|
|
|
Conical hat making /09/
 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
.
During my return to hometown of Hue, I asked my sister-in-law to help arranging me to visit a drying kiln. Due to the rareness of young palm leave, the kiln owner could not predict a fixed date when they can accumulate enough for a batch of leaves to be processed. They gave me their phone number so I can call every evening to follow up. Finally, I’ve told a new batch will be ready the next day.
When I came, they displayed to me the first step of conical hat making: leaves need to be tied together before undergoing the second step of being crumpled up by feet. Since the work stage of tying the leaves is not too hard, it can be done by anyone in the family. Here you see the 4-year-old boy Tuan showing me how the 10 leaves should be tied as he works on the first three.
Very soon after arriving in Vietnam, you'll see the first conical hat, and it is part of daily life until you leave the country. Conical hats can crown heads of cyclists, people working the rice fields, rowing a boat, selling fruit in the street, or with elegantly dressed business women. Under it, you can see a hardworking face, a sweet smile, a sweating vendor... Conical hats certainly add to the exotic picture of the country.
But the obvious reason for wearing the conical hat, or nón bài thơ in Vietnamese, is of course not for esthetic reasons. It is an important aide in trying to escape the scorching heat or the tropical rain that often occur in Vietnam. They are extremely lightweight, resistant, and plaited with palm leaves. They can be seen on simple peasants wearing them with their working clothes, but as easily you can spot beautifully dressed women in the city with a conical hat.
The conical hat is another sign of Vietnamese inventiveness and simplicity. The only disadvantage seems to be that the person wearing a hat is isolated a little from her outside world. But maybe this is also an advantage. It has happened that I saw someone with a conical hat quietly observing her surroundings. For the visitor, conical hats are an integral part of the Vietnamese street-life. (Source)
. |
dareco, Thanhnguyen has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekEarth members may rate photo notes. |
|
|
| Discussions |
| None | | You must be logged in to start a discussion. |
|
- dareco
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1360 W: 25 N: 532]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(7717) - [2007-09-09 3:08]
-
Such an adorable little boy, and so intent on showing how this is done. I love his expression. The colors here are also very good. TFS and for the note.
Although you stated that "the work stage of tying the leaves is not too hard", I still see the boy seriously focusing on what he does.
Thanks for this informative picture and notes.
Regards,
PV
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 506 W: 139 N: 2276]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 76 W: 0 N: 0]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-n.gif)
(0)