Throughhereyes - I'm you, you're me

I'm you, you're me

I see you with your golden rings,

soul pure like an angel

and I wonder,

is life really fair?

thousands of miles away

your photograph speaks louder

than any word could ever say.

I am you and you are me

and in this world, between chaos and beauty

we are all bound by the same hope, the same fight,

To be seen, to be heard, to be free

I remember the day I encountered one of the long-neck tribes in northern Thailand, near Chiang Rai. At first, I was intrigued. I thought, They are beautiful. As I walked through the village, though, something didn’t sit quite right with me. It felt like part of a human exhibition.

Pay an entry fee? It didn’t feel right. Who are these people? What is their life really like? I was curious to know the story behind it all.

The Kayan people are an indigenous minority originally from Myanmar. The women wear brass coils around their necks from an early age, a practice that, in the past, was meant to protect them from tiger attacks. Today, this tradition is considered a symbol of beauty within their community in the modern world.

But beneath the surface, the long-neck tribes are caught in complex political and social issues. They are part of a refugee community in Thailand. Even after years of living there, they are still denied Thai citizenship. They have limited access to electricity, roads, healthcare, and education.

Many of these villages are often used for the sole purpose of tourist entertainment. People pay an entry fee to visit their villages. However, this often reduces their traditions to a show for profit, which raises serious ethical concerns. Tourists need to be aware of this and avoid supporting activities that exploit vulnerable communities. Instead, we should focus on supporting ethical tourism that respects the dignity and rights of indigenous people.

Big changes begin with small steps.

Northern Thailand, 2025