January - February
Thawai Village, Chiang Mai

Northern Thailand has many hardwood forests, so it is only natural that wood carving would rank high among the country's traditional handicrafts. Evidence of the woodcarvers' skill can be seen on countless Buddhist temples all over the country, in splendid gables, cornices, doors and windows. It is also evident on palaces and ordinary houses, and in an endless variety of products used in daily life, from cooking utensils and spinning wheels to elephant howdahs.
The wood traditionally used is teak, but numerous other varieties are used as well. For furniture and temple decorations, the wood is usually received by the carvers in the form of planks. Designs are drawn on the wood in pencil and then carefully carved with a mallet and various sizes of chisels. The cost of the finished product depends on the complexity and difficulty of the design; some items might be finished in a day or two, while others may take months to complete.

The greatest concentration of wood- carvers is perhaps still in the North, mainly in and around Chiangmai, although many skilled carvers may be found all over Thailand. Shops in Thailand's major cities feature a wide range of carved wood products from exquisitely carved furniture to more common items, such as salad bowls, wooden trays and lamp stands. A thriving export industry has grown from these products. One of the best known centers for wood carving around Chiangmai is at the village of Baan Thawai, just outside Hang Dong district town. Historically, most of the carvers were farmers who spent their free time making wooden objects, but now with the large number of export companies established in the village, carvers are employed from miles around.

To get to Baan Thawai, drive south about 11 kilometers from Airport Plaza and turn left just before you reach the district office on the right side of the highway. Keep going for about 4 kilometers and you will be in Baan Thawai Village.