What I was told when I was little: Taboos, myths, ghost stories and advice from the shaman

In those days, children listened to tales about the ghost Begu Ganjang and people would follow the advice of the Batak shaman (datu.) Times have changed. But do the mystical parts of Batak culture persist?

Sony Simanjuntak (right) with her mum and four younger siblings at the famous Siantar Zoo. Source: Courtesy Dr Sony Simanjuntak

Dr Sony Simanjuntak is an assistant Indonesian language teacher who lives in Melbourne. She shares with Sri Dean her experiences of local beliefs , stories and mysticism when she was growing up.

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Dr Sony is a teacher and has a PhD in Mining Law. Are there beliefs from her family’s past that she thinks are worth handing down? Source: Courtesy Dr Sony Simanjuntak.