After coming from Donxao, we proceeded to Mae Sai, the border of Thailand and Myanmar. Some of the Westerners from our group attempted to enter Myanmar and our tour guide insisted that they don’t have to do it since it would be difficult because of many questions asked by the immigration. Only one of them successfully did it.

There are actually six groups of hilltribes in Northern Thailand namely: Akha, Karen,Lahu, Hmong or Miao, Mien or Yao and Lisu. I am quite fascinated with these indigenous people because they wore colorful costumes and they live a simple life. They speak distinct language and with rich culture.

They are situated in a village where they put up stalls to sell souvenir items. They do loom weaving to produce fabric and they make bags and other items out of it. Various handicrafts were on display for sale. Their group is being supported by the Thai government. Although its Buddhist nation, majority of these cultural communities practice Christianity religion.

Brass coil is placed in the neck of women who started to wear it since they were five years old. Each coil is replaced with a longer one as they grow old. The weight of the brass pushes down the collar bone and compresses the rib cage that made the neck looks longer. The neck is never lengthened as what they popular say.
The hypothesis made by anthropologists with this culture of Karen is that the rings protected the women from becoming slaves because they become less attractive to other tribes. But according to our guide, he said that wearing the ring is their cultural identity being associated with beauty.




This is the video of the Long Necked Karen people.
Hmong hill tribe is also called Meo that belongs to the group Miao ethnicity of Southern China. The people make houses that sit right on the ground and live there, not on stilts as do most on the other tribes. These indigenous people are diligent, patient, and independent people, fond of wearing their silver ornaments during ceremonies. They are much devoted to the sky spirit. They practice a strict male-female division of labor even more than the other tribes. One custom that especially illustrates this custom is that of giving a newborn boy a gift of metal from which he will one day forge a weapon, while the newborn girls receive no special gift.
Hmong hill tribe is also called Meo that belongs to the group Miao ethnicity of Southern China. The people make houses that sit right on the ground and live there, not on stilts as do most on the other tribes. These indigenous people are diligent, patient, and independent people, fond of wearing their silver ornaments during ceremonies. They are much devoted to the sky spirit. They practice a strict male-female division of labor even more than the other tribes. One custom that especially illustrates this custom is that of giving a newborn boy a gift of metal from which he will one day forge a weapon, while the newborn girls receive no special gift.
This is the video of the hilltribes Akha and Lahu.
No comments:
Post a Comment