Passion et Liberté

This short story is about my little research while trying to learn and discover in the northern triangle between Thailand, Burma and Laos. The area is known as The Golden Triangle and it is one of two major illicit opium producing areas in Asia. Besides, it’s also a home to many hilltribes surviving in poverty followed by endless rush of tourists. My changing experience is the situation of three villages of the Karen hilltribe. This tribe of Burmese origins found shelter in this dense jungle territory many years ago. They are also called "longnecks" known for their long necks and metal rings around them. I wanted to visit one of these places. During my travel I carried little “Licitar” hearts, colorfully decorated biscuits as original souvenirs from Croatia as gifts. But at the entrance to the village one official Thai person was trying to charge a entrance fee. The person presented a paper that describes all about the problem of the Burmese, including the war, the slaughter and exile. It’s a sad story so I said I will give the money to the people in the village myself. He did not agree. I had to leave. Feeling devastated, pathetic and angry for not paying, I hoped for a little miracle. On the way back one nice person appeared. It was a young Burmese girl who was born and lives in London. Here she volunteers as a teacher in the so-called “refugee camp”. When I asked her what it was, she clarified the situation and said she is very glad that I did not pay anything at the entrance to the village. Unfortunately, none of the money that tourists give is going to the hilltribes. It goes straight to the government. Actually, all of them live in this so-called “sanctuary” in appalling conditions. The children go to a school outside the fenced camp kept protected by the military. Neither her who is Burmese can’t get inside. All the villages that were built around the camp, were built in better conditions and several Burmese hilltribes are compelled to live there and wear these rings around the neck to satisfy the tourists who visit. In this region they actually don’t wear the rings anymore and most of them use “clip-on” rings. This seemed to me as one big lie, and these poor women are like in a zoo in front of the cameras of tourists who return home and think they have discovered wilderness. This particular and direct observation made me think of the true cost of our travels and the authenticity and originality we are trying to find.