Longneck Village in Mae Hong Son

We learned a LOT when we went to the longneck village. We had No clue . . .

So, these people are originally from Burma. Since WWII, Burma has had a corrupt government that was taken over by the military. And they rule by fear, force, rape, abuse, mass murders . . . it’s Really bad. So tons of the people have tried to flee the country and cross the boarder into neighboring countries, like Thailand. Well Thailand has finally decided to let them stay, but they aren’t really happy about it b/c these people aren’t Thai. So they ended up putting them in these “camps” and wont give them “refugee” status. (with a refugee status, they could apply for ALL kinds of things! The could actually have some freedom. But without that, they are basically prisoners in these camps). So these camps have come to be called Human Zoos. You see, the Thai government realized that these people groups (like the longnecks) are great tourist attractions. So essentially, they are forced to live in the camps/villages and then tourists pay to come “tour” (basically walk through their whole village with their camera’s taking pictures). It’s 300 baht (about $9) to take a boat down the river and then hangout in the village to walk about and take pictures. So these people are totally being exploited by the Thai government. AND- there is hardly any land for them to work, so the men don’t really have any jobs. Which leads to a lot of drinking and depression. The woman are the ones now who “work”- and that work consists of making trinkets for the tourists to buy & also actually wearing their custom rings on their bodies. The Thai government will only give money to the women who wear the rings- and it’s hardly anything. But since they draw in tourists, they have to “play the part” by being these longneck people. Now- the older generation wears them b/c that is all they’ve known. But the younger generation doesn’t want to wear them. But sometimes their families force them to because they have no other source of income. AND- they are allowed to leave the camp to go buy things and such, but if they do, they cannot wear their traditional rings/clothes. Because the Thai Gov doesn’t want that image to be ruined. So these people are stuck because, they depend on the tourists for money (no tourists, no money from the gov and no money from buying their goods)- but then they are also on display everyday their whole lives.

We had NO idea this is how they lived!! We had the AMAZING opportunity to be taken around by a lady who used to live there, but she decided to get an education and then later got saved and became a pastor. Her name is Moo-Bee. But all of her family still lives in the village. Her mother and grandmother still wear the traditional dress and rings. She was telling us how they escaped Burma 4 different times because the Burma gov/military would burn their house and kill all their livestock (her dad was a Chief in their village). So finally after the 4th attempt, they made it across the boarder. I wont try to retell her whole story, but it was heartbreaking. So she took us into her village and showed us around because we (Pure Heart) are hopefully going to get to do a Clean Water Project there and help them get filtered water. The only water they have is from the river and about a year ago the Thai Gov put some chemicals to kill all the bacteria, and it helped for a little while. But people keep getting sick and there is nothing else they can do but drink the water- they have no other choice.

So we actually got invited into her home and we got to sit and talk with her and her brother for a long time. And then her brother cooked lunch for us and we got to eat with them. They are so warm and welcoming! Then her mother and a few other family members came in and sat and talked and laughed with us. It was so surreal! We were very conscious to not take pictures without asking first. And I mostly just took pictures of the village in general and pictures we’ll need for our water project. After hearing how they were exploited, I couldn’t stand the thought of taking their photos!! I did take one in the house when we were all sitting around, I have below the few that I took.

I feel at such a loss in my heart for knowing all of this now- it’s like I know it, but what can I do about it?? I don’t know if there is anything we can do about it . . .
The one thing we Can do is pray about this Clean Water Project. This will be the first one Pure Heart has ever done. We are partnering with someone else to do it, so we still have a Lot of questions. We are praying that everything will work out and we will be able to make it successful. And also that this will open up the door to do more projects with this village. We are waiting to hear back from Moo-Bee on what other needs their village has, so that Pure Heart can find ways to help meet them.


A view of the village from up high


He took us back to our truck by boat because it started raining and the walk there was like a road made of giant ants!! It was crazy! We were hopping the whole way there trying to keep them off our feet!


Here is a picture inside the house (I didnt use a flash to be less invasive). You can see Moo-Bee on the right and her mother with her rings on the left.


Here is me eating a Beetlenut. It's just a nut that they chew on- it was kinda weird . . . it didnt dissolve or anything. Usually they wrap it with tobacco and chew it.


Eating on the floor the food that Moo-Bee's brother made for us. Rice, then a meal of boiled eggs, tomatoes & onions, then a bowl of a green veggie and beans with broth, and then a bowl of pork and something else- I didnt try that one.


(Video's to come in the next day or so from this village trip)