deun ka-lah (เดินกะลา)

Thai. ‘Coconut walking’. Name of a traditional Thai children's game, that utilizes a pair of coconut shells, known in Thai as ka-lah. Two halves of a coconut shell, i.e. the hemispherical parts of a coconut, are attached to a circa 1-1.5 meter long rope, one on either end, through a hole drilled in the shell and then affixed with a knot on the underside. The aim of the game is for players to compete to see who can move fastest while standing on the coconut-shell shoes, that are kept in place by pulling on the rope that is put between the toes (fig.). Also transcribed dern kala. See also TRAVEL PICTURES and POSTAGE STAMP. 回