PASSION @ KAMPONG GLAM

It had been a few months since I have gotten myself involved with SultanGate.SG. The best part about getting involved in the Malay culture would be learning about a lifestyle that I have never thought of exploring. This time my profession brought me to Passion@KampongGlam.

Held at Bussorah Street, one would be able to discover new recipes, watch live music performances and experience a different culture every weekend. Since I dropped by on a Sunday, I was able to learn about the different Malay traditional games accompanied by soft acoustics under the evening sun.

As the orange sun softly touched one’s skin, visitors could be seen enthusiastically kicking the Capteh around. When the base of the Capteh kissed the side of one’s feet, a pristine sound was produced. Its colourful feathers sored the skies before diving back down to meet another’s feet. To watch adults unleashed their inner child was such a sight to behold.

A few steps away, a crowd gathered at rapid speed. Attracted by the commotion, I wiggled into the centre of the pack to witnessed the blissful crowd gawked at a miniature yellow ‘bag’ being tossed to the skies. Upon further inspection, the recreational game “five stones” was practised. With technology overtaking almost everyone’s life, it was captivating to be engaging in traditional games that were once forgotten.

Distracted by the marbles clinking against each other in a wooden board, I scrutinized through the crowd to spot a peculiar game. Congkak, a traditional Javanese game created to strengthen one’s mental calculation. As a rookie to the game, I observed the fast hands as they swiftly transferred the marbles from an opening to another. In a few minutes, the game ended with satisfaction on both participants face.

At the end of the day, these Kampung games activities brought joy to participants, onlookers and the organisers too. To be able to learn more about another’s culture through the form of simple games is a memory to keep.