Hi all! 4 of us are here in CM and want to do a "do it yourself" factory tour. Which ones shouldn't we miss? We thought we'd also have the driver take us to the temple on the top of the mountain (the name escapes me at the moment).

Thanks,

Margy

doi sutup (sp) is the temple and a must...

celedon is a must...umbrellas are also interesting....silk shop...in a 1/2 day you can hit most of them along that road...driver will know...

celedon is a must however...

you should go to Doi sutup in the early morning. There is a small village nearby with exhibits. The palace is also nearby but at this time of year the gardens (which are open two days a week in the summer) are closed for the Royal Family.

The factory tours - there is a papermaking village, umbrella factories (there are two) and village, celadon factory and if you continue along the road some ways (We didn't realize) there is the hot springs area where you can swim. So you may wish to separate as two different 1/2 days.

Don't forget your Nancy Chandler map.

Can someone tell me about the umbrella factories? It's not something I would think to go see being made, but it must be interesting. Please enlighten me!

Bo Sang is the name of the village approx. 20+ minutes outside of town. the celadon factories are nearby as is the village of Bai Ton Pao (papermaking-but we didn't go there).

Just as you approach town there is a large cluster of bulidngs where you can see umbrellas from small personal to large garden ones being made from scratch. Also the artists who paint them -- or anything else you care to give them that you already own, e.g. suitcase, for a small fee. In the town there are many shops along oen street and one other larger more commerical factory with an assemble line of sorts--women sitting on raised platforms all doing different parts of the process from cutting the bamboo to weaving together. Interesting.

Don't mean to sound clueless, (but I am) are the umbrellas made from bamboo and such as is outdoor type or are these umbrellas made with silk that are sold in other parts of Thailand but produced here?

And what type of things are painted on items you bring them?

If you like glass and metal work, have your driver find the Elegant Glass factory.

Umbrellas aren't utilitarian devices as produced in CM. But, rather, hand-painted works of art that just happen to look like umbrellas.

Take a favorite item with you and for 50 BAHT, one of the artists will draw, freehand, a picture on it for you. I had one do a dragon on my Canon camera case, a great memento.