text: Young Karen Lady operating the handloom. Long Neck Karen in Chiang Rai, Chang Wat Chiang Rai, Thailand The Karen are a tribal group who have historically lived in the hills on the Myanmar (formerly Burma) side of the Thai border. Best recognized for their elongated necks, the Karen women wear heavy brass rings around their necks, forearms, and shins. There is a lot of criticism surrounding this. From human-zoo to women earning a honest living and not being prosecuted. Depending on which side of the argument you are. When we first arrived each woman was stationed by her own hut busy working on the knitting looms and it initially felt a little bit like a staged atmosphere but talk and spend time and it feels not very different than other villages. Controversy or not, had mixed feelings on this.