A collection of photos from Doi Angkhan and surrounding areas near the Myanmar (Burma) border. This region, located in the "Golden Triangle" is quite mountainous and is known for its hilltribe people, agriculture and scenic beauty.

Hilltribe people -
The Silver Palaung have been living in the Shan State of Burma for several centuries but started moving into Thailand in 1984 to escape the fighting in their homeland. The Palaung are noted for their skill in raising crops. Thai and Myanmar government efforts have been focused in this “Golden Triangle” region on changing the crops they grow from the poppy used for opium, to cash crops such as tea and coffee.

Silver Palaung are strict Buddhists who also believe in nature and animal spirits. Their villages must have a Buddhist temple or shrine as well as a shrine to appease the spirits. Villages have a headman, who usually comes from the largest family, as well as monks and a shaman for curing sickness.
Women wear bright colorful red skirts, broad silver belts with black lacquered bamboo and rattan waist hoops that protect them and let them go to heaven when they die.