The beautiful Blue Lake (or Tasik Biru) of Bau, Sarawak, is surprising and gets its beautiful colour from a toxic substance, high-level arsenic.
As Sarawakian, you probably know that Tasik Biru is a gold mining pit back in the days. But, it was flooded in 1921. It became a lake since then.
Back then, it was known as Tai Parit, which means Big Drain in Hakka.
Image source via sarawakvoice.com
The Mystery Of The Tasik Biru/ Blue Lake
There are so many mysterious myths and stories beneath Tasik Biru.
#1: The King Of Stone
According to the book The Land of Freedom Fighters by Chang Pat Foh, there was a story amongst the gold miners about a human-shaped stone at the lake's bottom. Some believed that the stone was a deity known as the King of Stone.
According to the story, the stone was removed from the bottom of the lake. The deity was so angry that he was removed, so he flooded the lake until it overflows. Hence, it became a 'lake'.
#2: The Monsters Of Tasik Biru
In 1988, three monsters were said to have appeared in Tasik Biru. Not one but a crowd of people gathered to watch these strange monsters swimming beneath the water surface. It was said that these monsters were about 3 metres long!
A medium from the nearby temple, the Bong Low Sian Tze Temple, claimed that the monsters were evil beings. They burnt some talismans around the four corners of the lake, and strangely enough, the 'monsters' disappeared a day after that ritual. There was no sighting since then, even when the lake was drained two years after!
#3: The Mystery Of The Golden Tortoise
According to legend, a group of miners saw a golden tortoise at the bottom of the mine. The miners tried to catch the tortoise, but it had buried itself in the earth. As they tried to dig it out, the golden tortoise went even deeper. Suddenly, water began to spout out of the ground, and the mine started to flood.
The miners quickly scrambled to safety. At this time, an older man, said to be a medium (bomoh), appeared at the scene, and he pushed a white man into the rising water. Miraculously, the water stopped rising.
#4: The Tragedy Of The Bus
7 Jun 1979 around 12.50 pm, a bus carrying 67 people plunged into the Tasik Biru. Thirty lives were claimed that day. It was believed that the Lord of The Land and Ground, 土地公, was looking for a human soul to guard the land. It was said that the lord is looking for a soul every two years.
#5: The Dumping Ground Of Arsenal Of World War II
It was rumoured that people around Tasik Biru discovered Japanese samurai swords and cannonball from World War II. It was said to be thrown into the lake by the Japanese forces themselves.
Proposed bridge across Tasik Biru. Image source via Facebook/Dato Henry Jinep
Regardless of the Tasik Biru's mysteries and myths, the Sarawak government has plans to revitalise Tasik Biru into a tourist attraction. It was proposed that a pedestrian bridge be built across the lake, and who knows, you might spot some interesting 'thing' while you are crossing the lake.
Do let us know if you have any encounter.
If you want to know more about Bau's tragedies. Read more here.
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