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Tourist : that’s marvelous! Could you please help me find some cute souvenirs for my two little children ?
T.G, : With pleasure, Madam, I’ll show you to the paper toys comer. Please follow me this way; it’s right next to the lacquerware section.
Tourist : these beautifully colored toys look interesting. What are these globe-shaped, honeycombed paper spheres?
T.G. : they are round lanterns. They are made from paper and glue. The only utensil used in producing them is a press consisting of numerous parallel wooden strips spaced a centimeter apart. Just how they are made is fairly simple. Some children learn how to make them in elementary school.
Tourist : those miniature drums are also fascinating
T.G. : we call them “pong-paeng” or hand-turning drums. They are like tiny models of the cloth-dyer’s drum but with bright pink cellophane instead of buffalo-hide. When turning the handle of the drum forward and backward the side strings with tiny knobs at the ends will beat on the drum and make a cheerful tinkling noise.
Tourist : these brightly-colored fish mobiles seem to be exotic home decorations.
T.G. : they are a relic of older times when they also children’s toys. Knownin thaias “ plat apian, “ they are still made from dried and pointed palm leavers , though nowadays most of them aer made from colorful plastic. Same mothers still hang one above their baby’s cradle , and the baby looks at it and plays with it in his cradle.
Tourist : are these cicadas? But why are they attached to bamboo sticks?