The northern mountains are the home of many hill tribes who traditionally have taken little notice of the modern borders between Thailand, Burma and Laos. We visited two villages near Chiang Rai. The Akha people traditionally lived on opium growing and still have a high rate of addiction. The village we visited charged Europeans for entrance. You pass through an entrance arch marked by a phallic sculpture which aims to keep evil spirits away. The villagers themselves make money from their traditional crafts and dancing. Karen people have also settled here to escape persecution in Burma. The Karens backed the wrong side in the Indo Chinese wars. They are famous for the heavy brass rings Karen women put round their necks. They believe that this makes them more beautiful, and they are generally known as long necks. The village women can still be seen weaving and sewing intricate beautiful shawls and clothes. They are very friendly and invite you to take photos of them showing off with pride their long necks. For a small sum a women sold us a scarf. She told us it had taken her five days to make it by hand. A small school has been established where we met the teacher and her young charges. Even 6 or 7 year old children wear the necklaces so that their necks can grow.