Ningin Halloween Special: Travel Guide to Scary Asia

Lillian Tran on Friday, October 30, 2009 2:00PM

Asia is known to be one of the most haunted continents in the world. Not surprising since its history is full of, not only development and expansion, but violence and destruction too. Let’s take a look at a few restless spirits who just can’t let go of their pasts.

Cambodia
Cambodia’s Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is home to many restless spirits who didn’t receive a proper burial. Tuol Sleng used to be a prison that reportedly had over 15,000 prisoners that were tortured before being dragged to a killing field to die. The killing field Choeung Ek has a reported number of 17,000 people, both prisoners and civilians alike, who died on its soil. Massive graves were found at Choeung Ek that contained 8,895 bodies and a Buddhist stupa was built in memory of the victims which houses over 5,000 skulls. Locals and tourists have seen spirits of all kinds: monks, children and prisoners. Locals believe that Choeung Ek is a dangerous place to be and refuse to visit the stupa. I wonder if the spirits can’t let go of their physical forms and are bound to their skulls until justice is found?

China
- If you ever visit China you should stay at Beijing’s Buma Inn. You get to stay with a vengeful spirit for free! The unfortunate soul was poisoned by the inn’s chef and of course, died. She now roams the inn for her killer (which is too bad since he committed suicide out of guilt).
- If you think a vengeful spirit is not in your taste then try Yun Shan Fan Dian Hotel in Chengde. There, spirits of a man in Western clothing and a lady in empress robes are seen hanging around the balconies.
- Stay away from Hong Kong’s Tuen Mun Road unless you want to be a part of a car accident. The high accident rate on Tuen Mun Road is blamed on a ghost that wanders the road, making people swerve their cars to avoid it.

Singapore
- The coastal region of Lor Halus has ghosts that roam around begging for food. People fishing at night also report that a human head is attached to their hook after checking their fishing rod (freaky! But is it true?).
- St. John Island has a strange ghost that calls for help but then disappears. There’s also the usual deserted buildings with thumpings and footsteps.
- Want to meet a headless ghost? Then go to the National University of Singapore . You might also encounter some Japanese spirit soldiers marching around or meet the ghost who operates the elevators. But be very careful. There’s a classroom that sometimes have chairs and tables thrown around.
- If you ride a train in Singapore’s MRT system, keep your eyes open! There’s supposedly a headless apparition that haunts the stations.

Philippines
- Baguio City has a hotel called Diplomat filled with the spirits of nuns and priests. Doesn’t sound too bad right? Wrong! Guests often complain about wailing being heard in the middle of the night and seeing headless priests walking around. People even say that they carry their heads on a platter.
- If you’re too afraid to encounter a ghost then you should avoid the streets of San Jose Village. St. Bernadette St. has a hitchhiking ghost who loves to appear next to the driver. There’s also a red lady who likes to stalk people. There’s another lady ghost on St. Clemence Street whose hair stands up and she seems very mad. Be sure to avoid the party happenin’ at an old cave near St. Peter’s Street since 1) you weren’t invited and 2) you’re still alive. Also, if you hear someone calling you on St. George Street don’t worry, it’s just the wind blowing through the tall grass beside the road…

I got a few chills reading these stories since I’m a believer and all. Do you guys believe in ghosts or do you think it’s phony? I will admit that I’m skeptical of some people who claim to have an encounter with a ghost. It seems everyone is having an “experience” these days. It’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s fake now that people can use photoshop to edit pictures and video footage.

This blog posting is part of the 2009 Ningin Halloween Special. (Insert sinister laugh here.)

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