Crossing the Klong--Round 2

Filled with conviction and commitment, I headed across the klong once again to track down the weavers.  This time I didn't come up empty handed.


Crossing the Klong:

The narrow, winding pathways through Bangkrua are a maze to any newcomer.  Dodging motorbikes and passing by makeshift shops with wares spilling out onto the path, I meandered through the village listening for the click-clacking that I read about in William Warren's book, Jim Thompson: The Unsolved Mystery.  Then, as I turned down one final unexplored alley, I heard it...

Manuthas' mother with Jim Thompson

Removing my shoes and ducking a bit to enter the workshop, I couldn't help notice the vibrant colors of spools sitting in baskets, waiting to be chosen.  At the far end of the shop, two weavers sat at their looms, pushing, pulling and pedaling their way through a new masterpiece.  In front of me, a woman waved her hand in front of a buzzing machine.  At first glance, it seemed as though she was doing nothing.  Like a spider working her magic, she was spinning gold thread onto a spool.  The owner of the workshop, Niphon Manuthas, is the son of one of Thompson's weavers.  Manuthas was the conductor walking back and forth, checking baskets and inspecting new wares.  He was more than happy to sit down with me to talk about his workshop, his mother, Jim Thompson, and more.

Of course when I asked him about any old artifacts he has lying around, I was amazed when he pulled out his mother's order book that Jim used to place his orders.  And then he pulled out the signed thank you letter from Robert Kennedy who had been to his workshop with his wife.  I was floored.  I wonder who else had crossed the klong to visit Niphon in his workshop.