Trang: Round balls, from an ancient toy in the middle of a rice field to 'mini round balls', a unique community product in Thailand. At Luk Lom Village, a community enterprise of the Luk Lom Conservation Group, Ban Na Muen Si, Village No. 2, Na Muen Si Subdistrict, Na Yong District, Trang Province, which is one of the largest rice-growing areas in Trang Province, today the village elders still continue the tradition of making 'Luk Lom,' one of the famous games of Trang and the South after the rice harvest season. It has become a source of learning, production, and distribution of Luk Lom to interested people throughout the country. It is the only one in the country that makes Luk Lom Song Krueng.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Prasert Kongmun, 76 years old, a local expert in making windmills and chairman of the enterprise group, revealed that the windmills of the farmers of Muen Sri are made from natural materials, with bamboo as the main material. They look like windmills, with a rotating shaft that makes the blades move. When the wind blows, they make a noise. In the past, villagers would put them in the middle of the rice fields to chase away birds that might come and eat their rice because when the wind blows, the noise would echo throughout the fields.
Today, the Na Muen Sri windmill is still receiving cultural attention, and there is a festival held to preserve the making and tradition of this craft. This has become the origin of the annual windmill competition and Khao Chang Hai cave viewing event. This year, it will be held from March 5-9. During this time, the villagers of Na Muen Sri sub-district will come together to make windmills and then decorate them beautifully, thousands of them, by placing them along both sides of the road that cuts through the middle of the rice fields.
Small round balls, or what is known as mini round balls, are made as souvenirs and sold throughout Thailand. They are also available for display as souvenirs. The packaging also describes the steps involved in assembling the mini round balls and the history of the traditional round ball competition.
As for the large balls, they are used for competitions and for sale. The selling price depends on the size and difficulty of the work, from 850 baht to 4,000 baht per ball. They are sent all over the country because the Na Muen Sri balls are beautiful and unique. They have unique decorations (ornaments) that are unique to this place only. In addition, I also produce portable fans from natural materials, bamboo, and small coconuts. Each costs 50-250 baht. If anyone is interested, please contact 087-2766058, 095-2579853.