Thai Otop

:: NORTHERN REGION :: THE NORTH IS A MOUNTAINOUS REGION WITH DENSE RAINFORESTS POPULATED BY COLOURFUL HILLTRIBE MINORITIES, WHO HAVE THEIR OWN CUSTOMS AND CRAFTS, INCLUDING EMBROIDERED COTTON FABRICS AND SILVER JEWELRY. THE FERTILE VALLEYS ARE RICH IN HISTORY WITH A LONG TRADITION FOR SUPERB HANDICRAFTS, PARTICULARLY CARVED WOOD, RICH SILVERWARE, PAPER PRODUCTS MADE FROM NATURAL FIBRE, CERAMICS AND BAMBOO BASKETS. :: NORTHEASTERN REGION :: THE RAISED PLATEAU OF THE NORTHEAST IS A LARGE, RELATIVELY POOR REGION WHERE AGRICULTURE IS THE PRIME LIVELIHOOD AND COMMUNITIES HAVE A TRADITION OF MAKING PRODUCTS BY HAND, ESPECIALLY FABRICS AND BASKET, FOR THEIR OWN USE. THE PRODUCTION OF SILK AND COTTON FABRICS IS ESPECIALLY WIDESPREAD, WITH THE MOST POPULAR BEING THE TIE-DYED MUDMEE DESIGNS AND NATURALLY-DYED SILKS, WHOSE PATTERNS AND COLOURS VARY FROM LOCAL TO LOCAL. THE MOST FAMOUS OF THESE ARE THE LAI KHID AND PHRAE WA SILKS. OTHER POPULAR ITEMS INCLUDE REED MATS. BASKETS WOVEN FROM WATER HYACINTH AND THE INIMITABLE TRIANGULAR PILLOWS. :: CENTRAL REGION :: GEOGRAPHICALLY, THE CENTRE IS THAILAND'S HEARTLAND, THE GREAT RICE BOWL OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS SURROUNDING THE CHAO PHRAYA RIVER. THIS IS A FERTILE FARMING AREA, HOME TO ORCHARDS, PADDY FIELDS AND PLANTATIONS. ITS EARLY HISTORY BY THE GREAT CAPITALS OF AYUTTHAYA AND BANGKOK. TODAY IT IS THE MODERN CENTRE OF THAILAND. WHERE TRADITIONAL HANDICRAFTS OF BAMBOO AND BAI LAN, GREAT EARTHEN POTS,DAN KWIAN POTTERY AND TERRA COTTA ITEMS CONTINUE TO BE PRODUCED. :: EASTERN REGION :: THE EAST IS FIRMED FROM THE NARROW COASTAL STRIP THAT RUNS FROM BANGKOK TO THE COMBODIAN BORDER, A RICH AGRICULTURAL AREA FAMED FOR ITS VARIETY AND QUALITY OF FRUITS. PICKLED AND PROCESSED FRUITS OF THE REGION ARE MUCH SOUGHT AFTER. IN ADDITION TO EARNING A LIVING FROM THE POPULAR TOURIST CENTRES OF PATTAYA,RAYONG AND TRAT, EASTERNERS ARE FAMED FOR THEIR VARIETY OF BAMBOO AND RATTEN BASKETS. REED MATS AND MUDMEE FABBICS.