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1. Ann’s Ramblings
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Ann’s Ramblings
Greetings!
I got a chance to visit Hilltribe Villages Chiangrai Northern Thailand with friends last weekend. The overall visiting was good, only one thing is not pleasant is the weather, it was raining and we have to walk all the way from the gate to the villages on the wet and muddy road. Actually, it was a fun and interesting adventure.
There are five tribes living in the village, they are Akha, Lahu-muser, Palong (Big Earring), Lu Mien-Yao and Long Neck Karen. These five tribes living together and do their own activities.
I spent quite amount of time chatting with Long Neck Karen people.
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They originally lies in Eastem Burma plateau dimpled by terraced, paddy-filled valley. The whole tribe is about 7,000 members. We call them the Padong women.
They are those women and girls put brass rings around their necks. After talking with a Padong woman family, I learn that this neck ring adornment is started when the girls are 5 or 6 years old. |
Each year they will put more rings to the neck until age 30. A woman generally has about twenty or more rings around her neck.
In fact, these brass rings distort the growth of their collarbones and make them look as if they have long necks, which they don’t. These rows of brass rings do not actually stretch their necks but in fact squash the vertebra and collar bones.
The rings on the arms and the legs are not quite as prominent as those on the neck simply because the neck rings are so pronounced. However, these rings are just as important.
The rings on the arms are worn on the forearm from the wrist to the elbow. Those on the legs are worn from the ankles to the knees.
Legend claims that the brass rings protect the women from tiger bites. But actually the practice of wearing them helps maintain individual and tribal identity.
Since leg coils hamper walking, the women waddle. Constrained from drinking in the usual head-back position, a ring wearer leans forward to sip through a straw.
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The most common explanation about Long Neck Karen, is the opposite of what legend claimed – that an extra-long neck is considered a sign of great beauty and wealth and that it will attract a better husband. |
Since the neck muscles will have been severely weakened by years of not supporting the neck, so if a woman not faithful to her husband, she will be punished by removal of the rings, and then she must spend the rest of her life lying down.
According to Paul and Elaine Lewis in Peoples of The Golden Triangle, adultery and divorce among all Karen groups is extremely low.
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I talked to this cute 13 years Padong girl, she said brass rings that she wear is not hurting her and not heavy as well. I asked her about how she washes his neck?
She told me that she has to put water inside the neck and then use hand to wash it but the brass rings stand still, it is not allow to take off. There has a sample of brass ring; I tried to lift it up, but no luck. It is extremely heavy!! |
Cheers
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I have been collecting more good info – and a swack of f=r=e=e=b=i=e=s for you.
Here they are:
Till next time, promote and prosper!
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