I can remember a long, long time ago, reading a book, filled with exotic places and pictures, and saw these women wear brass rings on their necks, and their name was Karen!  How exciting.   From that day I have wanted to meet the Karen people.  Mission accomplished.

The weight of the brass rings on the woman’s neck pushes down the collar bone and upper ribs, such that, the collar bone is part of the neck.  The neck ring adornment begins when a girl is 5 or 6 years old.  The extra long neck is considered a sign of great beauty and wealth, designed to attract a better husband.  This tribe migrated to Thailand approx 10 years ago, and is Burmese refugees.  Along with the long neck, there is also the big eared Karen, who stretches their ear lobe with large rings.