Merak is very safe, yet a historic tale would say otherwise. In the 15th century, the Chieftain ordered his subjects to bring down the mountain that was obstructing sunshine on his palace. The people toiled day and night for years without much progress. One fine day, a lady known as Aum Jomo suggested that instead of taking on this impossible task, it would be much easier to bring down the life of one person. So, the Chieftain was beheaded. Since then, people have lived peacefully in the village.
Dong parents see their children only a few times a year, when they return to their villages. During the Spring Festival, they especially go all out and pamper their kids. Traditional outfits are passed down from generation to generation, and the kids are proud to display them. In this small village, the parents parade their kids for hours. They carry them on simulated horses. It is cold and the parade takes much too long for a child to enjoy.
It took me three days from Yangoon (the Capital) to reach this region: plane, boat, and another boat. The first village was a tourist attraction and lacked authenticity. Traveling another 2 hours upstream, I reached the 2nd village. Fewer than 10 tattooed women still lived in this village. This lady heard about my arrival and walked a few kilometers to see what I looked like. Our curiosity was reciprocal.
