Umbrellas. Just umbrellas.

We took a brief trip to see one of the traditional crafts of the Chiang Mai area – umbrella making! So the man had to try and look even vaguely interested in this particular outing!

Here’s one of the workers mashing up the mulberry pulp to make the actual umbrella shade.

Creating the bamboo spokes that pop the umbrella open.

And here’s the next stage where the spokes for the brolly are put in place, it all looks very sculptural!

The wooden bamboo spokes make very striking photos. Naturally I had to be bodily dragged away from them . .

There’s every colour and pattern to be found in the umbrella warehouse, from traditional birds and flowers to stark, modern skulls.

From plain white brollies, these patient ladies transform them into flights of colourful fancy.

I particularly enjoy this lady’s choice of work wear – a purple shower cap!

And here’s where the brollies get packed up and shipped off.

I enjoy this shot where the umbrellas look like giant crayons! Plus these grinning colourful skulls are a slightly sinister souvenir.

You can also get a traditional design painted directly onto an item such as a t-shirt or bag. Here’s my little Khao San bag getting the make over treatment!