Chinese men with a penchant for making wau
KUALA LUMPUR: They are wowed by the wau.
Almost every afternoon, this group of men will be at the Sungai Chua recreational park in Kajang.
Tan Chin Seong, 36, who started flying kites at the age of 10, said he picked up the hobby from his late grandfather.
“My grandfather used to play ordinary kites, but over time when he became friends with a Malay neighbour who is good at making traditional kites, he also learned how to make it because he was attracted to the uniqueness and the beautiful patterns.
“After finishing school, I would try to make my own traditional kite based on a little research from books and the Internet. I am still polishing my skills,” he said.
Although there are some who consider the traditional pastime as outdated, Tan is of the view that it needs to be preserved for the sake of the coming generations.
“Although not as skilled as the wau makers from the east coast states, I am proud because not many Chinese people have the wau-making skills,” he added.
To date, Tan, who is an automotive trader, has produced more than 50 types of traditional kites, including Wau Barat, Wau Bulan, Wau Burung, Wau Jala Budi and Wau Kucing.
He said that it took him up to two days to complete a kite, starting from the process of finding and thinning out several bamboo sticks to attaching a thin layer of plastic to the frame.
For Sum Chock Ying, 58, there is nothing more satisfying than seeing the kites he made soar in the air.
He also made the hobby as a side income by selling the kites at prices ranging from RM30 to RM100 depending on the size.