A Karen Paduang refugee woman sits outside her home playing a guitar in Ban Nai Soi, Thailand. The 53-year-old woman is now residing in Northern Thailand after fleeing war atrocities in her homeland of Burma (Myanmar). The Karen Paduang people are considered a tourist attraction by Thailand's government.
Photo © John Brown All Rights Reserved
"Can you step out here into the sunlight?" asked a camera toting tourist of a Karen Paduang Longneck refugee woman at a camp in Ban Nai Soi, Thailand.
The Karen Paduang "Longneck" and "Big Ear" refugees from Burma (Myanmar) currently residing in various locations around northern Thailand live their lives in limbo.
Each day hundreds of tourists are given access to Karen refugee camps inhabited by women that are known for the distinctive gold rings adorning their necks or elongated ear lobes.
Mae Hong Son, Thailand mayor Direk Kongkleb consolidated three Karen refugee camps to make it easier on tourists. At around $ 50 USD per head, the mayor earns a tidy sum of money for himself.
Karen Longneck refugees are restricted from traveling more than about an hour from their camps. Furthermore, arriving Karen refugees must reside in Thailand for ten years before applying to emigrate to another host country.
When one makes "requests" of the ladies to "do this or do that", maybe one might want to rethink their approach. Getting to know the folks a bit might be nice. Some of the ladies speak English or Thai so saying something such as "Hi how are you?" or "Kuen cheu arai" (What is your name?) might be nice ice-breakers.
The people that live in these camps have dreams just as you and I do, so please treat them like real people because they ARE! The friendships one makes with them will be much more valuable than the photos any of us will return home with.
John Brown Photojournalist On LIGHTSTALKERS
My Mondo Library Photography
Photo © John Brown All Rights Reserved
"Can you step out here into the sunlight?" asked a camera toting tourist of a Karen Paduang Longneck refugee woman at a camp in Ban Nai Soi, Thailand.
The Karen Paduang "Longneck" and "Big Ear" refugees from Burma (Myanmar) currently residing in various locations around northern Thailand live their lives in limbo.
Each day hundreds of tourists are given access to Karen refugee camps inhabited by women that are known for the distinctive gold rings adorning their necks or elongated ear lobes.
Mae Hong Son, Thailand mayor Direk Kongkleb consolidated three Karen refugee camps to make it easier on tourists. At around $ 50 USD per head, the mayor earns a tidy sum of money for himself.
Karen Longneck refugees are restricted from traveling more than about an hour from their camps. Furthermore, arriving Karen refugees must reside in Thailand for ten years before applying to emigrate to another host country.
When one makes "requests" of the ladies to "do this or do that", maybe one might want to rethink their approach. Getting to know the folks a bit might be nice. Some of the ladies speak English or Thai so saying something such as "Hi how are you?" or "Kuen cheu arai" (What is your name?) might be nice ice-breakers.
The people that live in these camps have dreams just as you and I do, so please treat them like real people because they ARE! The friendships one makes with them will be much more valuable than the photos any of us will return home with.
John Brown Photojournalist On LIGHTSTALKERS
My Mondo Library Photography
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