After a long day, we made a stop at Mahamuni Paya on our way home and discovered the Chinlone Festival. Chinlone is a sport that is played with a wicker-type ball and seems to be the national sport of Myanmar. It is however, not a sport so much as a demonstration as only one team plays at one time. There is usually one player in the middle doing a multitude of tricks, with the rest of the team just keeping the ball in play after different moves. The centre player is switched at times, so more than one player is the focus. The best players had money pinned to their backs, apparently tips from the audience.
Apparently we arrived at a good time as this young boy is one of the best known chinlone players in the country. He was simply amazing and could control that little ball unbelievably. It is hard to describe some of the moves he was capable of. Apparently there are over 100 named moves that are appreciated more when repeated. Here he is kicking the ball up with his left foot(only about 12 inches high), and circling his foot over the ball before quickly kicking it up again. He could do this move about 100 times in a row if he wanted. He also would do some weird no look hits off his knee tucked under his opposite shoulder over and over - can you picture it??? I didn't think so, that is why I said it is hard to explain. Check out http://www.chinlone.com/ to find out more about the amazing sport.
It was a treat to watch these guys and sit around the circle with the local men and many monks in attendance. Michelle and our Irish friend Muireann were the only women in attendance! *Stub
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