Versatile Thailand
The many tourists who visit Thailand often go to certain areas and cities that they prefer. However, there are tourists who visit Thailand for another reason, namely because of the amazing quality products, which are manufactured through old traditional methods of working.
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Silk is the most famous product in Thailand, especially in the four major cities in Isan. The natural silkworm is used. It does produce less silk, but it is of exceptional quality. On the Korat plateau, these caterpillars are fed only with the leaves of a mulberry tree and are fully grown after 4 weeks. The caterpillar squeezes a silk thread and a glue thread with a total length of 2 meters from 2000 small openings in its jaw. He spins a cocoon of silk thread in 4 days. After 4 days, the cocoons are boiled and the "glue" around the silk threads releases and are then manually unwound (reeled). The threads are washed, bleached, colored and then washed again. Natural dyes are used, which give a deep color to the fabric.
How can one recognize genuine Thai silk? Silk lives! If the silk is held against (sun) light, the color and shine will change somewhat. Real silk is never smooth. There are small imperfections. Good polyester is imitation silk. The “fire test” leaves a fine ash behind and smells like burnt hair.
Gems, umbrella and carvings
Other products that make Thailand famous are the gemstones on the Thai-Cambodian border, the fantastically beautiful umbrellas made of specially prepared paper or silk in Northern Thailand in the remote villages of San Kamphaeng and Bor Sand just outside Chiang Mai. But also wood carvings centered on San Patong, Ban Tawai and Ban Wan. Similar to the wood carving art in the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya.
Ceramics
Ceramics from Dan Kwiang, among others, where the so-called Celadon ceramics are manufactured by the special clay, which is found here with a high iron content. Finally, the famous silver works of art, dating back to the 14e century. Hundreds of Burmese silversmiths ended up in the former capital of Lanna, Chang Mai, due to political unrest. These have evolved from both traditional and modern designs.
Of course there are more places in Thailand where these traditional products are manufactured, but in these areas lies the cradle of origin.