How to make a Khmer kite out of a crappy American Kite
November may not seem like a good time to fly a kite, unless of course you are in Cambodia.
First rule: it should be small and cheap. I originally purchased my kite at Walmart for 1USD, but Utry cut this new shape out of my kite and only used less than half of the original kite.
Here is the shape to follow. Fold your material in half so that your shape is symetrical.
Take a wooden broom bristle or thin bamboo long enough to act as frame for the kite. Use a knife to cut it down even more thin for flexibility. Good luck finding either of these in America.
Sew the frame onto kite. Use lightweight tape for extra security.
Sew on the string in 2 spots for your line. Dump the silly string holder you bought and just wind some string onto a recycled pop or water bottle instead.
Test your kite on the porch to see if it ready for the real wind. Always bring a kid with you. It's more fun that way.
Take the kite out into the surrounding sugar cane fields.
Run if you must to get the kite up. If it still isn't flying, add some more tales. When your flipflops fall off, don't forget to get them. You'll notice dozens of kites stuck in electric wires. Don't lose yours to the wires!
If it still isn't flying, call the wind. The call reminds me of what Chewbacca's wife would sound like. Utry says this works. So just do it.
Take the kite out into the neighboring rice fields to do some more tests. If it is still not flying, take off some of the weight of the tales that you just put on starting from the outside working to the center. You will likely draw a crowd of Khmer children while you do this. Don't fall into the rice fields! And watch out, the kids are probably climbing trees and throwing local fruit at you at this point.
It should fly now.
At least it did when Utry showed me.
