For probably more than 100 years an exotic artform & traditional sport has thrived in Penang, Malaysia.  Approaching the Chinese New Year teams from across the country practice & compete in Chingay flagpole throwing & catching.  One teammember uses his foot to launch a 30-foot long bamboo flagpole , with a large traditional Chinese flag flying from it, into the air.  Another teammate mounted on a ladder, or jumping up on the shoulders of a third member, or even riding piggyback on someone on a moving motorcycle (!) quickly maneuvers under the flying flagpole & catches it on his forehead (padded by a headband), or on his lower teeth.  If he feels really good about his catch, he sometimes then squats down & then thrusts upward launching the flagpole again so that another teammate behind him can catch it on his head.  

Teams form up in front of Georgetown's City Hall at dusk to do some last minute practice.  Once night comes, the annual national compitetion begins with several teams advancing to the competiton square to the stirring sounds of the theme song from "The Battle of Britain" movie.  Five judges seated at tables surrounding a cordened-off square observe teams performing as many amazing tricks as they can possibly pull off for ten minutes.  Then they score the teams in the same manner that Olympic figure skating judges hold up score cards.  

One can't help but wonder if Penang's dentists are very excited about this sport.  You'd think it would bring them a lot of business fixing people's bottom teeth!

The amazing thing is that whereas this was once purely a Chinese sport, now one can see Malays exelling at it as well.