RM50 to see long neck females


Sunday, 11 December 2005

We were traveling up to the hill station Doi Mae Salong in north-east Thailand recently. On the way we passed by a community "show village" where a group of the long neck Karen hill tribe are settled. The village looks pretty basic and poverty stricken. Some corn and vegetable were planted on tiny tracts of land on the steep terrain. A few of the women (another tribe) were selling small souvenirs by the roadside stalls. Whatever subsidy given by the Thai authority is probably insignificant. Their shelters are very basic and living conditions squalid.

As were passing by, we thought we will stop by to have a look-see and we were in for a nasty shock. Some unscrupulous character at the entrance to the village wanted to charge us 500B per head entrance fee!!!!!!!!!!!! That was simply outrageous if not daylight robbery. For our party of eight that is 4,000B (RM400). I have not heard of anything more ridiculous. We had intended a 5-10 minutes stop cum photo session and be on our way. We would gladly contribute some money to support the community but to be extorted to pay 500B per head!!!!!!!.... that in principle is very wrong. We dont even pay that much to see the panda in the zoo and human should be treated with more dignity and respect than that!!!

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