Pantai air manis (sweet water beach), the beach famous with the legend of malin Kundang.
Malin Kundang from poor family and he felt that he had to leave his family in this idyllic tropical place to seek his fortune elsewhere. Restless though he was he did not forget his family and home and so soon after achieving success and gaining great fortune he sailed back homeward. But upon arrival home misfortune was to fall upon him, his fellow sailors and his family. Coming ashore at the beach at Air Manis Malin Kundang's mother rushed to meet her long lost son. But this son upon looking at his mother felt ashamed. Here he was a rich man wearing fine new clothing while his mother was looking ragged and poor as she was. In his undisguised disgust he ignored his mother, refused to greet her and returned to his ship. Of course, his mother was humiliated and heartbroken by her arrogant son's behavior. She fell to her knees in desperation and prayed to God asking that her son be punished for his cruel ways.
Soon a terrible storm rose up and Malin Kundang's ship was wrecked upon the rocks of one of the nearby islands. All but one of the people on the ship died in the wreck. Only Malin Kundang got away from the rocks as the sea picked him up and carried him towards his home. Exhausted and badly injured Malin Kundang tried to get ashore but as he crawled on his hands and knees he was suddenly turned to stone. Today a stony portion of Air Manis beach has a stone that from a certain angle resembles the figure of a man on his hands and knees his head seemingly buried in the rock. Thus, it is said, Malin Kundang has been forced to stay on the beach for all time, forever begging for forgiveness from his mother who he shamed so badly.
Malin Kundang from poor family and he felt that he had to leave his family in this idyllic tropical place to seek his fortune elsewhere. Restless though he was he did not forget his family and home and so soon after achieving success and gaining great fortune he sailed back homeward. But upon arrival home misfortune was to fall upon him, his fellow sailors and his family. Coming ashore at the beach at Air Manis Malin Kundang's mother rushed to meet her long lost son. But this son upon looking at his mother felt ashamed. Here he was a rich man wearing fine new clothing while his mother was looking ragged and poor as she was. In his undisguised disgust he ignored his mother, refused to greet her and returned to his ship. Of course, his mother was humiliated and heartbroken by her arrogant son's behavior. She fell to her knees in desperation and prayed to God asking that her son be punished for his cruel ways.
Soon a terrible storm rose up and Malin Kundang's ship was wrecked upon the rocks of one of the nearby islands. All but one of the people on the ship died in the wreck. Only Malin Kundang got away from the rocks as the sea picked him up and carried him towards his home. Exhausted and badly injured Malin Kundang tried to get ashore but as he crawled on his hands and knees he was suddenly turned to stone. Today a stony portion of Air Manis beach has a stone that from a certain angle resembles the figure of a man on his hands and knees his head seemingly buried in the rock. Thus, it is said, Malin Kundang has been forced to stay on the beach for all time, forever begging for forgiveness from his mother who he shamed so badly.
