inconsistent for Muslims to give offerings to a magical cannon, it is idolotry. I've read that Indonesians have tended to blend Islam into local tradtions and perhaps this is one example.
We could not go to the Mosque given time restraints, and it has been rather hot again lately.
Next week will be largely post free as I will be in Toba and not near any internet connection. Tomorrow I will post if there is time. I keep pressuring J. to post and post photos but she tends to forget things and has been very busy. I assure it will happen someday.
In other news, I went to Palace of the Sultan of Deli yesterday. There is still a Sultan of Deli although he exercises no power. The palace was constructed, or reconstructed in 1888 using Dutch architects. I took pictures and will some day post them (yes, I know, don't hold your breath). The palace houses one half of a cannon that was used in a war between the territory that later became Deli in 1612 and Aceh. J. told me a legend that she had heard about the cannon that went like this: There was a princess of the Sultanate that would become Deli but which wasn't Deli in 1612 (I don't know what it was called but bought a book on the history of Medan which should tell me more). She fell in love with an Acehnese prince and when their union was objected to, she turned herself into a cannon. The cannon is supposedly magical and flies to far off places when it wants to. I am sure that she will correct my recollection of the legend she told me but, nevertheless, I think that was the jist of her version. When we got to the palace we heard another version which made a little more sense. There was this war between this particular Sultanate and Aceh. There were three brothers (princes, I think) and one of them went missing. This cannon that they were using (of Portuguese origen) fired continuously throughout day and night and it was assumed that the missing brother had transformed himself into the cannon. Some people here take this seriously so I tried not to laugh. Anyway, people still come to this place to give offerings to the cannon--which in this version, too, has magical powers. The other half is in the mountains near Berastagi in a region which is Muslim and has had a good relationship with the Sultanate. The cannon was also supposed to have fired all the way to that location, which is some distance.
This is a superstitious place. During my first month here, a girl committed suicide in Sun Plaza (the main mall of Medan). People stayed away for a short while, I'm told, for fear that she would haunt the place. J. pointed out that it is inconsistent for Muslims to give offerings to a magical cannon, it is idolotry. I've read that Indonesians have tended to blend Islam into local tradtions and perhaps this is one example.
We could not go to the Mosque given time restraints, and it has been rather hot again lately.
Next week will be largely post free as I will be in Toba and not near any internet connection. Tomorrow I will post if there is time. I keep pressuring J. to post and post photos but she tends to forget things and has been very busy. I assure it will happen someday.
posted by athensinternational at 8:29 PM
3 Comments:
aah, the 2nd day of advent. are you wearing purple? we hope you don't turn into a cannon we thought of releasing white doves in your honor but were afraid they might attract d. cheney or other such undesirables. so this is all you get for now
Have you heard about this?
http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/09/well-beyond-satire.html
oops, link didn't format correctly
well beyond satire
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