Thailand Treasures! Jewelry & Crafts - PART II

(For the first part of this post click here)

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We couldn't miss a paper parasols workshop! I bought a little one just for the sake of having one, because I wouldn't know where to put a big one in our apartment.

I was amazed by the whole process of making this traditional craft, 100% handmade from scratch and taking advantage of their local resources.

Our last destination was crazy Bangkok!, unfortunately we couldn't visit the National Museum, so I missed the classical jewelry collection, nail jewelry, head pieces, ostentatious gems and gold, etc...

BUT I really enjoyed a more accesible kind of jewelry, amulets!

As a birthday gift I received an engraved silver locket for amulets, so we visited the HUGE amulet market close to the Wat Mahathat looking to get some for my locket. I bought three without really knowing the meaning behind them (language barrier!), but I enjoyed watching the collectors chasing hidden treasures through huge piles of amulets.
By the way, these amulet lockets, come in many shapes and materials for all tastes and budgets.
Most of them have one or two windows covered by glass or plastic framing the amulet.



They go from as little as $1 to thousands! not only their figure, material and engraving is important, also who was the person who made it: if it was a very charismatic monk, then it's believed that the amulet powers are even greater! (and so will be their price)
If you are reading this and are from Thailand, could you help me read the amulets I bought?!



Finally, a picture of some treasures I picked up from Railay Beach, the simplest way to take a little piece of that paradise with me.


I hope you liked the pictures! What's your favorite piece of jewelry from an exotic trip?