Travel to Chiang Mai

We're traveling to Chiang Mai, the source of most Thai handicraft. This area had been controlled by Burma for over 250 years and was largely ignored by Bangkok until Queen Victoria expressed interest. In order to further their colonial expansion, Victoria was interested in a marriage between royal families (from Chiang Mai). Meanwhile Rava IV (the king in the King & I) was interested in having the Crown Prince learn English to better understand Britain, which was threatening his kingdom. The King used Siamese cats as an enticement to get an invitation to visit England. Rama V was educated in Britain. Upon his return, seeing the interest in Chiang Mai region he visited the area, learning about the beauty of the handicrafts and of the local princess, he eventually married.

Wat Rong Khun

On our way to Chiang Mai, we visited Wat Rong Khun outside the town of Chiang Rai. This temple bas been built based on the ideas of artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. It is unique, almost like a white fantasy land.

Next stop was a rice mill, where the rice is polished 3-9 times, depending upon the type of rice and whether the final product is brown or white rice. A by-product is rice bran.

In the afternoon, we visited various handicraft shops. A silk shop showed us the life cycle from eggs to nymph, silk worm, and cocoon. The silk thread is made from 4 or more silk filaments. We watched both simple hand looms and those making complicated designs at the rate of 10 cm./day. It takes about 15 years experience to do this well - using poles that lift up different strings to create the pattern.




Next stop was a jewelery factory specializing in Thai stones: rubies and sapphires. Finally we stopped at a lacquer ware factory where they were hand making their figures, boxes, and vases.