I have read quite a bit about these people and seen them being featured in TV. Indeed to be able to see them in person was an occasion not to be missed in Chiang Rai. However, to some, taking a tour to see these people could be controversial as some liken it to visiting a human zoo.
These long neck people in fact belong to a sub-group of the Karen called the Padaung. They are born with normal neck. It is the weight of the brass rings added around the neck over the years that pushes the collar bones and ribs downwards that creates this long neck illusion.
There are many stories about why these women chose to wear brass rings around their necks in the beginning. One such story is that women being slower runners, they place thick brass rings around their necks to protect their lives in case they are caught up by chasing tigers which bite the necks for the kill.
These days, the Thai government has relocated these people to specific locations and created communities almost solely to meet the interest of tourists. I could see many of these people including younger generations willingly embracing this culture. Whether it is because of monetary benefit or out the desire to sustain this culture, there is really no one single satisfactory answer! Each probably complements the another and vice versa!
At the entrance to the village, all tourists have to pass through a "gate" guarded by two wooden sculptures with the male and female sexual organs explicitly amplified. We were told that the gate is meant to ward off any evil spirit from entering the village. Somehow, it is more an expression of the tribal fertility than anything else!
Each family is given a hut to showcase their handicrafts.
Besides the long neck tribe, there is also the big ears tribe.
1 comment:
I remember reading about this tribe on one of our national geographic magazines and also seeing photos and models in the museum. Now you get to see it first hand!
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