Page 68 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2025 THAILAND
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popular myth, the hefty coils - up to 20
                                                              pounds or more - don’t stretch the neck.
                                                              Instead, they press down the collarbones,
                                                              giving the illusion of an elongated neck.
                                                              Girls start wearing them as young as five
                                                              years old, adding more coils over time as
                                                              part of centuries-old traditions of beauty
                                                              and cultural identity.
                                                                  We wandered slowly uphill through the
                                                              village, flanked by colorful open-air craft
                                                              stalls where the women weave, wood-carve
                                                              or embroidery goods for sale. Unlike the
                                                              photo-op feel of some tourist stops, these
                                                              women were genuinely welcoming, happily
                                                              posing for photos without pressing for tips
                                                              or payment. In return, Mary and I purchased
                                                              a beaded and belled tribal hat, woven scarf
                                                              and a beautifully hand-carved wooden
                                                              statue wearing the signature brass neck
                                                              rings - a one-of-a-kind piece now displayed
                                                              in our breakfast nook.












































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