Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, is near a lot of hilltribe villages. I had read about Akha spinning in a magazine (the Akha spindle, a mid-whorl spindle, is fairly popular with handspinners), and asked if it would be possible to stay in a traditional Akha village to study spinning and weaving. Indeed it was! and I spent five days with the Akha people, four days studying spinning and weaving and one day studying with the silversmith.
Here are photos from the village; I have two other pages with photos of spinning, weaving, and other fiber arts.
You can also read about my visit to the Akha village in my travel blog.
