For our Halloween special, we’re taking a quick look at 3 haunted highways located in Southeast Asia. The region is rife with eerie stories, urban legends, and alleged paranormal activity.
MALAYSIA – KARAK HIGHWAY
On Kuala Lumpur’s Karak Highway, cruises a lone driver-less yellow Volkswagen Beetle. While one might confuse it for a real-life Herbie, but this car is not self-driving in the way you might expect. The yellow Volkswagen of Karak Highway likes to challenge lone drivers on the road at night, according to legend. If you happen to drive behind it, the car appears in front of you at a slower speed, urging you to overtake it. In the chance that you do overtake the car, it will appear in front of you again. Legend has it, that if you drive alongside the yellow car to take a peek inside, you’ll find that there’s no one at all.
According to local lore, the car is possessed by the spirit of an angry husband, who is searching for his runaway wife. As the story goes, the man’s wife had extramarital affairs and took the man’s belongings with her during her escape. The husband, angry, chased after her in the yellow buggy and met his sudden demise on the road. The rage of his spirit lingers on the road and terrorises motorists because of his lingering resentment.
The story of the possessed yellow Volkswagen inspired the Malaysian horror film, Volkswagen Kuning.
PHILIPPINES – BALETE DRIVE
Balete Drive is known for being the Philippine’s most haunted road. The road is named after the Balete tree, which lines the entire street. The Balete tree is also known for being home to spirits and mythical creatures in Philippine myth. Located in New Manila, Quezon City, this residential road is home to beautiful houses and an iconic urban legend. It is said to be home to a white lady—a mythical and terrifyingly pale ghost of a fallen woman. There are many white ladies in Philippine folklore, but this one resides specifically on Balete Drive.
One of the most famous stories from this urban legend comes from a taxi driver. The driver traversed the road by himself late at night. His cab was empty, aside from himself. While driving, he looked into the rear-view mirror and saw a pale white woman sitting in the backseat. In other stories, the white lady appears by herself on the side of the road where she is often offered a ride away the dark streets. Once she rides in your car, however, she suddenly disappears.
A journalist attempted to unravel the mysteries of Balete Drive in 2013. The writer found the deceased woman’s “friend” living on the same street. This friend recounted that the woman died of a hit-and-run accident. Her accidental killer was never caught by the police and her case was closed shut. Thus, white lady’s soul could not rest, as the circumstances of her death were never solved.
INDONESIA – CASABLANCA TUNNEL
Indonesia’s entry in our list, the Casablanca Tunnel, is in Kuningan, South Jakarta. Prior to becoming an underground pass, Casablanca Tunnel was also the location of a mass burial site. Though the local government transferred the graves elsewhere, construction workers still found something unsavoury. The workers also unearthed a body, just about to decompose.
Now that the tunnel is built and has been in use for several years, motorists report strange sensations when driving through. Apparently, there is “a fragrance of rose and frangipani” and a sudden drop in temperature at the stroke of midnight. Inside the tunnel, Jakarta’s citizens report the recurring appearances of a Pontianak or Kuntilanak. Like the Philippines’ White Lady, the Pontianak appears in the ghostly white form of a woman. But unlike the White Lady, the Pontianak’s form resembles an elderly woman with one eye. Her other eye dangles from its socket.
According to Indonesian lore, the Pontianak is the ghost of a woman who was killed within the vicinity. Cars will usually honk their horns prior to entering the tunnel, which is basically asking the Pontianak for permission to enter. Legend points to the Pontianak’s unexpected appearances as the cause of the tunnel’s vehicular accidents.
This haunted highway and it stories also inspired Indonesian filmmakers to create a horror movie with the same name.
SAFETY FIRST, SCARY LATER
Whether or not you’re a believer of the paranormal, a lesson of safety can be learned through these horror stories. You may argue that paranormal activity is highly unpredictable, but so is the open road.
First, be aware of your surroundings. As the driver, you have the responsibility to pay attention to the road and potential obstacles up ahead. Your sight is the most important of your 5 senses when driving. If you are visually impaired in any way, remember to wear your glasses or contact lenses. If possible, try to plan your trip during the day or around well-lit streets or highways. Visibility is especially important on the road.
Second, don’t engage in petty road games. Starting or participating in impromptu races with drivers on the road can lead to serious accidents. If, in a fit of rage or adrenaline, you find yourself going toe-to-toe with another car on the road, do not engage. There is no reason to put your life or other people’s lives at risk for the sake of road games with a stranger. going toe-to-toe with another car on the road, do not engage. There is no reason to put your life or other people’s lives at risk for the sake of road games with a stranger.
Lastly, practise defensive driving. This is a must for a every driver. Practising defensive driving means keeping sober and calm. Emotional or drunk states harshly affect your perception of the road and ability to make judgments. Again, the road is unpredictable, and your senses need to remain keen and sharp whenever you’re operating a vehicle.
Southeast Asia is a beautiful region with rich histories and cultures, including stories of haunted highways. Despite these scary tales, people pass these roads every day—so don’t let them stop you! If you ever find yourself in these areas, remember to respect the local culture or customs around them and keep your wits about you when driving. Stories of haunted highways in Southeast Asia will always persist, but your safety matters now.
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