A game of Carrom

It's been a long time since I played or see anyone played Carrom.
It this already considered a traditional game? People don't see to play this now.
I wonder if it's available in electronic form in a tablet PC.;-)

This was at a Backpacker's Inn at Joo Chiat.
Called the BetelBox Backpackers.



Have you stayed in a backpackers inn? I have only stayed in one, a Youth Hostel in Australia.

If you are on a budget and visiting Singapore, let me recommend Betel Box.
Had a view of it the other day and it looks clean and good. You can find more into at www.betelbox.com

Traditional Games : Five Stones

This is a traditional game called "Five Stones" that kids in Singapore used to play long long time ago. (OK, I know readers from South East Asia would say it's not only Singapore. So let me add Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and other South East Asian countries too)

Stones are seldom used now. The 'stones' that are used now are made of leftover cloth and sewn into pyramids. They are filled with sand or beans.




Guess what I just found out today? People in South East Asia would have thought that this game originated here. But with a bit of searching over the Internet, I found out that this game is also played in India! They are known as Kallangal, Anchangal in the villages of Tamilnadu. (See info here)

Even more surprising is that the Koreans play this game too! They call it Gonggi. (Info from Wiki here, Youtube of it here.) Their rules are the same too!


I got even more surprised to find out that the French plays a similar game too! They call it Osselets. (Wiki in French here / translated to English here) Now are you as surprised as I am?  You can watch a YouTube of it here. I guess the only difference is that the French has a points system. Also when they throw the stones (they used bones), they leave it on the floor, the South East Asian and Korean version keep the stones in the hands. 

Surprised???



Here's a part of the poster that shows what it is all about. I think it was by the Singapore Sports Council. I would think they will introduce these traditional games at the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.



Hmm... It would be so interesting when the young athletes from the different country arrived in Singapore and when it's introduced to them, they would be saying: hey, that's the same game we have in our countries too!

Friends from all over the world, do you all have a same game too? What do you call it?