Timun Emas

Long time ago in the island of Java, Indonesia, lived a couple of farmer.  They had married for some years but they had no children.  So they prayed to a monster called Buta Ijo to give them children.  Buta Ijo was a ferocious and powerful monster.  He granted their wish on one condition.  When their children had grown up, they had to sacrifice them to Buta Ijo.  He liked eating fresh meat of human being.  The farmers agreed to his condition.  Several months later the wife was pregnant.

She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.  They named her Timun Emas.  The farmers were happy.  Timun Emas was very healthy and a very smart girl.  She was also very diligent. When she was a teenager Buta Ijo came to their house.  Timun Emas was frightened so she ran away to hide.  The farmers then told Buta Ijo that Timun Emas was still a child.  They asked him to postpone.  Buta Ijo agreed.  He promised to come again.  The following year Buta Ijo came again.  But again and again their parents said that Timun Emas was still a child.

When the third time Buta Ijo came their parents had prepared something for him.  They gave Timun Emas several bamboo needles, seeds of cucumber, dressing and salt.

‘Timun, take these things’

‘What are these things?’

‘These are your weapons.  Buta Ijo will chase you.  He will eat you alive.  So run as fast as you can.  And if he will catch you spread this to the ground.  Now go!’ 

Timun Emas was scared so she ran as quickly as she could.  When Buta Ijo arrived she was far from home.  He was very angry when he realized that his prey had left.  So he ran to chase her.  He had a sharp nose so he knew what direction his prey ran.

Timun Emas was just a girl while Buta Ijo was a monster so he could easily catch her up.  When he was just several steps behind Timun Emas quickly spread the seeds of cucumber.  In seconds they turned into many vines of cucumber.  The exhausted Buta Ijo was very thirsty so he grabbed and ate them.  When Buta Ijo was busy eating cucumber Timun Emas could run away.

But soon Buta Ijo realized and started running again.  When he was just several steps behind Timun Emas threw her bamboo needles.   Soon they turned into dense bamboo trees. Buta Ijo found it hard to pass.  It took him some time to break the dense bamboo forest.  Meanwhile Timun Emas could run farther.

Buta Ijo chased her again.  When he almost catch her again and again Timun Emas threw her dressing.  This time it turned into a lake.  Buta Ijo was busy to save himself so Timun Emas ran way.  But Buta Ijo could overcome it and continued chasing her.

Finally when Timun Emas was almost caught she threw her salt.  Soon the land where Buta Ijo stood turned into ocean.  Buta Ijo was drowned and died instantly.

Timun Emas was thankful to god and came back to her home.

Dahulu kala di Pulau Jawa, Indonesia tinggal beberapa petani. Mereka sudah menikah selama beberapa tahun tapi mereka tidak punya anak. Maka mereka berdoa kepada monster bernama Blind Ijo untuk memberi mereka anak. Buta Ijo adalah monster ganas dan dahsyat. Dia mengabulkan permintaan mereka dengan satu syarat. Ketika anak-anak mereka sudah dewasa, mereka harus mengorbankan mereka ke Buta Ijo. Dia suka makan daging segar manusia. Para petani menyetujui kondisinya. Beberapa bulan kemudian istrinya hamil.

Dia melahirkan seorang bayi perempuan yang cantik. Mereka menamakannya Timun Emas. Para petani merasa senang. Timun Emas sangat sehat dan sangat cerdas. Dia juga sangat rajin. Saat masih remaja, Buta Ijo datang ke rumah mereka. Timun Emas ketakutan sehingga ia lari untuk bersembunyi. Petani kemudian mengatakan kepada Buta Ijo bahwa Timun Emas masih anak-anak. Mereka memintanya untuk menunda. Buta Ijo menyetujuinya. Dia berjanji akan datang lagi. Tahun berikutnya Blind Ijo datang lagi. Tapi berulang-ulang orang tua mereka mengatakan bahwa Timun Emas masih kecil.

Ketika ketiga kalinya Buta Ijo datang, orang tua mereka telah menyiapkan sesuatu untuknya. Mereka memberi Timun Emas beberapa jarum bambu, biji mentimun, saus dan garam.

'Mentimun, ambil hal-hal ini'

'Benda apa ini?'

"Ini adalah senjata Anda. Buta Ijo akan mengejarmu. Dia akan memakanmu hidup-hidup. Jadi lari secepat mungkin. Dan jika dia akan menangkapmu menyebarkan ini ke tanah. Pergi sekarang! '

Timun Emas ketakutan sehingga dia berlari secepat mungkin. Saat Buta Ijo tiba dia jauh dari rumah. Dia sangat marah saat menyadari bahwa mangsanya telah pergi. Jadi dia berlari untuk mengejarnya. Dia memiliki hidung yang tajam sehingga dia menunjukkan arah mana mangsanya berlari.

Timun Emas hanya seorang gadis sementara Buta Ijo adalah monster sehingga dia bisa dengan mudah menangkapnya. Saat dia hanya beberapa langkah di belakang Timun Emas dengan cepat menyebarkan bibit mentimun. Dalam beberapa detik mereka berubah menjadi banyak tanaman merambat mentimun. Orang Buta yang letih sangat haus sehingga dia menyambar dan memakannya. Saat Buta Ijo sedang sibuk makan mentimun Timun Emas bisa kabur.

Tapi segera Buta Ijo sadar dan mulai berlari lagi. Saat dia hanya beberapa langkah di belakang 
Timun Emas melemparkan jarum bambunya. Segera mereka berubah menjadi pohon bambu yang lebat. Buta Ijo merasa sulit untuk melewatinya. Butuh beberapa saat untuk mematahkan hutan bambu yang lebat. Sementara Timun Emas bisa berlari lebih jauh.

Buta Ijo mengejarnya lagi. Saat dia hampir menangkapnya lagi dan lagi Timun Emas melempar ganti baju. Kali ini berubah menjadi danau. Buta Ijo sibuk menyelamatkan diri sehingga Timun Emas berlari. Tapi Buta Ijo bisa mengatasinya dan terus mengejarnya.

Akhirnya ketika Timun Emas hampir tertangkap, dia melempar garamnya. Segera tanah dimana Buta Ijo berdiri berubah menjadi lautan. Ijo buta ditenggelamkan dan langsung mati.

Timun Emas bersyukur kepada tuhan dan kembali ke rumahnya.