Recognized as one of the finest Thai silk producers, Surin is hosting Surin Silk Festival during Aug 10-14 at Baan Ta Sawang, a village famed for its sophisticated silk weaved with gold threads made exclusively for APEC leaders back in 2003, HM the Queen and hi-so ladies. It's a great chance to see how they weave silk with gold thread. Oiginated from Ayutthaya era's, the technique is so difficult that they can produce only 5-7cm of it per day. The event also features exhibitions like ancient silk, khon (Thai dance) costumes as well as cultural performances and silk contest between villages. For more information, call TAT Surin, 044-514-447/8.