Planes, Umbrellas, and Worms

Yesterday we went on another field trip with the co-op group. This one was to the Chiang Mai International Airport where we "followed the luggage." Evie found it interesting, and was excited to wear the special security badge that let us go behind the scenes. I thought there was a little too much standing and waiting around the airport, which we've had plenty of in our travels! I didn't want to miss the opportunity though, because I know you could never do this at a US airport anymore!

Back in November, we went to the silk and umbrella factories that are right next door to each other. This was much more fascinating to me. At the umbrella factory, we were able to see how the make "sa" paper (mulberry paper). And then how they actually make the thai umbrellas and fans. Then the people that work there paint incredible pictures on them! The girls each got to paint their own little umbrellas too.

   

      

   

Then we walked next door to the silk factory. This was my favorite! We were able to see the whole process of how silk is made from the eggs, to the live silkworms, to the cocoon. Each cocoon is wound from a single continuous strand, and It takes 50 cocoons to make one silk thread! We also saw silk moths. They make sure to only harvest a certain percentage of the cocoons, so that the silk moth will never die out.

Next we saw how they die the thread different colors, how it is wound onto spools, and then how they weave it into silk cloth. There were many women working at weaving looms all packed into this factory. Some made solid color cloth and could go pretty fast. Others wove very elaborate designs with the silk and only made a few inches of cloth in a day! No wonder silk is so expensive! They had many beautiful items available in there showroom, but none that we could afford!