We went with a guide who spoke several local tribe languages and fluent English. He told us a lot of things we would never have learnt by ourselves if we had hired bikes and gone to the areas outside Mae Hong Son. This picture is of Burmese refugees who live along the river and dive for sand and then sell to the local construction companies.We visited an area where Chinese families from the KMT fled Yunnan in China and are now settled in Thailand. They live in mud and straw houses set on the ground and grow ching ching and oolong tea. Mr Dam is showing me how to pick tea. 
As we drove around between the villages Mr Dam pointed out this site. Many Hmong people are animists and they sacrifice a black dog if there has been a death or bad event. The skull of the dog is mounted on the bamboo poles.
As we drove around between the villages Mr Dam pointed out this site. Many Hmong people are animists and they sacrifice a black dog if there has been a death or bad event. The skull of the dog is mounted on the bamboo poles.
At the Karen village near the Myanmar border, we met Mr Dam's friend from the 'Long Neck' tribe. She is 80 years old and fled Myanmar. She has no family in Thailand and no ID card so has to remain in the village which is a refugee camp.
The neck ring ( a single coil) is solid brass and it squashes the collar bone and ribcage to make the neck look longer. The neck ring is balanced by the leg rings. It is a myth that when they come off they will break their necks and die.
We were shown her house - she has one room for sleeping, raised off the ground and one for cooking. This was her dinner cooking on the charcoal fire - jungle rat.
We met a 21 year old girl who is waiting to hear if she can go to NZ as a refugee along with 6 members of her family. She has removed her neck in preparation and learns English in the village school.
