Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization)

The “Tan Ta Wen” Handcrafted Flowers and the “Ngu Ngab Kayab Kor” Handcrafted Trigger Finger Therapy Equipment – The Signature Products of the Tai Krang Nong Aor Community, Sukhothai Province

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          Experience the tourist attractions of the Tai Krang Community in Nong Aor subdistrict, Si Satchanalai district, Sukhothai province. Enjoy exciting activities amidst the charming environment of simplicity.

          The purpose of traveling for each individual differs. Some travel for the excitement of visiting new places, while others travel to seek new experiences beyond their comfort zone. If it is peace you seek, we recommend visiting the Tai Krang Nong Aor Community in Nong Aor subdistrict, Si Satchanalai district, Sukhothai province.
 


          Community tourism at Nong Aor is centered around the simple lifestyle of the locals. Their welcoming smiles and warm hospitality create a family atmosphere. Visitors will quickly feel comfortable, engaging in friendly conversations as if having a family reunion. The Tai Krang, also known as the Lao Krang, is an ethnic group from Phu Klang, Luang Prabang. The term "krang" refers to a type of aphid used by the ethnic group to extract the red pigments for dyeing their textiles – an art which became one of the signature characteristics of the Tai Krang.

Community Tourism – the Road towards Sustainability

          Visitors who stroll around the community will discover many interesting tourist activities amidst the locals’ simple lifestyle, organized by the Nong Aor Tourism Promotion Association, under the support of the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization) through the Special Zone Office 4. These activities include wooden handicrafts, basketry, and DIY "Tan Ta Waen" sunflower-shaped handicrafts. The activities and products underscore the local skills of the Tai Krang throughout the generations – utilizing natural resources to create jobs and sustainable income.
 


          Many wooden handicraft products are displayed at the multipurpose area of the community. The meticulous details and smooth edges of each piece reflects the highly-skilled craftsmanship of the locals in carving, polishing, and perfecting their work. A portion of the income from selling these wooden products enter a union and are distributed as dividends to all members – generating revenue from the locals’ specialized skills.  

          The Tai Krang are also renowned for their basketry skills, using materials available in their natural surroundings to create unique products. The "Ngu Ngab Kayab Kor," for example, is a handcrafted equipment renowned for its properties of alleviating symptoms of trigger finger and muscle strain. Its use is simple – place the affected finger into the equipment and gradually move the finger. 
 


          Another highlight is the DIY workshop to craft the "Tan Ta Waen" sunflower-shaped décor. The local product is created with colorful cotton or threads. Moreover, the Tan Ta Waen is an accessory displayed during the flag parade of the Tai Krang community in Ban Koh Noi, organized in April every year. The parade is an ancient tradition practiced and preserved by the community throughout the generations. To make your own Tan Ta Waen, slowly place the colored threads and cotton on the bamboo structure to create a personalized, unique design.
 


Tai Krang Handwoven Textiles – the Heritage of all Generations 

          The Tai Krang are renowned for their "Sinhs," a skirt fabric with a unique design made of cotton or silk. The Tai Krang uses red as the base color for their textile, applying other colors to create patterns. There are many variations of the Sinh depending on the techniques used to create the finished product. "Sinh Kan" is created by applying an upward motion known as the "Khit" to create patterns throughout the textile. "Sinh Mee Luad" refers to using "Mudmee," or dyed fabric, along with continuous weaving to create seamless and unique patterns. "Sinh Mee Tah" applies both "Mudmee" and "Khit" techniques to create parallel patterns, with the most popular designs being the "swan pattern" and the "Naga pattern." Finally, "Sinh Mee Noi" uses the “Mudmee” technique to create small patterns, mixed with different colors of cotton and silk.   

Ban Tai Krang Learning Center (Ban Lung Anoon): Sharing the Legend of the Tai Krang Culture

          The "Ban Tai Krang Learning Center (Ban Lung Anoon)" is a miniature museum disseminating the cultural heritage of the Tai Krang community. The façade of the center is decorated with Tan Ta Waen – the symbol of the Tai Krang community. During the flag parade, the museum serves as a venue for the Tan Ta Waen design contest. The purpose of these annual contests is to promote and preserve the Tai Krang art and culture. The learning center displays ancient utensils, such as plates and bowls, as well as Tai Krang textiles with an age of over 100 years. Community members take turns to guide visitors around the museum, creating a friendly and entertaining atmosphere.

 


Experience the Authentic Local Cuisine

          Your visit to the Tai Krang community is incomplete without experiencing the local cuisine. The signature menu is known as "Chicken So-Le." Prepare the menu by mixing and cooking minced chicken meat, intestines, and banana stems. This menu is highly recommended for visitors to experience. Other local cuisines include pork leg curry, pork/chicken "Jaew Moh" spicy soup, gourd soup, Water Meal Larb, "Khao Tom Hua Ngok Tok Tud" rice snack, and "E-pae Daek Gluay" banana snack. Although each menu may have unfamiliar names and flavors, each bite is guaranteed to taste even better.  

          Each tourist attraction and activity at the Tai Krang community reflect a strong cultural identity and heritage passed from one generation to the next. They also attest that time does not cause the community’s cultural identity to fade away – on the contrary, it boosts the value of the cultural and traditional heritage. By welcoming tourists and developing products, the community preserves its culture while generating sustainable revenue.

Sources:
journal.nu.ac.th
sukhothailocal.go.th