Almost everyone knows and feels the sense of
a stranger in this quiet little village.
They are curious to know who have come
and why.
Our friend, old Kyan lady Domunwe, took us
to her house and served a sort of
very mild rice liquor to drink with a
bamboo tube from the pot.
A very agreeable refreshment.
She also introduced me with a husband who
is proud to show me his collections of
antique traditional drum and bells.
While demonstrating, he explained to me how Kyans
have kept their drum and bells in great
appreciation.
For the time being, ladies are having an
easy, friendly talk on a couch by the
window.
When I look outside through the window, there
is another Kyan lady taking a bath at
a village water tank.
I was explained about their traditional belief that
a woman is not a woman without brass
rings around her neck.
And good women always keep their neck rings
shiny.
No men wear such ornaments.
Domunwe, our guide, said she was very disappointed
today that very few number of Kyan girls
keep the tradition alive by adorably wearing them
lifelong.
We then walked down along the village road
to see more.
Some women are pounding rice while another woman
is weaving.
Not many people are seen now.
Our guide explains that it was farming season
and most people are out in the farms.
When we come to a stilted house, certain
women are preparing to encase a woman's legs.
This lady is an expert whose professional skill
is with brass rings.
She does the encasing, refixing works for her
living.
When looking closer, the brass rings are in
fact one piece thing, not many separate rings
as we thought before.
They can be turned around and loosely worn
around the neck.
This time, the expert lady is encasing the
leg with long piece of spider brass ring.
Her customer is having a new one because
her daughter is getting married tomorrow.
When asked why she wears such a wonderful
ornamental piece, the old lady explains that she
understands women have to wear brass rings around
their necks.
And everyone was wearing in the neighborhood.
This lady is wearing a brass ring around
her neck.