Long neck village

Upon a short day trip to a small 'Long Neck Village' I was shocked at just how women and even children (as young as five years) wear these heavy coils around their tiny necks! These people I refer to as Long necks (Kayan) are divided into a subgroup of the Karenni people, of Burma. Women of the various Kayan tribes identify themselves by their different form of dress. The Kayan Lahwi tribe are the most renowned as they wear ornaments known as neck rings, brass coils that are placed around the neck. These coils are first applied to young girls when they are around five years old.

Although I was fascinated at the sight before my eyes, it somehow appeared to me that these women and children weren't all that happy. The discontent and lack of expression spoke a thousand words. Perhaps it was because they are merely treated as a tourist attraction, when really this is their tradition and way of life.

Photographs captured using Nikon