Legend of Bukit Merah
There are many myths surrounding the landmarks of Singapore and surrounding islands. One such legend is in regards to a hill in Singapore, Bukit Merah. Many call this Redhill as the soil on the hill is actually red. There are a view versions to the legend, but all make reference to bloody events. Long ago the island of Singapore was populated by fisherman, the main source of their substance and economy was the industry of fishing. Many times out at sea the fisherman would be attacked by swordfish. Legend has it that a child living close to the hill suggested to the men the idea of building a fence to protect against further attacks. So the fence was built using the trunks of banana trees. The swordfish attacked again, but were caught up on the tree trunks, thus the young boy was proved right in his idea. The fisherman were happy as they saw their battle was one. And the boy was celebrated.
However, as legend has it, the King was not so impressed. Known as the most handsome, the most intelligent, he could not bear it that someone else had out-thought him, and a small boy no less. He had been known for attacking those who took the attention away from him, and as he had done in the past, he did so now. He ordered the boy to be killed. When the soldiers appeared at the hill to carry out the king’s orders, a woman with long hair awaited them. She had created a spell, and what the soldiers saw was a red fountain, and understood this to be a fountain of blood. The soldiers were frightened and left without carrying out the king’s mission. In another version, the boy was actually murdered and the red soil is the result of his blood spilled.
Other areas around the world have natural environments with red soil such as the Papago Mountains in Tempe, Arizona and the Red Rocks of Sedona in Northern Arizona. The scientific explanation is that the soil is rich with aluminum and iron, which is quite common in hot climates. This is a beautiful landscape and should be part of any luxury travel. Singapore is known for these legends, and they add to the beauty of the island and the richness of the culture, regardless of the scientific explanations.
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