The Karen are a tribal group who are originally from Myanmar but fled to Thailand during the political unrests of the past. They now live in small villages one of which is in Mae Rim just outside of Chiang Mai. The visits to the villages are enlightening experiences as you get to see the tribal people going about their everyday life whilst having to sell their products to tourists in order to feed themselves. Always go with a tourist guide as they will be able to communicate with the locals and ask any questions you may have of the tribe’s members whilst you are there.
The Long Neck Karen are a tribe of women that are refugees from Burma living in the northern Thai hills. Mistreated in their own country, they fled to Thailand where they earn an income from tourism and an education for their children in Thai schools. Some say it is unethical to visit these hill tribes and equate it to visiting a human zoo. But because their status in Thailand is uncertain and because of the way the women have changed their bodies so cannot work in other jobs, being a tourist attraction themselves in the only way they can earn any money to support their families.
The brass neck rings weigh around 10 pounds (or 4.5 kilograms) and they can have up to an additional 30 pounds of rings that they wear on their arms and legs weighing them down.
Thailand hardly is the “modern world” to which we are accustomed, though it disappeared even further as we wandered down the path of stairs made from mud and the bamboo houses on stilts came in to view. The stilts provide a place for livestock to live underneath, for storage, and even a place to escape the intense rays of sun beating down.
The Long Neck Karen women really stand out because of the brass rings that they wear. There are a number of reasons that are thought as to why they wear them. It is said the neck rings prevented bites from tigers and the women themselves say it is to distinguish their cultural identity. Anthropologists have hypothesized the rings are worn to prevent slavery by making the women less attractive to other tribes.
