Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
FARMER FOR A DAY
Sukhothai's
Organic Agriculture Project
(
08 6202 3757;
www.khaohomsukhothai.in.th
;
850B;
9am-
noon & 1-4pm) allows visitors to take part in a half-day's worth of traditional Thai farm activities.
Taking place at Sukhothai Airport's organic farm, the half-day begins by donning the outfit of a Thai rice farm-
er and riding an
ee đǎan
(a traditional utility vehicle) to gather duck eggs. This is followed by riding a buffalo,
checking into an orchid farm, witnessing the stages of rice production and, ultimately, planting or gathering rice.
The session ends with an informal cooking lesson and meal using organic produce from the farm.
Up to this point, the project has primarily hosted Thai visitors, and non-Thai speakers will most likely need to
bring or hire a translator. This can be arranged via the concierge at the nearby Sukhothai Heritage Resort (
Click
here
).
The compound is also home to a
restaurant
serving dishes made from the farm's organic produce (from 8am
to 5pm, mains from 50B to 120B).
The project is located on the same road as Sukhothai's airport, 27km from New Sukhothai off Rte 1195, and is
not accessible by public transport. If you don't have your own wheels, you can arrange a ride with the Sukhothai
Airport's minivan service.
Sawankhalok Kilns
At one time, more than 200 huge pottery kilns lined the banks of Mae Nam Yom in the
area around Si Satchanalai. In China - the biggest importer of Thai pottery during the
Sukhothai and Ayuthaya periods - the pieces produced here came to be called
'Sangkalok', a mispronunciation of Sawankhalok. Today, several barely recognisable kiln
sites can be found along the road that runs north of Si Satchanalai. Ceramics are still made
in the area, and at least one local ceramic artist even continues to fire his pieces in an un-
derground wood-burning oven.
Si Satchanalai Centre for Study & Preservation of Sangkalok Kilns
(admission 100B; 8.30am-5pm)
Located 5km northwest of the Si Satchanalai ruins, this centre
has large excavated kilns and many intact pottery samples. The exhibits are interesting
despite the lack of English labels.
MUSEUM
Sawankhalok
Sawanworanayok National Museum
(69 Th Phracharat; admission 50B; 9am-4pm)
In Sawankhalok town, near Wat Sawankhalam on
the western river bank, this state-sponsored museum houses an impressive collection of
MUSEUM
