Feb. 2018--Cambodian Silk Farm

With the Peltons and the Forsyth's, we took a trip to Cambodia and Vietnam. Our impression of Cambodia was that it was poverty-ridden, but the people were some of the sweetest, most hospitable people we had ever seen.

Chuck with the Todd and SheRae Forsyth. Wandering the streets of Siem Rheap.

Our hotel was small, only 24 rooms. But the staff was amazing. They gave us free mint (non-alcoholic) drinks to cool us down as we were checking in. What a friendly place. 

Tuk Tuks only cost a few dollars to go anywhere in town. The driver will wait around all day to drive you somewhere else. 

Our group with the hotel desk staff. They were lovely young women and so helpful. Here, they gave us each a scarf to help us ward off the heat as we walk around outside. 

At a Cambodian silk farm near Siem Rheap, the silk worm puts out a single thread that becomes its cocoon. 

Silk worms busy working on their cocoons. They only eat mulberry leaves. 

Women working in the silk farm pull silk threads together, forming thicker threads and yarns. 

Silk cocoons need to be boiled to kill the worm inside. Otherwise, the worms eats through the threads. It's important to unravel the cocoon as one single thread. 

Coaxing the single thread from each cocoon out of the boiling water, joining other threads as they make their way onto a spindle.

Big silk spindle.

Tim Pelton and Laraine watch how threads become silk scarfs.

Silk clothing is common in Cambodian tradition.

It's hard to imagine that this will eventually become clothing.

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