|
The city would have a two-day tryst with the tradition of kite flying in Thailand from Monday.
Professionals from Thailand — “Kite Couple” Ron and Baew Spaulding —— are in town to fly their gigantic and colourful kites at Sabbalpur Diara during the two-day Kite Festival, 2013. Ron said the width of their kites is between 20m and 50m. The weight of each is 2 to 3kg. (See graphic)
US national Ron is in Thailand for the past 37 years. He and Baew have participated in kite festivals in more than 20 countries.
The Kite Couple is in the state capital on the invitation of Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation. Sporting red T-shirts bearing the logo “The Kite Couple” and the slogan “We tether together”, they arrived at the sandbar on Sunday afternoon for demo. But the slow wind speed played spoilsport and the couple could not fly their kites.
The duo did not lose heart, though. They are raring to fly kites — a serious hobby of the couple — on Monday.
“Kite flying is a serious hobby for us. We take Thailand’s culture to the world and bring the world of kites to Thailand. We travel across the world to organise and participate in international kite festivals to fly our large and modern kites. We fly inflatable kites, which fly after winds fill them up like pillow,” said 71-year-old Ron, an advertisement graphic designer by profession.
Ron makes kites using nylon rip-stop clothes, which do not tear. Such clothes are used in making sails of boats.
Unlike traditional Indian kites, his kites do not have any stick. Their strings are made of woollen nylon, which are stretchable and light-weighed to support them while flying.
The couple has been flying kites together over the past 30 years. “It is good that both of us have the same interest. We work and play together. It is probably because of our mutual affection and co-ordinated effort in kite flying that we never fight,” smiled Baew.
Those interested to fly kites alongside the Thai professionals can send a text message to 8862917587 to book one of the 200 kites available for flying at the sandbar.
| 
)
