Batiks, handcrafted goods and gifts, craft exhibits, craft demonstrations and activities are just some of the attractions visitors can expect to see at the event. Visitors will also be entertained by various cultural performances and activities.
Malaysia
MOST people are familiar with traditional Malaysian handicraft, but few know the actual processes that go into creating these nifty works of art.
During the State Batik and Weaving Promotion 2008 (Promosi Batik dan Tenun Peringkat Negeri 2008) held at the Queensbay Mall recently, the public were given a first hand view of production of various items such as batik, rattan baskets, ceramic ware and embroidered fabric by 39 handicraft entrepreneurs.
Organised by the Ministry of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage, the four-day promotion had the dual objective of promoting Malaysian handicraft products, especially those from the Pearl of the Orient, to local consumers as well as highlighting the unique beauty of Malaysian handicraft to foreigners, who can then purchase them as souvenirs to take home.
These rice packets (ketupat) were woven using young coconut leaves. They are then boiled for at least three hours before you get to eat them. This version uses normal white rice.
Typical ways of cooking includes roasting, frying, steaming, boiling and also stewing. Fuel used is made up of local firewood or coconut husks and coconut shells. Making Malay traditional food with these natural fuel do taste much much better than by using conventional LPG and a modern stove!
Bamboos are shaped as skewers and used to hold barbecued dish or meat. Like mentioned before, bamboo poles are also used to contain food and then cooked. Usually, the bamboo is lined with banana leaves before food is stuffed in, this makes the food smell more fragrant as well as prevent the itchiness of the bamboo to contaminate the food.
In making a wau, bamboo is used for the frame. The bamboo is split and soaked in mud for two weeks. This prevents the bamboo from being attacked by weevils as well as makes it more flexible. The bamboo splits are made into a complex but lightweight frame, tested with one layer of paper and making alterations accordingly to make sure the kite is structurally sound. Next, the patterns are meticulously cut from rice-paper and glued on piece by piece to form intricate motifs.
Apart from the performance and appearance of the Malay kite, the sound is considered important as well. The sound created or dengung as it is called, depends on the force of the wind. The higher the kite flies and the faster the wind, the higher the pitch, making the sound … w-a-u-u-u, w-a-u-u-u. There are various types of wau such as wau kuching (cat kite), wau merak (peacock kite), and wau bulan (moon kite). Each wau also comes with a different design and size.