**A quick note: I wrote a post two days ago saying that if it was me I wouldn’t cancel Thailand travel. Well it must have inspired me because Callie and I got on a plane and we are now in Chiang Mai, Thailand for a few days with plans to take the train to Bangkok this weekend. Not only is it a fun adventure, but I am hearing and seeing the state of Thailand for myself so I can report back. So far, so good:)**
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The umbrella factories of Chiang Mai are one of my favorite places to visit in Southeast Asia and now we have kids I am once again reminded how magic they are!
The umbrella factories started as a village industry to equip monks with summer umbrellas. As my guide explained, the monks would spend months inside so when they came out it was important they weren’t getting too many rays on their rather tender skin. As locals saw the beautiful umbrellas shading the monks bald heads they sought out the umbrella villages and slowly the umbrellas became decoration in restaurants, homes and hotels.
Today the umbrella villages are a tourist attraction and while there are definitely the required tourists shops that I know most people strive to avoid on vacation, the artists that work here are well worth a visit. For about 100 baht they will draw a myriad of small paintings on shirts, pants, luggage, camera cases? I have had small elephants drawn on many a bag and this visit Callie and I bought some shirts and she chose the artwork for Gavin, Couper, Srey Nut and herself.
When we got back from the umbrella factory Callie couldn’t wait to get her crayons and start coloring, she explained that she was drawing an elephant like on the umbrellas. She also can’t wait to give her presents to her friends. We visit museums and temples a lot in our travel, but I love to see when art truly comes to life for my kids.
Here are some photos from our visit to the umbrella factory:
So flippin’ excited for that rad Dragon shirt for Gavin! Are Coup and Gav going to have new matching T-shirts? We’re soooo excited for our friends to come back! Gavin explained to me yesterday that while he likes Dominic, Tatum and Dino, his FAVORITE friend is Couper. (Sorry Callie, you’re my favorite if that counts for something).