Cha Am International
Kite Festival 2015
K
ites are one of the most simple
yet graceful items to have been
invented to date. As they take
flight, their majestic movement
is enough to captivate even the most
unassuming person’s attention. The
former is exactly what happened in Cha
Am on March 28th and the 29th as the
annual Cha Am Kite Festival once again
took place on the beach.
The first thing noticed upon entering
the Festival was the large display board
which recounted the history of the
kite. Some say kites were first invented
around two thousand years ago in
ancient China however others dispute
that fact alleging that they were already
in use a millennium before Christ.
Kites are extremely popular in
Thailand, especially since the monarchy
became interested in them in the 13th
century. King Rama Five was the first to
organise a kite tournament which he held
annually at the palace grounds, allowing
the populace to come and showcase the
beautiful kites they had created. King
Rama Six took it a step further and
founded a Kite Association.
This year’s festival did not disappoint
with a large flourishing display of
colorful kites of all types and sizes. As
the blowing wind gradually lifted them
into the sky, those of us in attendance
marvelled at their size, detail and
complexity.
Tents of all kinds were erected, in
which one could go and partake in
different activities. One of the most
popular was the Kite Workshop tent
where you could learn how to make your
own kite. Volunteer staff were on hand
to explain the different types of kites that
could be made and provided the tools
with which to construct them.
With a combination of A4 paper,
wooden sticks, ropes, decorations,
scissors, cutters, tape, and hole punchers,
each person had the opportunity to
make their own model and give it flight
amongst the rest of the giant entries.
If you were not so fond of making it
yourself, there were a variety for sale
too, ranging from classic rhomboids to
“Angry Birds”