Did You Know? – The Wau is a uniquely designed Malaysian kite that has been a famed past time sport since the early centuries. It takes its name from the Arabic letter ‘wow’. One legend has it that farmers used to use them as flying scarecrows to protect their crops.

How? – The Wau was and still is popular among the locals of the Eastern Peninsular of Malaysia, namely the states of Kelantan, Terengganu Perlis and Kedah. Traditionally the Wau is flown into the air after the rice harvest season, a practice that is still common to this day.

Oh Wow! – Traditionally, a Wau can be as big as a man – measuring about 3.5 metres from head to tail. The Wau is decorated with vibrant colours and patterns based on local floral and fauna designs creating a splendid explosion of colours in the air.

Distinctive & Unique Shapes – In Malaysia there are several types of Wau designs and they are named according to what they resemble. These include the ‘Wau Kucing’ (Cat Kite), ‘Wau MeraK’ (Peacock Kite), ‘Wau Burung’ (Bird Kite), ‘Wau Pari’ (Stingray Kite) and the ‘Wau Katak’(Frog Kite), to name a few.

However the most famous Wau is the ‘Wau Bulan’ (Crescent Kite). The ‘Wau Bulan’ is also an emblem of Malaysia Airlines the national airline.

The Art of Crafting the Wau – Designing the Wau is an art in itself. It requires great skill, artistry and workmanship. It also exhibits the creativity of the locals and their talented craftsmanship in fashioning a unique art form that reflects great level of aesthetics.

The Wau frame is made from bamboo stem. First the bamboo is split into thin strips and then soaked in mud for two weeks to make it more flexible. Whatever the shape of the Wau, the frame consists of the following parts; a head, a spine, a waist, a wing and a tail.

Once the frame is constructed, it is covered with tinted glazed paper. Designs are traced on shiny foil paper, which is cut-out using a sharp penknife. The cut-out sections are glued on a glazed paper using rice paste.

The humming bow is than attached to the head of the kite which is finally decorated and tassels are added to the tail. The mark of a good kite is one that rises quickly and remains flying no matter what the caprice of the wind may be.

The Wau at Central Market – To add a “wow!” to your souvenir shopping, why not visit Wau Tradisi located at Lot M51 at CMKL and get your very own uniquely designed Malaysian kite. Here shoppers can indulge in an array of traditional locally made Wau of stunning designs and dazzling floral display.

Do drop by Kasturi Walk also.Located alongside CM, Kasturi Walk is an covered pedestrianised walkway filled with kiosks offering local snacks, handicraft and souvenirs. It is easily identifiable from the giant arches fashioned in a wau design that makes it an instantly recognisable landmark. Be sure to snap a photo of this for the album!