Dear Liz,
Glad to see you are back home, safe and sound, David.
Thanks - it's good to be back.
Did you manage to get any of the silk thread you were looking for?
I did go and spend 6 days in Bao Loc but unfortunately should have done more thorough research. It was a very restful time in that small city of some 385,000 people where I was the only non-Vietnamese. Thank goodness I can by in that language.
A young man of 25 took me to the big silk factory and we arrived about noon. Their shop didn't open till 1400 hrs so we had to go away and eat. I can honestly say that was the best meal I had during my whole month in Vietnam - even included a platter of freshly roasted frogs legs - gorgeous.
When the shop opened, they were pushing fabric and clothing at me, so I got my young friend to explain that I wanted thread. There was no way this would be permitted and neither could I go inside the factory to see the production process. So, alas, I came away empty handed.
However, back at my hotel in Saigon I checked out youtube and found a video clip entitled "Silk in Vietnam". It tells of a small village about 20km south of Hanoi which shows you the whole process from cocoons onwards. So that's where I'll head next year.
David in Ballarat, AUS - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
