A Pa-O child leans on his grandmother to appreciate the photos sent back by visiting tourists with his aunt looking on. Even though their villages are just a short distance from those of Palaung, the Pa-Os actually belong to entire different stock - Tibeto-Burman. Except turbans, their costumes are more sombre than their Palaung counterparts.

 

High noon, a bucket provides a little shade for the boy, whose parents are harvesting gingers, the main cash crops of the Pa-Os.

 

Proud as an American with two Mercedes and a suburban villa, a Pa-O family pose in front of their most important properties - a brick house and two oxen. However, even animal Mercedeses need refeuling (below).

 

A green piece of cactus on the door signals the birth of a child and, according to Pa-O tradition, fends off evil spirits that might be harmful to the child.

 

A Pa-O woman on her way to the market (above) and the beauty queen of the village (below).