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Got goosebumps when driving in Karak Highway? Here’s why

Post author By Cheah Ka Wai
Post date April 12, 2022

Got goosebumps when driving in Karak? Here’s why

Many of us either know Karak or have driven on it many times while traveling. Karak is a 60km interstate highway that runs from the town of Gombak in Selangor before ending at Karak itself in Pahang. It was built in the 1970s as an alternative to the winding Route 68 to help ease travel and it also includes a tunnel that became Malaysia’s first ever highway tunnel. Karak has also had many accidents on its route with the worst being a multi-vehicle pile up in the 1990s when a collision happened with multiple FRU vehicles, a tanker lorry, a bus and 10 cars causing the deaths of 17 people. Due to its long history and countless accidents that have happened during its time, this infamous highway has become the center for many supernatural and paranormal stories that have continued to haunt Malaysians till today and have spawned horror movies such as “Karak” and “Volkswagen Kuning”.

The Yellow Volkswagen Beetle

Karak has held host to many hauntings and supernatural beings but the most popular urban legend in Karak is the story of the yellow Volkswagen Beetle. Legends say that if you drive late at night by yourself, you’ll come face to face with this mysterious yellow Volkswagen Beetle. If you try to overtake it, it will appear in front of you again later many times and if you manage to look into the car, you may find that no one is driving it! There is also the story of a ghostly boy who roams the highway asking passing drivers where his mother is. It was rumored that the boy and his mum were involved in a deadly car crash where the mum was flung out of the car and the boy himself was killed as well. And to this day, he still haunts the road searching for his lost mother.

Others Karak’s Infamy

Another infamous urban legend behind Karak is the story of a young couple and their child whose car broke down on Karak itself. The husband decided to go out alone in hopes of finding help. Soon, a police car arrived with officers informing the young mother to slowly approach the patrol car with the child without looking back. Once she did, she looked back and was horrified to find what remains of her husband’s body on the roof of the car! And lastly, there is the story of a late night radio host who received a mysterious call from a caller telling him how he saw himself and his family die in a crash on Karak. The host played it off as a joke, but the very next day an accident occured in an eerily similar fashion to how the caller told it. The host replayed the recorded message but all he could hear was static on the line. And these are just some of the many scary urban legends that have continued to plague Karak!

Pepsi Lost in Karak

With so many different urban legends born out of Karak, it’s no wonder that many thrill-seekers and Malaysian ghosts fans venture out to Karak in hopes of finding evidence of the afterlife. But what if you want to experience the horror of Karak without actually going there? Fret not, as Pepsi Lost In Karak is here to bring the ghoulish fun of Karak to you! So, what is the Pepsi Lost In Karak event? It is a one-off, a pop-up immersive event happening at The LINC KL brought to you by Pepsi from May 26th to May 30th.

In “Pepsi Lost In Karak”, you will be playing as part of a group of scientists traveling to Karak to find a wildflower that can cure an ongoing pandemic. However, your bus soon veers off course and crashes on the highway after which you find yourself in a village with the local inhabitants that call Karak home?

Beyond having fun, players also experience how their actions can potentially lead to strong impacts on the community around them and allow players to strengthen their moral values towards nature after the experience.

Get your tickets now to experience it!

Find Out More

Blogs

Demons are locked up during Ramadan. Why?

Post author By Cheah Ka Wai
Post date March 26, 2022

Demons are locked up during Ramadan. Why?

As we approach and reach the holy month of Ramadan, now is the time where Muslims across the world take this time to not only fast from early morning to evening but to also improve their spirituality by regularly reading the Quran and performing nightly prayers (Terawih Prayers).

A Backdrop on Ramadan

Muslims all around the world are required to fast as a requirement for self – discipline, sacrifice and to also form empathy for those who are not as fortunate and to help encourage generosity. It is also well documented that during the holy month of Ramadan, the gates of heaven are widely opened whilst the demons of Hell are chained up and prevented from walking the Earth. But why is this the case, you may ask?

Ramadan avoid sinful messages spread to the muslims

A Door Closed & A Gate Opened during Ramadan

The obvious reason for demons to be locked up during this holy month is to prevent their lustful messages from reaching the ear of Muslims and directing them to perform sins. A simple example would be how locking demons up can decrease the chances of Muslims spreading bad rumors regarding other people behind their backs. It is also during this period that the gates of Heaven are opened to their widest, so that the good deeds of the followers are doubled, if not quadrupled during this month and that gates of Hell are closed shut so that the followers’ sins are minimized compared to other months.

Final note

This is a holy month that puts to the test not only the mental and physical strength of a fellow Muslim during the fasting period but also in their spirituality and devoutness towards God. Over at Hauntu, our resident spirit Sarimah may also have to deal with the fact that she herself has to be locked up during the Ramadan month! Or is she?… There is only one way to find out and that’s by booking a stay at the Colle Eastern Hotel!

Blogs

Tips On How To Use The Amulet (Coin) From Ep2 in Ep3

Post author By Cheah Ka Wai
Post date February 4, 2022
2 Comments on Tips On How To Use The Amulet (Coin) From Ep2 in Ep3

3 Easy Steps To Use The Amulet (The Coin)

We are sure that many of you have received the amulet (coin) when you achieved one of the many endings ending in Hauntu EP2 but many of you are also thinking what is this coin that we’re talking about, not to worry because even if you don’t have the coin, you can use the tips given to fully maximise your experience. Here are 3 steps on how to use the coin in EP3 The Investigator.

Step 1: Pay attention to written detail

At the beginning of the journey, you will be given a few important handouts that you don’t really pay attention to. You normally skim through the flyers instead of trying to retain every single piece of information on the handout. Hauntu EP3 requires you to have complete awareness and attention to the surrounding details. Your understanding of what is going through the journey will be important as you will need to make tough choices as you progress. For example, you will stumble upon a lady in white that may be holding a very important item in her keepsake that you might need later on in the game

For instance, the lady in white holds such an important item that you will be needing later in the game.

Step 2: Make the Amulet visible to the eye of the actor

The amulet or coin that is in your possession has to be clearly visible to the actors because if the actors aren’t able to see then they won’t be able to guide you in making the right decision which would give you different endings than the one that you’re supposed to get. For the ones that do not have the amulet from the last episode, you can still receive the same ending as those who have the amulet (coin) but you will need to make the right decisions.

Step 3: Utilize your findings & relate to the amulet

If you play your cards right and follow all of the previous steps then you can be rest assured that you already have the right information, right items, and have also made the right decision. You will need to take actions based on what you think is right that might lead you to an ending that you never expected would happen. There will be a situation where all the items and information that you have collected will come to use and you will be able to figure it out if you have a specific item. If you’re able to combine both elements, what lies ahead will be much more interesting.

We hope that these tips and tricks will be useful and give you the full experience when you decide to come to try out Hauntu EP3: The Investigator. On a side note, players who don’t have the amulet (coin) from EP2 can purchase it for RM5 at the outlet in case you want to make things slightly easier for yourself and to those with coin, we expect you to utilize the coin to the max! So what are you waiting for, book your sessions here now!

Blogs

Don’t you dare do this ghostly taboos during CNY

Post author By Cheah Ka Wai
Post date January 24, 2022
1 Comment on Don’t you dare do this ghostly taboos during CNY

Don’t you dare do this ghostly taboos during CNY

There are many taboos associated with the Lunar New Year in traditional Chinese society. During this festive holiday, Chinese people consider their good behavior during Chinese New Year to be a sign of good fortune for the following year. They would not only observe the event by following traditional laws, but they would also avoid breaking several taboos. Here are three very important CNY taboos you (must) should avoid whether you believe them or not, because even if you don’t, others might, and why ruin someone else’s joy?

CNY Taboo 1. Don’t Stab Chopsticks on Your Bowl of Rice

Having chopsticks jabbed into your dish of rice not only looks obscenely disrespectful, but it also mimics joss sticks offered to the dead. It’s implicitly cursing your own death while simultaneously informing the ghosts that it’s their dish of rice.

CNY Taboo 2. Don’t Wear Black

If your family is superstitious, they will refuse to explain that wearing black during CNY is considered unlucky. They’ll most likely force you to wear a bright red shirt to make you look like a firecracker. Many colours have different meanings throughout Chinese New Year, which is why we always wear bright colours like red or orange to represent prosperity and good fortune. Colors such as black and white are also avoided because they are usually associated with funerals. Nobody (particularly your favourite wealthy relative) will appreciate it if you arrive at their home as if it were a funeral. Confirm no ang pow for you. As a result, black attire is associated with death, depression, and other bad and unfavourable events. Don’t say we didn’t warn you before you try to wear black again and get scolded by your mother!

CNY Taboo 3. Dont Pray Wrongly to the God of Wealth

Cai Shen (财神) is one of the most commonly mentioned names during the New Year’s celebrations. In the following year, people seek to earn the graces of the deity of wealth but many people don’t know the proper way of praying for this deity’s help. There is a specific way to pray to Cai Shen to ask for his blessings in wealth but if you do not know how to do the offerings better just not do it. Why you may ask? What if you wrongly do the offering to another deity and the one that comes just gives bad omens and negative energy for the year? Wouldn’t that be a bummer?

If you wouldn’t like a ghastly encounter with one of these bad incidents, then maybe actually following the guidelines given for these taboos might save you a lot of trouble. Even if you’re not Chinese, this can be a good conversation starter for you to understand your friends and their culture better.

Blogs

Why is Thaipusam celebrated in Batu Caves?

Post author By Cheah Ka Wai
Post date January 17, 2022
No Comments on Why is Thaipusam celebrated in Batu Caves?

Why is Thaipusam celebrated in Batu Caves

Thaipusam is a Tamil holiday that takes place every year in January or February. The name Thaipusam is derived from a combination of two words: the Tamil month of Thai and the star Pusam, which is at its brightest during the festival. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival that commemorates Lord Murugan’s victory over the demon Surapadman with the use of his lance. Thaipusam is also thought to be Lord Murugan’s birthday celebration. The Hindus would make sacrifices and pray for pardon and blessings from the Lord. We can see spiritual pilgrims wearing kavadis symbolic of burdens that entail extensive body piercings.

Thamboosamy Pillai

Why Batu Caves then?

Many might wonder why do our Hindu friends celebrate Thaipusam in Batu Caves? Why does the temple in Batu Cave look like something from a dream? Maybe because it was inspired by a dream! An influential trader named K. Thamboosamy Pillai had a dream about the Hindu Goddess Shakti asking him to build a shrine of Lord Murugan on top of Bukit Batu which is now known as Batu Caves. When he went to the cave he noticed that the main entrance was shaped like Lord Murugan’s spear (vel).

Lord Murugan

In the year 1888, The two men named Thamboosamy and his friend Kanthapa Thevar put in a vel to signify the existence of a deity in the cave. The following year Thaipusam was celebrated for the first time in Batu Caves. Shortly after the Temple in the cave was founded they added Lord Murugan as deity in the cave too.

Batu Caves

Because of the natural beauty and the temple’s dedication to this Hindu deity, It has made Batu Caves the main focus of Malaysia’s Thaipusam festival. Hindu worshippers from all across Malaysia would come to Batu Caves every year to pay respect to Lord Murugan and climb the 272 stairs to pray at his majestic temple.

Blogs

3 Steps To Find Out If You are being Haunted by a Ghost

Post author By Cheah Ka Wai
Post date December 16, 2021
No Comments on 3 Steps To Find Out If You are being Haunted by a Ghost

Blog title with ghost lady in white hair in haunted toilet

3 Steps To Find Out If You Are Being Haunted

Are you being haunted by a ghost? To be sure whether it’s a ghost, we have ways to help you but before that we need to let you know about the types of hauntings that exist. Did you know that there are three types of haunting? These hauntings come in three types which are Intelligent Haunting, Residual / Imprint Hauntings or Demonic Hauntings. They have very specific characteristics for each one which we will explain to you in hopes that it will be your greatest asset when you enter the room.

Intelligent Hauntings

If you ever see a light orb in the room or if a door slams shut out of nowhere, chances are you are being intelligently haunted. These ghosts or spirits choose to interact with living beings, and they have the ability to respond to things that you say or do. You may attempt to communicate with them but beware – they may not let go if they take a liking to you. Getting them to attach is easy, getting rid of them once they have attached is much harder. It’s like asking an uninvited guest who has already made themselves feel at home to leave. Not gonna be easy.

Residual Hauntings

These hauntings aren’t ghosts or spirits per se but are strong emotional and energetic imprints that linger in a space, accumulated over time. Ever wondered why you feel ill or sick when you are in a hospital, or why certain places put you in a bad mood? You are being residually haunted! This is one of the reasons why homes that have seen violence or tragedy are thought to be cursed and end up getting demolished. Thankfully, less serious residual hauntings aren’t permanent and can be dealt with by cleansing the space to shift the energy.

Demonic Hauntings

This is without a doubt the most terrifying form of haunting you can get! Demonic haunting is, as the name states, a type of haunting or attachment that involves demonic entities that were never human to begin with. Demonic hauntings usually occur because they were summoned to the place that they haunt. It can occur either because the previous owner practiced dark magic or the location was used as a ground for satanic activities by followers of the craft when the place became abandoned. Unfortunately, if one happens to attach itself to you or the location, getting rid of them would be tough. You would have to call upon an Exorcist to cleanse the area, and even then there is no guarantee that it has completely left!

How To Conduct A Paranormal Experiment To Find Out If You Are Really Haunted?

Now let’s dive into the ways you can conduct a paranormal experiment to capture evidence of spirits. This experiment works best on intelligent and demonic hauntings but you may also discover something odd such as strange colourations or sounds in residually haunted places. But beware, this is only for the brave so read at your own risk.

#1: Provoke the Spirits or Ghosts

You will need to try your best to PROVOKE THE SPIRIT or GHOST. Try evoking memories like bringing up mistakes or past trauma! This will trigger an emotional response and get the attention of the spirit in question.

#2: Make Friends With The Haunted Beings

MAKE THE GHOSTS BELIEVE YOU ARE THEIR FRIEND. Entice them with an environment or object they would find comforting but watch out if things go south it’s on you. The spirits need to feel relaxed and calm to be able to trust you and reveal themselves to you.

#3: Documentation

DOCUMENT IT. Make sure you collect the evidence as proof! Try taking a picture or sound recording, if you don’t, there will be no proof and it might as well never happen.

If you think you are now ready to communicate with spirits via the methods above, then we invite you to visit the sinister & haunted Colle Eastern Hotel at Hauntu The Linc!

Hauntu is an immersive & interactive horror experience, where players are required to roleplay as characters in their own unique horror story, have actor guided interactions as well as making decisions throughout the story that will ultimately affect their ending. Dare to check in and experience the horrors that await inside?

EXPERIENCE HAUNTU NOW

Blogs

The ONLY Haunted Hotel in Malaysia Worth a Visit

Post author By Cheah Ka Wai
Post date September 15, 2021
No Comments on The ONLY Haunted Hotel in Malaysia Worth a Visit

Haunted hotel blog post with luggage- preview img

The ONLY Haunted Hotel in Malaysia Worth a Visit

There is something about haunted hotel that strikes both terror and curiosity in us. Many may wonder what it’s actually like spending the night in one of these locales. Whether the stories and lore that have spooked one customer too many will actually happen to us. Neither is it entirely without risk. Guest after guest may check in and out unscathed to these supposedly haunted hotels. But someone will eventually be that ill-fated first to walk in but never walk out.

If your morbid fascination with haunted hotels remains a bucket list item, we may have the perfect alternative. You can now experience a thrilling walkthrough of the most haunted hotel in Malaysia – HauntU, and all at a reasonable price.

What is Hauntu?

Okay, so here’s the kicker. HauntU is not actually a hotel where you check in to stay for the night like Amber Court Hotel Genting. But before you click away, hear us out. HauntU is a haunted hotel experience like no other, that gives you real scares, real actors, and maybe real ghosts (we’ve had reports). The best part is, upon checking into HauntU, you become a part of a story with a role to play. This is where your decisions decide how the story plays out and ultimately, your ending.

The experience involves a mission and the story is set in a fictional hotel called the Colle Eastern Hotel. With three interconnected episodes, launched sequentially every few months, each in a different historical time period, stepping into HauntU is like stepping back into time.

If you’ve ever fancied being the star of a horror movie and ever wondered how your character may meet their end, you will not get a more realistic taste of that than in HauntU. The entire experience lasts more than 1 hour like a horror movie with unexpected twists and turns throughout. Ever wondered if you would be that person to barge ahead, chasing after a spirit or hide away in fear?

Haunted Hotel With Historical Architecture

All HauntU episodes happen in the same venue, a historical, old hotel called the Colle Eastern Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. With each episode set in a different era, the set reflects the hotel’s architectural evolution throughout the decades while maintaining the architectural integrity as you would a colonial era building. The hotel itself is said to be built before 1957, when Malaysia first gained independence from the British. Here at HauntU, we like keeping things realistic, and if you are a fan of sets, history, and historical knick-knacks. We are certain you will have a lot of fun exploring the different rooms and corridors at HauntU – that is, if you’re not too distracted by our brilliant hantus. Even the smallest details of our carefully reconstructed set – I mean, hotel. Stays true to colonial era architecture with an infusion of traditional Malaya culture and history. Many of our guests comment on the set, and how ‘alive’ and real it feels, likening it to truly being teleported back to the past. Come check it out for yourself, and huge props to our design team.

HauntU Trilogy

As mentioned earlier, there are 3 interconnected episodes, with each episode featured every few months and on rotation. If you’re curious about the storyline, here are brief summaries of each:

1. (Dec 2018 – July 2019) Episode 1: The Thief

Set in the 1980s, you will be part of a gang of thieves called the Gang 13 who attempt to steal gold bars from the hotel suite room. However, the Colle Eastern Hotel has something up her sleeve and do not expect a straightforward smash and grab. Things will get strange, and fast. Perhaps you should have thought twice before attempting to steal something valuable from a forbidden place, where dark things lurk in shadows that will haunt your memories forever.

2. (July 2019 – Present) Episode 2: The Tourist

This episode is set on Merdeka Day 1957 itself. The plot begins with you receiving a letter from your brother who works at the Colle Eastern Hotel. He is asking you to come to stay overnight out of the blue but why not because he is your brother. However, upon checking in, you will soon discover that a good night’s sleep is off the agenda as you brace yourself for a night in this haunted hotel you will never forget.

3. (1 Dec 2021) Episode 3:The Investigator.

And finally, we have the long awaited and much delayed season finale. This story takes place in 1995, where you play the role of a paranormal investigator summoned to the hotel. As the season finale, and with the decades of hauntings that have plagued both staff and guests of the Colle Eastern, perhaps you can unravel the true story and source of these hauntings. How did it all start? And more importantly, who actually owns the hotel? What really are you here to investigate? There is only one way to find out. Watch the full trailer now.

If you’ve got to this page and have made it to the final paragraph, well, we want you to spend your Halloween with us. The Colle Eastern Hotel has spoken through us to you. She cordially invites you through her palatial doors into her unpredictable belly of intrigue and mystery. So, forget about checking into a real haunted hotel for Halloween, not sleeping all night for ghosts that don’t even appear. Join us at HauntU for an unforgettable experience and building memories with friends and family.

The Hantus are here, vaccinated against all hantu viruses and waiting for you to come. Immerse yourself in what is hands down the best curated haunted experience in The Linc KL.

Check out the entry ticket price from this link here.

Blogs

5 Lesser Known Facts about Witchcraft Killer – Mona Fandey

Post author By Cheah Ka Wai
Post date August 20, 2021
No Comments on 5 Lesser Known Facts about Witchcraft Killer – Mona Fandey

Mona Fandey lesser known fact - lady in red - Hauntu blog cover image

5 Lesser Known Facts about Witchcraft Killer – Mona Fandey

Most Malaysians recognise the name Mona Fandey, the person behind one of the most famous murder cases to grip the country. Made infamous by the gruesome murder of Datuk Mazlan Idris, a politician, Mona Fandey notoriously killed and dismembered his body into 18 parts along with her husband Nor Affendy Abdul Rahman and her assistant Juraimi Husin as part of a witchcraft ritual. Mona, who would live on in infamy, accurately predicted the immortalisation of her name. For some reason, “Mona Fandey” is once again trending on twitter more than 30 years after her crime. The images of her coldly smiling at cameras at time of her arrest, plastered across front pages of the newspapers still haunt us to this day. But who really was Mona Fandey? Who was the person behind the creepy smile? We put our investigative hats to work and dug up some lesser known facts about this stone cold killer.

1. Mona Fandey has a hit pop song.

Image credit: media.karousell.com

A person of genuine talent, Mona’s thirst for the spotlight began at a young age. When she was still a child, she was a water ballet dancer and was skilled enough to have her routines broadcast on television across the world. Her interest in the arts blossomed as she grew up, and Mona ventured into the music industry as a pop singer in her early twenties. It was during this time that she changed her name from Maznah Ismail to Mona Fandey. She had a music album called ‘Diana’ and did a few television appearances, one of which you can watch on Youtube. One of her most popular songs is “Ku Nyanyikan Lagu Ini” which is still easily streamable today.

2. She was a mother.

Image Credit – i0.wp.com

Besides having been married 3 times, Mona Fandey has 1 daughter and 2 step-sons from her third marriage to husband Mohd Affandi. It was clear that Mona loved her only biological daughter very much as can be seen in official documents of a statement made during her trial:

“My youngest daughter is my heart and soul. She is the light in my life” (The court wall clock showed 10.55am, Mona’s tears welling up as she told her daughter’s story). Yes, as a mother, and with you, your Honor, as a father yourself, surely you can understand the feelings of a mother. (wipes away tears with a handkerchief).”

Mona Fandey spent her last hours advising her biological and adopted children to grow up to be good people and also told her children “jaga diri baik-baik” (to take care of themselves well). A senior Prison officer said there was a lot of crying and hugging as the children spoke to their parents for the last time. 9 years after Mona’s death, one of her step-sons told the media how the 3 siblings had to live a life apart from society due to the rejection and stigma they faced almost everyday in their lives.

3. She was always smiling

Image credit – miro.medium.com

A quick google of her name and you will notice that Mona is smiling in almost every picture taken of her.

She famously smiled upon hearing her death sentence and said “I am happy and thank you to all Malaysians” . She was photographed smiling as usual as she was led from the court to prison. Some say that apart from being mentally-ill, she was obsessed about gaining superstar fame at any cost and that was why she was always smiling, even throughout the trials. They claim she was enjoying the attention, happy to be famous once again. However, it is also possible that her smiling demeanour was a coping mechanism that prevented her from breaking down in front of everyone. Then again, perhaps murderers lack the same emotional capacities as normal people. Whether she was doing it for the spotlight, or doing it as a response to the perverse interest of the public, we will never truly know.

4. She lived a very lavish lifestyle

Image credit – 3.bp.blogspot.com

Despite having a rather short stint in the music industry, she lived quite a lavish life, mostly with the money she made as a witch doctor. According to her trial statement, Mona Fandey owned a few houses and bungalows but didn’t like to stay at home. Instead, her and her husband loved to stay at hotels whenever they liked. She also had a collection of luxury cars including a Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and a Station Wagon. True to her diva nature, Mona loved to shop and paid to get a facelift done. In the 90s, these were high status and covetable items and habits and were by far not as common as they are today, a testament of her wealth that she made a point to display. True to her form, Mona wore expensive outfits to court each day as she stood trial, making sure she was always well dressed for the cameras.

5. She had a different, kinder side.

Image credit – assets.hmetro.com.my

According to Kajang prison officer, Seargent Azizah, who was stationed to guard Mona Fandey throughout her days in prison until the end, Mona was often seen performing the 5 compulsory prayers in Islam each day. She was also always reciting The Quran. According to the sergeant, Mona was friendly and would share cooking tips with her, and was forthcoming with stories about her children. Her ex husband, who is also a police officer, and her kids, swear by Mona’s character, claiming that deep down she was simply not a cruel person, as made evident in the statement, “She can’t even kill an ant. Even when she cleans the fish (during cooking) she cries, let alone dismembering a human being.” Perhaps there is more to Mona Fandey after all. According to some inmates that were at the prison during her stay, many unspeakable and mysterious things would happen while she was there. Perhaps Mona was just an ambitious woman who fell in way too deep with black magic and lost her way.

We all have many sides to us and so did Mona Fandey. Who she really was, in all facets of her personality, we will never truly know. However, there have been attempts at her portrayal in film and television. The movie “Dukun” is based on Mona Fandey and played by the famous Malaysian actress, Umie Aida. This film was made in 2006 and was planned to be released in 2007 but due to the controversial content of the film and protests by Mona Fandey’s family who voiced their dissatisfaction with the portrayal of events, the release was stopped. Only 12 years later was it given permission by FINAS (Malaysian Film Agency) for public release. Although there is a lot of confusion and uncertainty with regards to the actual events portrayed in the story, one thing remains true – her name is legendary until today. Mona’s famous final words before she was executed “I will never die” while smiling for the cameras would not be so creepy if it weren’t so true. Fun fact: Sarimah, a Hauntu character is often mistaken to be inspired by Mona Fandey due to similarities in costume and the ‘Bomoh’ ritual. Why don’t you be the judge of it and experience it yourself when we are allowed to reopen in the next national recovery phase?

Blogs

6 Things to Avoid this Hungry Ghost Season

Post author By Cheah Ka Wai
Post date August 5, 2021
No Comments on 6 Things to Avoid this Hungry Ghost Season

6 Things to Avoid this Hungry Ghost Season

Let’s welcome the hungry ghost season. It’s the 7th month of the lunar calendar and that means, between August 8th to 22nd 2021, the veil that separates the material world from the spirit world is more porous than any other time of the year. In Chinese folklore, the Hungry Ghost Month sees Hungry Ghost spirits wandering into the human realm to feed. It is said that Hungry Ghosts are deceased spirits trapped in their own special hell of constant hunger, as a karmic consequence of their greed while alive. If you see paper or food offerings lining the roadside this month, do not be alarmed, they are offerings made by devoted Buddhists and Taoists to help feed the hungry ghosts who are only allowed into the human realm this time of the year. However, it is still wise to be on alert. According to Taoist tradition, there are 6 main taboos to absolutely avoid in the hungry ghost month. Ignore them at your peril.

1. Don’t turn your head

If you hear your FULL NAME being called at night from behind your back with no one around, it is likely a hungry ghost seeking attention. It is extremely important during Hungry Ghost festival to not turn your head to look behind you unless you want an overly keen ghost following you home. Indeed, nothing excites a ghost more than knowing you can see it, and many hauntings started simply when the ghost realised it could be seen. Once acknowledged, the ghost then latches onto the person and follows them around. To be on the safe side, don’t respond to your full name being called this month.

2. Don’t pick up random stuff used for Hungry Ghost Ritual on the street

photo credit – AirAsia

During Hungry Ghost Festival, Taoist devotees celebrate this festival by giving offerings to ghosts to earn merit. You may see them perform a hungry ghost ritual where they burn clothes and paper money in the street as well as leave food out for the wandering, hungry spirits. If you see coins or clothes or random items that look like they don’t belong on the street, don’t take it. It may have already been claimed by a hungry ghost and you stand to have that spirit follow you home! This is especially true for umbrellas as spirits love to hide in umbrellas. If you don’t quite fancy having a pet ghost at home, stay away from the burnt offering residue to avoid unnecessary trouble.

3. Swimming at night in Hungry Ghost Month

Photo credit – flickr

The older generation believes that swimming in the sea during the Hungry Ghost Festival is taboo. Back in the day, drowning at sea was much more common than it is today as fewer people could swim nor were there rescue services. Given the traumatic nature of ocean drownings, beings likely ended up stuck in limbo, unable to reincarnate into more peaceful or human realms due to the trauma of their deaths. These ocean ghosts look for human companions in the Hungry Ghost period. Swimming in the ocean especially at night in the seventh month of the lunar calendar may result in a “ghost pulling leg” situation by a spirit hungry for companionship.

4. Whistling at night

Photo credit- Buzzfeed

It is generally fortunate for us that ghosts and spirits tend to mind their own business until you do something to provoke them. Sometimes, something as innocent as whistling at night is enough provocation to elicit a reaction. In addition, nights are considered the darkest and most eerie time due to the strong Yin energy synonymous with sleep, death, the moon, and deep, hidden emotions. Beware or you may really cause trouble to yourself by attracting unwelcome beings of a darker Yin energetic imprint when you whistle at night.

5. Photo taking at night

Photo credit – Quora

While the intrepid ghost hunters amongst you might want to take advantage of the increased spirit activity and try to catch them on camera, most of us probably would rather not see or hear them. During the Hungry Ghost month, avoid photo taking or video recording especially at night as you may find yourself capturing more than you bargained for. Sure, a photo of a ghost might be harmless enough if an orb or shadow but there is always a chance you capture a mangled, sunken face as well. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

6. Avoid going out at night

Photo credit – Bloody Disgusting

This seventh month of the lunar year is definitely not made for the party animals and night owls. It is taboo to be out past 8 pm as you very likely will encounter a spirit. Depending on how observant one is, the decline in night time activity during the hungry ghost month is palpable in areas where there is a larger Taoist or Chinese Buddhist presence. As well, people are advised to follow their instincts when stopping to help others on the roadside this month. It is always better to call the police if your gut tells you not to stop. You don’t want these spirits to follow you home or to latch onto you. On the upside, these hauntings tend to be temporary and only apply to the 15 days of Hungry Ghost month. However, people have reported being ill for the entire hungry ghost period as a result of being careless and accidentally inviting spirit hauntings.

There are many lores, taboos, and superstitions surrounding Hungry Ghost month. While it may have a creepy name, this month is the only time deceased spirits who experience an eternity of hunger get to feed. As far as we know, no great harm comes to anyone who has encountered a Hungry Ghost beyond fleeting illnesses and their own personal anxiety, fear and panic responses. If you are the court trouble type, feel free to try out all the above. Similar encounters by these people, watch their video here.

BONUS: If you have a pet dog, pay attention to their behaviour this month as their exceptional hearing and smell can easily sense the presence of spirits. If you find your dog looking directly at a wall or into empty space, growling or barking, then you can confirm that something is present and it is most likely a Hungry Ghost spirit. There is no need to panic though, the ghost will likely continue wandering if you ignore him. If you feel like it, feel free to leave a little offering and send the spirit away with good wishes. That way, you are unlikely to be bothered again.

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6 Best Original Horror Stories that You MUST Watch on Youtube

Post author By Cheah Ka Wai
Post date July 14, 2021
No Comments on 6 Best Original Horror Stories that You MUST Watch on Youtube

6 Best Original Horror Stories (Cerita Seram) that you MUST watch on Youtube

6 Best Original Horror Stories (kisah Seram) that you MUST watch on Youtube

Let’s face it. We all share a morbid fascination with horror stories, even those who claim to hate horror movies. There is just something about the supernatural and the unknown that gets our imaginations going! Well, for those who feel like they’ve heard or seen it all, we did some internet sleuthing and have unearthed some youtube videos that you likely have not heard of before. Here are some Cerita Seram (horror stories) by Malaysian Youtubers that are interesting and well worth watching!

1. The GRAB and FOODPANDA Rider Horror Stories.

Door to door delivery is a mainstay of modern life and food delivery services are a blessing for those late night cravings when we are just too lazy or busy to go out. But has it ever crossed your mind how the night plays out for these industrious delivery riders especially when having to deliver to out of the way, secluded and eerie areas? Watch this video to hear the horror story experienced first hand by popular delivery riders from GRAB and FOODPANDA. We promise you will be grateful the next time you order food late at night!

2. My Sister has the ‘Third Eye’

Throughout the world, regardless of culture or country, there have always been people born with certain unnerving ‘gifts’.

If you’ve seen the Ghost Whisperer tv series or The Conjuring Universe, both main characters portray people touched by this gift – the ability to peer beyond the veil of reality into the other side and channel messages from the spirit to the living. In this video, a lady describes her horror story growing up with a sister who has this exact gift of communicating with a supernatural entity. If that doesn’t creep you out enough, perhaps the thought that there is probably a spirit right next to you watching you read this article might as according to these gifted people, they are everywhere, all the time.

3. 10 Scary Urban Legends in Malaysia

This next video is a feature made by non Malaysians about urban legends in Malaysia. Yes guys, we made it to the popular YouTube channel ‘The Most Amazing Top 10’ hosted by Danny Burke. We can’t say we are surprised though, our local lore is replete with hair raising archetypal spirits with a blood lust enough to petrify even the hardest of criminals. If you need a reminder as to just how creepy our local ghosts are, the video covers decent ground, and includes famous Cerita Seram such as toyols and the infamous story of the Yellow Volkswagen on Karak Highway.

4. Pocong – Hands down the scariest entity in Malaysia.

If you’re wondering how commonly seen out local ghosts are, the next video may not make you feel better about our horror legends. The video features horror stories submitted by Malaysians to the popular kisah seram YouTube channel “Neyna Story” about Pocong sightings and experiences. The channel features a smorgasbord of horror content covering ghost sightings, mysteries and murder cases but it is this video about Pocong – a shrouded ghost said to be the soul of a dead person trapped in its burial shroud – that really gave us the shivers.

5. COVID-19 Quarantine Patients and Their Horror Stories.

The pandemic is horrific enough. But the pandemic AND ghosts? Show me the exit please. As the pandemic hit our shores like a hurricane, sending our healthcare services into a frenzy to prepare for the wave of the sick, quarantine centres were set up across the nation with the most well known one being the MAEPS in Serdang. This video recounts two inexplicable, ghostly encounters experienced by positive COVID-19 patients quarantined in the large hall. I suppose this is just one more reason NOT to get covid and to stay home.

6. The horror story of a Malaysian who can see what others can’t.

Our final entry is from the popular Malaysian content creators -‘SAYS’. While their kisah seram content typically covers a wide variety of topics, from the biggest stories in Malaysian politics to entertainment, this video has the channel switching gears to tell some good old fashioned kisah seram or horror stories from the unseen world. This video tells the stories of a Malaysian who has the ability to see ghosts. Some of the experiences are so chilling that you don’t wanna be alone while watching this.

While Hauntu is still close at the time of writing to serve you with our horror house experience, we hope you enjoyed our horror stories aka kisah seram recommendations while staying safely at home. Have you had any ghostly experiences yourself? Comment below or share with us if you have watched any good Cerita Seram videos on Youtube! And if you wish to watch more authentic horror stories submitted by Malaysians, check out Hauntu’s Koleksi Kisah Seram on our Youtube Channel