18 February 2025
In the vibrant, artsy streets of Bandung, where trendy cafes mix with traditional markets and every corner boasts quirky street art, life hums along as it always has. Unbeknownst to the busy humans sipping kopi tubruk at the outdoor warung or debating the best place for a weekend getaway, an unseen community of supernatural mischief-makers roams the city—living, laughing, adapted to modern living, and maybe causing a bit of chaos in the most unexpected ways.
Tucked away in a narrow alley behind a bustling Braga Street café, On any given night, if one knew where to look, they'd find a peculiar warteg (food stall) appears only after that midnight has long passed. Run by a gang of cheeky and mischievous group of tuyul (child-like spirit thieves turned culinary geniuses), this warteg serves the best nasi goreng and mie goreng in Bandung. Only the spiritually attuned or the hopelessly lost stumble upon it. The tuyul, usually known for petty thievery, discovered long ago that cooking was far more profitable—and less risky. The tuyul chefs are a bit scatterbrained—they often forget to charge customers or accidentally give out too much change, and sometimes, their mischief leads to a spontaneous food fight that leaves everyone in peals of laughter. Rumor has it that one vlogger, after filming a midnight visit, ended up with an impromptu mustache made of noodles—an image that went viral among the city’s hipsters.
Just a few streets away, in a cramped and crowded boarding house near Dago, lives a tenant no one has ever actually seen: Mbak Sari. The tenant who never seems to show up in person. Her laundry, a mix of vintage batik and mysterious, otherworldly dresses, always hangs neatly on the communal line. New tenants whisper about hearing faint giggles and soft sobbing in the hallway—but seasoned residents just nod knowingly. After all, Mbak Sari is a Sundel Bolong (ghostly woman with a hole in her back) who pays her rent online and leaves behind the faint scent of frangipani and midnight mischief. Her aloofness is legendary, yet she’s always the one to leave a comforting note when someone’s having a bad day, but the seasoned ones know better than to ask questions. Mbak Sari likes her privacy.
Meanwhile, across town, down near Jalan Riau, a pocong (wrapped ghost) has a new calling: as a ride-hailing motorcycle driver. Despite his eternally bound state, he dons a slightly modified helmet that barely contains his spectral form. His rides are notorious—passengers, too absorbed in their smartphones, rarely notice the chill in the air or the subtle sound of shuffling fabric. One daring rider once realized mid-ride that they’re embracing a cold, damp figure, and being chauffeured by a ghostly figure, they then promptly left an extra generous tip, and tweeted about the “spooky yet oddly efficient” service. The pocong even has a five-star rating on the supernatural app, though he’s still learning to master the art of using his hands for turn signals.
At a busy night market in Bandung, a kuntilanak (vengeful female spirit) has taken up residence as the community’s unofficial gossip columnist. Floating invisibly above a stall selling traditional snacks, she eavesdrops on every whispered secret and scandal. If someone tells a fib, she might give a little extra creak to a chair or nudge a vendor’s display with a gust of inexplicable wind. The local ibu-ibus (mothers) have unknowingly matched wits with her, turning every gossip session into a hilarious contest of who can spill the juiciest details, unaware they’re being outdone by a centuries-old ghost. When the kuntilanak accidentally reveals the truth about a local celebrities’ secret misadventures, even the stars can’t help but laugh behind their sunglasses.
Then there’s the Leak (a shapeshifting spirit) that runs the trendiest barbershop around. Known for its uncanny ability to give the perfect haircut and its owner’s supernatural insight into your life’s troubles, the barbershop quickly becomes the talk of the town. Customers are both amused and mystified when the Leak, using his “spirit scissors,” seems to know exactly when someone’s having a bad day—offering a complimentary head massage or a wisecrack about bad hair days. One regular even swears that his hair grew back in a shape that looked suspiciously like a smiley face, making him an instant local celebrity.
At a busy Trans Bandung bus stop, a Jelangkung spirit has grown tired of its eternal wait. With a wicked sense of humor, it starts playing pranks on unsuspecting commuters. Imagine checking your bus app only to see the next bus “delayed” because the spirit decided to have a nap, or hearing a whispered, “Your ex just got a promotion,” that leaves the listener both spooked and oddly cheered up. One day, a stressed-out office worker struck up an unexpected conversation with this ghostly companion, resulting in a quirky exchange of life advice that became the highlight of the day as the two form an odd, silent friendship.
Every Friday night, a hidden futsal league gathers in an abandoned lot near Lembang. It’s a riotous game where the teams aren’t just human—each side is a mix of spirits and siluman with their own unique twists. Imagine a team where kuntilanak cheerleaders float above the sidelines, a pocong playing as an immovable goalpost, and mischievous tuyul acting as ball boys who constantly steal (and then hilariously misplace) the ball. The humans who dare join in the league wake up with mysterious bruises, muddy footprints, and a newfound respect for their spectral opponents, never quite sure if the last goal was scored by a ghost or a prankster spirit.