Sepak takraw anyone
 

Is takraw still popular in Thailand? I miss playing takraw while growing up. It's still rememberable from my first and last trip to Thailand in 1998. I woked up early one morning at my hotel right after the sun came up and looked out the window to notice some guys were getting ready to play takraw a block away. It looked like a small open courtyard area a block from the hotel. I was so tempted to join them. Looked just like a pickup takraw game like guys at the basketball court out at the local park.

I haven't had my american friends tried the sport with the genuine bamboo ball. These days the plastic ones can't compare.

Takraw is as popular today as ever. It's played in the slums of Klong Toey. And at universities. I saw a group playing the game at a primary school in northeast thailand. Unbelievable body contortions with the 360degree foot kick.

weather permitting, they play it daily in the evenings down at the village headman's house. He has a net and court set up on his lot.

I have seen it played on purpose made courts in schools in northern Thailand.
The bamboo balls are sold in the UK as ornaments -some are dyed black for this purpose !