My most current blog entry:
Entries from January 1, 2012 - January 31, 2012
The Tropics
Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 8:59PM 
Took a soothing long-tail boat trip up the rural canals (klongs) of Samut Songkhram recently. Wish you were here.
Samut Songkhram Salt Pans
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 7:24PM 
If you have ever driven from Bangkok to the beaches of Hua Hin, you will have driven by the salt pans of Samut Songkhram.
Sometimes when you drive this road you see workers out in the salt pans preparing the salt for harvest.
The pans are flooded with sea water, from the nearby Gulf of Siam, and left to evaporate.
As more and more sea water evaporates, and more is added, the salt in solution becomes so saturated that it crystallizes.
To help the process, the salt crystals are raked up into rows and piles.
Working in that briny water all day in bare feet . . . . .
After all the salt has been removed, it is prepared for flooding again by a rolling machine.
These salt pan rolling machines are unique.
Wind mills are used to power the pumps that supply the sea water.
Dr. Jeff Harper
I took this photo eight years ago (2003) at the same salt pan during salt harvest time. The salt workers cover themselves against the harsh reflected sun and the ravages of the salt.
