Perhaps that's an unduly provocative (or guilt-ridden?) title for this post but there is some uneasiness with the concept of refugee communities setting themselves up as photo and retail opportunities for tourists. However, this project at Baan Thong Leung allows families from several displaced hill tribes to make a living and it pays for the local school. As long as I remain respectful in my dealings with them, I think it's okay. Plus they are photogenic, after all.
As well as Hmong people whom we'd encountered earlier in our stay in Chiang Mai, the village was home to Yao, Lahu and Padaung tribespeople. This latter group are famous for the brass neck coils worn by many of the women. They are often rather crudely referred to as the "giraffe-necked women" but contrary to popular belief, their necks are not stretched by the rings. Instead, the rings' weight presses down the collar bones and compresses the rib cage. It is this deformation of the clavicle which gives the appearance of a long neck.
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