REFERENCES

n.a. (May 15,2012). Keunikan wau terus diwarisi. Retrieved August 22, 2014, from http://www.come2kelantan.my/info/keunikan-wau-terus-diwarisi.html

n.a. (March 22.2007). Permainan Tradisional. Retrieved August 22, 2014, from http://tradisional-bib.blogspot.com/2007/03/permainan-wau.html

n.a. (September 3,2009). The Art Of Wau Bulan. Retrieved August 20, 2014 from http://the-art-of-wau-bulan.blogspot.com/2009/09/wau-bulan-is-symbol-of-unique-heritage.html
 

HOW TO PLAY WAU...

          Normally the "Wau" will be played by two people, which will hold a "Wau" and another called an interpreter who holds the rope bridge. When the wind blows, the rope will be pulled against the wind currents and how to extend until the draw string "Wau" was high in the air. 

A man is lifting the famous Wau Bulan

         Ray of sunshine will add more beautiful “Wau” colorfully decorated. At present though "Wau" still have a place among the Malays, but the kite has not been noticed by the lack of local and international communities. 

        Various shapes and patterns kite was invented, there are kite-shaped people, ships and any link that is played with two strings. Most of the show "Wau" and the kite is still a place in Malaysia, especially during the days of celebration or competition "Wau" international.

Myth of Wau Games..

Various type of Wau

          Wau game associated with the mythological 'Spirit Padi' which comes from the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia in the state of Kedah. Told that there was a couple in the state who works as a farmer in the foothills to plant ‘padi huma’. When they are planting, they found a baby girl and they kept the baby until adulthood.

          Because of her husband would like to thank and too loving his daughter, he always brings food to her daughter play in ‘baluh padi’. His actions had caused his wife feel very jealous. Due to feeling jealous, the wife had tortured her daughter. As a result, during the year also rice that has not been done. 

          Tok Nujum found that their daughter is actually a 'Semangat Padi' and advises the husband and wife. As for apologies, they are required to make a board that resembles a Wau Moon and flown using straw rope.

PROCESS OF MAKING WAU

Bamboo

1)The best bamboo chosen to make kites frame is bamboo spines and dried. Bamboo Betong is well suited to serve as the backbone of the kite.

Bamboo whittle

2)The strands of bamboo but bamboo skin is not removed. Bamboo blades will be put on fire before being flex.

3)Frame is made ​​of bamboo spine. Bamboo blade should be offset. Nylon is used to tie the kite frame.

Pasting frame

  4)Kite frame patching process is done using colored paper. Color paper should be appropriate.

Creating Patterns and Pattern Pasting

5)Pattern completion pasted on colored paper and then affixed to the body kite.
  
6)The last process is to make the kite string helm. There are 2 types of rope reins called 'teraju' which are 'teraju dua' and 'teraju tiga'. After installing the rope reins, the kite is fully complete.

WAU JALA BUDI

Wau Jala Budi

          Wau Jala Budi is a widely known kite in Kedah. It is also a traditional kite that has been played for generations in Malaysia. The name, Wau Jala Budi is comes from a leaf found in Kedah called the ‘budi’ leaf. The tail of the Wau Jala Budi is similar to the ‘budi’ leaf and the word ‘jala’ refers to the structure of the tail of the wau. 

Carving of Wau Jala Budi

          However, the basic shape and design is inspired by the shape of a woman’s body. It is viewed from the back where the hands of the women is extended followed by the body, towards the waist and the bottom. When the kites are flown, it produces a medium buzzing drone emitted from the ‘hummer’ located at the head of the kite. Wau Jala Budi is also similar in appearance to the ‘Chula Kite’ originated from Thailand.

WAU KUCING

Wau Kucing as National Traditional Wau of Malaysia

          Wau Kucing is also being lifted as National Traditional Wau. Wau Kucing is identified more for its synonymous existence of being a symbol of Malaysian Airlines System (MAS). It is also said that Wau Kucing is originated from Kelantan and being introduced in 1967. It is a traditional kite that has been played for generations in Malaysia.

It is also being a symbol of Malaysia Airlines

           When flown into the air, Wau Kucing release a high-pitched sound, similar to the sound made by cats. It is believed that it is work to scare away evil spirits and predict the weather the next day. Carved motifs used on this kite is floral and plants and the pattern is the similar as Wau Bulan.

          However,  Wau Kucing is darker in color, and there are subtle lineages in the tail. The colours and shapes are not so attractive, making this kite is not popular as Wau Bulan.

WAU BULAN THE GIANT KITE

          In Malaysia, there are many types of Wau. Among many types of it, there are some types of kites which has being lifted as National Traditional Wau. One of them is Wau Bulan.

Various pattern of Wau Bulan

Man is lifting Wau Bulan

          There are more than 20 different varieties of wau, but the wau bulan is the most common. It is known as the “moon kite” for its curved, crescent moon shape. This kite usually has a 2.5 metres wing span and height measuring up to 3.5 metres from head to tail. It is like a giant flying kites and as big as a man. It is the largest kite around and is capable of soaring to great heights. Not surprisingly, kite-flying here is a sport for men as some kites require at least two grown up men to handle. 

          
         In a windy day, a wau bulan can reach a height of more than 450 metres. Wau bulan is popular in competitions and are made from bamboo and paper. For a winning kite, a special bamboo, pokok buloh duri, is used. Most of the patterns are based on local flora and fauna like birds, animals and flowers.

History of Kites and Wau in Malaysia

          Among many traditional games and sports in Malaysia, kite flying or wau is most popular in the East Coast states. It is also a very popular game in Kelantan and Terengganu where it is played most by the men especially during harvest time. It is believed that this game is one of the traditional games among Malays since hundreds of years ago where the game contains elements of authentic Malay culture.

Colourful Wau Bulan

          The word 'wau' is believed to come from the Arabic word 'wau' because the shape of the wings resemble the lines and shapes of that Arabic alphabet. In the past, kite used by farmers as a sort of flying things that flies to scare away birds from their paddy fields. The sound produced from the kite is said to lull their children to sleep. This can give farmers enough time to take care of their paddy fields without interruption.