-^-for posterity-^-

kite flying is a popular pastime here. i was sitting in a coffee shop with one of my best friends this afternoon and we watched children fly their kites.

the coffee shop was located next to a busy river. the river was brown and busy as anything. boats moved up and down the river with ease hauling rice husks to be used for firing bricks, rice, rice stalks and anything else that is more efficient to haul on the river.

on the banks of the river were large bands of bare chested children playing with kites. their kites are ingenious. a child will take a plastic bag, three pieces of thin bamboo and a long piece of plastic to serve as the tail. they will find a long piece of string and wind it around an empty beer can.

they stand by the edge of the river and prepare to launch their kite. they are proud. one child will hold the kite along the side of the river (which is flanked by large trees) and another child will be far along with the string to the kite stretched taunt. the child holding the kite will let go and the other will run with every bit of energy in their body.

the kite will soar, fall, soar and finally reach a limited peak. the children will scream and shout as the kite soars in the air with their improvised plastic bag acting as a ballast. they stand on the side of the river and watch their kite. they watch and wait.

the wind stops and their kite begins to sink. the boy holding the string pulls and pulls and tries to keep their kite afloat. he runs backwards, through traffic, making sure to hold the string above the heads of drivers. eventually their kite sinks into the river and is driven over by a boat. the string is torn and nothing is left. they walk home.

kite flying is very professional here. that same afternoon i watched a 20 something male try to fix his kite string (which was, i might add, the bought variety and not the kind of kite made out of a plastic bag).

Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height
Let's go fly a kite
And send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite
Let's go fly a kite!

i felt obligated to include these lyrics from my strawberry dream, sugar plum fairy blessed childhood.