2002-02-03

A festival in Mae Chaem

I had planned to ride to Pai today but some motorcyclists who I wanted to meet told me they were going to Mae Chaem for a local festival of hand-woven fabrics. It sounded interesting and I agreed to meet them there.

I'm not bragging but I am pretty good at getting lost. I missed the turn at Chom Thong and by the time I realized my mistake I was almost to Hot. It looked like it might be easier to just keep heading to Tha Rua then turn north up to Mae Chaem. That was another mistake as the road from Tha Rua was under construction and by the time I finally arrived in Mae Chaem my friends had left.

The festival was still going strong and it was interesting to see such a variety of different colors, patterns and textiles. There were quite a few hill tribe people on hand to show the weaving for which they are so well-known.

Just one of many booths.

By early evening the party was building momentum. This is from the side of an open-air restaurant. It's sort of karaoke to live accompanyment. The fellow in the foreground appears to have gotten an early start on the festivities.

A view from the outskirts of Mae Chaem.