A woman from Akha tribal village wearing traditional headdress made of heavy silver baubles and beads sewn on a bamboo cap, near Kyaing Tong, Shan State, Burma/ Myanmar

A woman from Akha tribal village wearing traditional headdress made of heavy silver baubles and beads sewn on a bamboo cap, near Kyaing Tong, Shan State, Burma/ Myanmar

Myanmar, Burma, Namu-op. The detail of a beautiful silver pendant, known as Phè gho, worn by Akha women.

Myanmar, Burma, Kengtung. An Akha woman wearing traditional costume with a headdress of silver and beads.

Myanmar, Burma, Lake Inle. Happy Padaung women belonging to the Karen sub-tribe wearing their traditional heavy brass necklaces which elongate their necks.

Myanmar, Inle Lake. Padaung lady wearing her heavy brass coiled rings around her neck.

A woman from Akha tribal village wearing traditional headdress made of heavy silver baubles and beads sewn on a bamboo cap, near Kyaing Tong, Shan State, Burma/ Myanmar

Myanmar, Burma, Keng Tung (Kyaing Tong). Young Akha girl in a hill village, Keng Tung.

Myanmar, Burma, Keng Tung (Kyaing Tong). A young Ann (Eng) man shopping for goods in Pintauk village, Keng Tung.

Myanmar, Burma, Wan-seeing. A Loi girl at Wan-seeing village. The Loi, a Hill Tribe, live in seven villages scattered over a large forested area of the Shan Mountains.

Myanmar, Burma, Namu-op. A happy Akha woman stands beside her favourite water buffalo wearing traditional costume with a headdress of silver and glass beads.

Myanmar, Burma, Namu-op. An Akha woman wearing a headdress of silver and glass beads, carries a large bamboo basket supported at the back of her neck by a yoke.

Myanmar, Burma, Kengtung. An Akha woman wearing traditional costume with a silver headdress and necklace embellished with glass beads.

Myanmar, Burma, Kengtung. A Mong la Akha woman wearing a traditional headdress of silver and beads.

Myanmar, Burma, Kengtung. An Akha woman wearing a traditional headdress of silver and beads.

Myanmar. Burma. Wanpauk village. A Palaung woman of the Tibetan-Myanmar group of tribes. Women commonly display their wealth by wearing broad silver belts.

Myanmar. Burma. Wanpauk village. Palaung women of the Tibetan-Myanmar group of tribes display their wealth by wearing broad silver belts. The poorer families use aluminium.

High angle view of golden leaves in various forms ready to sell, Mandalay, Mandalay Region, Myanmar

Myanmar, Inle Lake. Padaung lady wearing her heavy brass coiled rings around her neck, weaving her cloth, and viewed through a brass leg coil.

Myanmar, Inle Lake. Padaung lady wearing her heavy brass coiled rings around her neck.

Myanmar, Bagan. A young woman holding a silver alms bowl.

A woman and her baby from Akha tribal village wearing traditional headdress made of heavy silver baubles and beads sewn on a bamboo cap, near Kyaing Tong, Shan State, Burma/ Myanmar

Myanmar, Burma, Loikaw. A Kayah girl in front of the old wooden ceremonial posts at Chitkel village, Loikaw.

Myanmar, Burma, Loikaw. A Padaung (long-neck) woman standing outside her house, wearing her traditional brass neck coils, the weight of which pushes her collarbone down. Loikaw.

Myanmar, Burma, Inle Lake. A monk applies gold leaf to one of five buddha images, now transformed into a blob by the sheer volume of gold leaf applied over the years, Phaung Daw Oo Paya.

Myanmar, Burma, Rakhine State, Sittwe. An old woman of the small Ann tribe in traditional attire smoking a pipe.

Myanmar, Burma, Pan-lo. A woman of the small Ann tribe in Kengtung market. The Ann blacken their teeth to ward off evil spirits.

Myanmar, Burma, Namu-op. An Akha woman wearing traditional costume with a headdress of silver and glass beads, and a fine Phè gho pendant.

Myanmar, Burma, Namu-op. An Akha woman wearing traditional costume with a headdress of silver and glass beads holds a bamboo mug in her hand.

Myanmar, Burma, Namu-op. An Akha woman wearing traditional costume with a headdress of silver and glass beads.

Myanmar, Burma, Kengtung. A young Akha boy wearing a colourful embroidered hat while carried by his mother.

Myanmar, Burma, Kengtung. A young Akha boy wearing a colourful embroidered hat while carried on his mother’s back.

Myanmar, Burma, Kengtung. An Akha woman wearing traditional costume with a headdress of silver and glass beads.

Myanmar, Burma, Kengtung. An Akha woman wearing traditional costume with a headdress of silver and glass beads.

Myanmar, Burma, Kengtung. An Akha woman wearing traditional costume with a headdress of silver and beads.

Myanmar, Burma, Kengtung. An Akha woman wearing a traditional headdress of silver and beads.

Myanmar, Burma, Kengtung. An Akha woman wearing a traditional headdress of silver and beads.

Myanmar, Burma, Kengtung. An Akha woman wearing a traditional headdress of silver and beads.

Myanmar, Burma, Kengtung. An Akha woman wearing a traditional headdress of silver and beads.

Myanmar. Burma. Wanpauk village. A Palaung woman of the Tibetan-Myanmar group of tribes. Women commonly display their wealth by wearing broad silver belts.

Myanmar. Burma. Wanpauk village. A proud Palaung woman sits beside her son – a novice monk. She displays her wealth by wearing broad silver belts around her waist.

Myanmar. Burma. Wanpauk village. A Palaung woman of the Tibetan-Myanmar group of tribes displays her wealth by wearing broad silver belts. The poorer families use aluminium.

Myanmar. Burma. Wanpauk village. Palaung women of the Tibetan-Myanmar group of tribes display their wealth by wearing broad silver belts. The poorer families use aluminium.

Myanmar. Burma. Wanpauk village. A Palaung woman of the Tibetan-Myanmar group of tribes displays her wealth by wearing broad silver belts around her waist.

Myanmar, Burma, Lake Inle. Two Padaung women belonging to the Karen sub-tribe pray at a Buddhist shrine. Their traditional heavy brass necklaces elongate their necks.

Myanmar, Burma, Lake Inle. Padaung women wear traditional heavy brass necklaces which elongate their necks and brass leg bands below their knees.