Back in my childhood years, we are not pampered with electronic games such as nintendo or PS like kids in these days. I remembered playing "lompat tali" (Rubber Band). I want to keep some of the memories in my journal, afraid that one day it might all gone. I read Saturday Metro, Nov 14th, 2009; the paper put some of the popular traditional games in page M3. I didn't miss to cite them here:


1) 1 2 Som
Two player are required to play this game using hand signs of bird, stone and water. Each player must show the hand sign after saying 'O Som'. The rules for this game are the bird wins over water but gets killed with the stone while the water wins over the stone.

2) Lat Tali Lat Tam Plom
This game was played to pick team members and requires more than two players. Players will gather in a circle and say Lat Tali Lat Tam Plom while waving their palms up or down. Those with similar hand position will become team mates.

3) Cop Tiang
The basic requirement for this game is a place with a lot of pillars. One person will be tagged 'it' and the rest have to find their own pillars. The one tagged 'it' has to secure a pillar while the rest with pillars while counting up to 10. If the one tagged manages to secure a pillar and the one left will be the new 'it'. If the 'it' is unable to secure a pillar after the count, he or she must sit down on the floor and close his or her eyes. The rest of the players have to heckle him or her and the 'it' has to guess which one. If the guess is right, then the person becomes the new 'it'.

4) Galah Panjang
This game requires an open ground, five lines should be demarcated for stages 1 to 5. The shape of demarcation is similar to badminton court. Two team leaders will be selected and they will decided who will run and tag. The tag team will take their position at the lines and guard them. As for the running team, one by one will try to get through the guards at the lines without getting tagged. Points are given to the members that succeed. If anyone gets tagged, the team losses and they switch position. Players are not allowed to move out of the lines.

5) Police and Thieves
Firstly, two circle or spots must be identified for the 'House' and 'Jail'. Then, members are picked to be police and thieves. The police team has to catch the thieves at the count of 3. The thieves, who get caught will be sent to jail. It is up to the escaped ones to try and free them. The house is safe zone to the thieves. The police will win once all the thieves are behind bars.

6) What's the Time Mr Tiger?
For this game, one person is deemed the tiger while the rest will have to line up behind him or her. The lined up players will move forward and ask "what's the time Mr Tiger?" to which he may answer or not. When the tiger senses the players are close enough, he or she will shout "It's feeding time" and the players will have to run away. Anyone who is caught will become the next tiger.

7) Rubber band
A long rubber band strand is needed for this game as well as the ability to jump really high. Two people are required to hold the rubber band at each side. The remaining players can line up to cross the rubber band. The level will begin the gorund the knees then the waist, chest, neck, eye, forehead, above the head and the last level will be as high as the hands of th person holding the rubber band can go. The other players must try to cross the rope by jumping, cartwheel or side kick their way cross. Skipping can also be added to the game, where the player must jump without stepping on the rubber band.