A traditional top ‘split’ after being hit by another
I am indeed privileged to see, touch and experience authentic traditional hand carved tops (‘Gasing’ in Malay) in Malaysia. While most common kampong kids these days would opt for the mass factory produced tops, these authentic, 100% ‘original’ tops are rare to come by. Free from the influence of modern short cuts of machines and factory produced materials, these tops from a village in Pahang is the real thing.
It is the season for top spinning and all the young men of the village are busy making and playing their best tops. Tops are hand carved from hard and semi hard wood to its desired shape. All the materials needed come from the jungle around where they live in. Even the string/ cordage used to spin the top is made from the fibers of the Terap tree. (Click here to see how fibers from the Terap tree are harvested)
This top is traditionally hand made in Malaysia by the Orang Asal
Walking around the village in the evening, I can hear the whipping sound of the Terap cordage as it cuts through the air, followed by a loud thudding sound of the top hitting the ground or other tops. Everywhere in the village, almost every bike has a top in its bike carrier.
It is the top spinning season and everyone seems to carry their tops everywhere
All the tops here are hand made. It takes about a day to make one and I can only imagine the amount of work and detail that goes into it. The top is almost symmetrical all over. The tops are rather big themselves. Well, at least bigger than the ones I have seen anywhere else.
These tops are big.