- Location: Penyengat Historical Island, Southern Pulau Bintan
Just a short wooden boat ride from the bustling piers of Tanjung Pinang lies Penyengat Island, the historic jewel of the Riau-Lingga Sultanate and the cultural heart of the Malay world. This tiny, car-free island is a living monument of yellow-walled palaces, royal tombs, and fortresses that once defied colonial fleets. Beyond its grand architecture, Penyengat preserves the elite domestic arts that armed and adorned the Malay court. These five heritage journeys guide you down narrow brick pathways into the private backyard studios of master metalworkers and master carvers, where you will explore the physical alchemy of ancient brass-casting and the sacred geometry of carving Kris weapon hilts.
1. The Lost-Wax Brass Alchemy Masterclass
This industrial heritage journey begins in a soot-stained courtyard studio where local metalworkers preserve the ancient lost-wax technique (cetak lilin) used to forge royal brassware for centuries. Under the guidance of a master founder, you will use your hands to sculpt a model of a traditional Malay tobacco box or coin tray out of soft, dark beeswax. Once your wax model is finished, you will encase it in a thick mold made of local river clay and rice husks. Watching the artisan pour molten, glowing brass into the mold—instantly melting the wax away to take its exact shape—offers a thrilling, front-row look at the fiery, ancient chemistry of the sultanate.
2. The Royal Cannon Foundry Shadow Walk
Moving out of the domestic workshops, this historical trek takes you up the stone steps of Bukit Kursi, the island’s premier hilltop fortress. Guided by a local maritime historian, you will walk along the moss-covered coral-rock ramparts to examine the massive, weathered brass and iron cannons that still face the sea lanes. The photography and study focus here centers on the intricate European and Javanese maker-marks and Arabic inscriptions stamped into the heavy metal barrels. Standing among these silent defensive structures as the afternoon sun casts long geometric shadows across the green ridges provides a deep appreciation for the island’s strategic military heritage.
3. The Kris Hilt Sacred Carving Studio
This highly focused, tactile workshop takes you onto the cool timber veranda of a master Empu (traditional blade-smith and carver). The Kris—the sacred, wavy-bladed dagger of the Malay world—is considered a living spiritual vessel, and its hilt must be carved with absolute mathematical and symbolic precision. Sitting on a woven mat, you will use fine steel chisels and knives to carve a traditional Hulu Kris (hilt) out of a block of dense, fragrant kemuning wood or dark buffalo horn. The master will teach you how to shape the traditional stylized bird and wave motifs, showing you how a weapon is transformed into a profound piece of personal philosophy.
4. The Charcoal Forge Blade-Polishing Ritual
Connected directly to the carving workshop, this session focuses on the meticulous preservation and chemical cleaning of historic metal blades, a ritual known traditionally as Mencuci Keris. You will assist the artisan in preparing a natural, acidic cleansing bath using a mixture of freshly squeezed lime juice and fermented coconut water. Submerging an old, rusted iron blade into this organic solution strips away corrosion, revealing the hidden, swirling patterns of nickel and meteoric iron (pamor) welded into the steel. Rubbing the cleaned blade with fragrant sand wood oil provides a deeply sensory, meditative connection to the armorers of the old court.
5. The Yellow-Clay Royal Pavillion Rest
The final heritage experience takes place at twilight inside the beautifully restored courtyard of the Gedung Tabib, an old royal cultural pavilion defined by its striking yellow and green walls. Free from the heat of the metal forges, you will sit on low silk cushions with village elders to enjoy a traditional courtly refreshment: hot, spiced Teh Obeng brewed with local cloves and star anise, paired with delicate, sweet Kue Bangkit (coconut flour biscuits that melt on the tongue). Listening to the distant, melodic call to prayer echoing from the island’s iconic Sultan’s Mosque provides a peaceful, grounding conclusion to your journey through Penyengat’s royal arts.
