From Doctor Olga Vienna's Collection.A long necked woman singing. Thailand 2009

I visited Northern Thailand, which is home to interesting and colorful ethnic minorities, in January 2009. We went trekking to three villages, where people were happy to receive us. Since villagers were poor, any economically uplifting opportunities were welcomed.

For me, it is a fascinating cultural study because living shy away from the outside world, tribes-people have largely preserved their traditional ways.

Unfortunately, as in the case with any minority group, these tribes have been conforming to mainstream society and have been losing their indigenous customs and languages.

Each tribe we visited has its own customs and spiritual beliefs. Each tribe speaks in a dialect different from the Thai language (also called Thailander), so our tour guide is able to communicate only with a tribe leader who usually knows some Thai.

The tribeswomen are most distinctly recognized for their unique costume and dress, which they continue to wear daily.

In this video, you will see two long-necked women who belong to the Padaung - a sub-group of Shan. Shan tribes live in the Northwest Thailand and the Shan states of Myanmar.

The long-necked women were friendly; they spoke some English and knew how to read and play musical instruments. They were very graceful and looked like beautiful swans, moving their long necks with dignity.

Doctor Olga Vienna

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Doctor
• Olga
• Vienna's
• Collection.
• long-necked
• woman
• singing.
• Thailand
• 2009.

[shengcang]

y they wear those thing on their neck n leg?

[doctorolgavienna]

@shengcang Yes. All the time.

[stephenharveyasshole]

Mana is beautiful, I love her voice, I wish I could have heard it a little louder though

[Irinka1984st]

klassno!!!

[31sloppy]

some of them do that

[achathainuruk]

@Zyyler55 nothing

[Zyyler55]

what happends if they take that off? from there neck