Why get srtuck on video games when traditional games are equally fun? Ewe Paik Leong lists five that spell outdoor fun
BULU AYAM
BULU ayam is made from five or more chicken feathers tied to a nail impaled through a small rubber disc, about four centimetres in diameter. The disc is often cut from a bicycle tyre tube but leather, vinly or suede can also be used. The game can be played as a circle kick or duel kick.
In the former, the team players form a circle and pass the bulu ayam around. The aim is to keep the bulu ayam in the air for as long as possible by only using the knees and parts of the feet. Points are scored for each pass and the team with the highest points wins. In the duel kick, the game is played like sepaktakraw on a court.
TAPAK GAJAH
TWO teams comprising two persons (or an even number) and two sets of tapak gajah (elephant’s footprints) are required. The tapak gajah is made of two coconut shells with a small hole each, where a nylon braided rope has been passed through. The top end of the rope has a hoop for holding; the bottom end is knotted. The coconut shells can be plain or colourfully painted. Two lines — as far apart as the players desire are drawn — and the players each stand behind the lines.
The starting rival players wear the tapak gajah and run or stride to their respective team-mates at the other end. The tapak gajah changes feet and the second player runs back to the start/finish line. The team which completes the race in the fastest time wins.
BALING TIN
A LINE is drawn about 10 to 20 metres from a pyramidal stack of tins. One-two-som! decides which team will be thrower and defence. The first player from thrower-team lobs or rolls a ball at the tins with the defence team standing behind them. If he fails, a team mate takes over. However, if the tins fall completely, the thrower players run to the spot to rebuild the pyramidal structure.
Meanwhile, the defence team recovers the ball and tries to hit members of the thrower team with it. If the defence team hits everyone in the thrower team before they rebuild the pyramid, they score a point. On the other hand, if the thrower team manages to re-construct the pyramid without everyone being eliminated, they win one point.
GASING
MALAY tops range in size from 12cm in diameter to the giant versions of the East Coast which are wrapped with a circular strip of metal. The latter can span up to 60cm in diameter and weigh as much as five kilogrammes. Tops are usually made of hardwood such as merbau, bakau, tualang, penaga and keranji.
Giant tops compete in a spinning contest. The top which spins the longest is the winner. Smaller tops are used in a striking competition. Any number of players can take part. The objective is to strike your opponent’s top so that it topples and stops spinning. Pangkah totok, pangkah hentak, pangkah layang and pangkah tebang are the four techniques of striking.
The post-paddy harvesting season in the East Coast sees many gasing competitions.
SERAK LIDI
REQUIRED is a bunch of lidi or coconut leaf ribs about 10cm in length. More than two players can participate and a coin flip determines who starts first. The first player grasps the bunch of lidi in her hand and releases them quickly. The lidi now lie scattered in rubble. The first player tries to pick up a main lidi without disturbing the rest. If she succeeds, she uses the main lidi to separate as many other lidi as possible from the others. If an adjacent lidi moves, she is eliminated, and the next player takes over. The player with the most number of lidi wins.
Picturess by Ewe Paik Leong
