Chiang Mai- A breath of fresh air
（本專欄每次介紹一個有趣的城市，讓你以英文暢遊全世界）

文/Wendy周
「任時光匆匆流去，我只在乎你…」鄧麗君柔亮的歌聲，即便在她過世多年後的今天，依然扣人心弦。足跡幾乎踏過世界五大洲的鄧麗君生前最後的居留處不是台灣，而是在有「泰國北方玫瑰」之稱，同時也是泰國第二大城的「清邁」。什麼樣的魅力，讓鄧麗君晚年愛上「清邁」這個異鄉城市？

Surrounded by mountains, I stepped into the city and instantly felt the breeze. That’s Chiang Lai, a city that calms you down and eases all your stress. I found my peace and inner soul there.

歷史遺留下七百多年的寺廟，金碧輝煌但沒有俗氣之意，反而靜坐在其中我找到心靈的寧靜。翻山越嶺，親眼目睹世界稀少的長頸族，我心震了一下，驚覺他們的世界如此小，族裡大部分的人拒絕世界組織團體介入幫助他們安頓在已開發國家，寧願一生戴著那沉重的頸圈，一輩子沉重的負擔，隨時提醒著他們必須一直延續下去這個傳統，只因為它是傳統。

Chiang Mai is a place that offers something for everyone from nature lovers, culture vultures, adrenalin junkies to those who just wish to lie back in a luxurious spa and be pampered. It is home to over 300 temples dating as far back as the 13th century. Within half an hour's drive in every direction there are museums, ancient ruins, national parks, waterfalls, mountain trails, and other unique beautiful attractions. I enjoyed my Thai afternoon walking in Phu Phing Palace. The Palace is famous for its splendid garden that Her Majesty the Queen takes particular pride in it. And I walked to one of the temples, sat on the floor, closed my eyes and felt at peace. Finally, I found my sanity.

四面環山造就出它宜人的氣候，這塊充滿文化氣息的淨土，是那樣一個出淤泥而不染的世界角落，原來，上天冥冥中讓那樣乾淨的歌聲找到最終休憩之地。

1. A breath of fresh air的意思是形容新奇的意思，讓人感覺耳目一新。 

2.Culture vultures形容一個人對於文化有高度興趣，非常渴望追求任何關於文化的訊息。

3.Adrenalin junkies在形容一個人喜愛追求刺激的活動，熱愛腎上腺素狂飆的快感。

Fun Fact 長頸族Kayan
A special tribe called Kayan is known for wearing rings around their neck. Kayan women often say that their purpose for wearing the rings is cultural identity. The rings are rarely removed since they started wearing them around the age of five. The coiling and uncoiling is a long procedure. They are usually only removed to be replaced by a new or longer set of coils. To set the record straight, women do not suffocate if the rings are removed, though the muscles covered by them are weakened. Many women have removed the rings for medical examinations. Contrary to popular belief, the neck is not actually lengthened. Each coil is replaced with longer coils as the weight of the brass pushes the collar bone down and compresses the rib cage.

在清邁有一個少數民族稱做Kayan族，當時為了逃難而來到泰國西北邊界的媚洪順，後來不知為何這支民族的婦女認為長頸才能顯示出女人的美麗，因此她們從五歲起就在母親的協助下在頸子上架起了銅圈，到了十歲開始每年再多加一圈直到二十五歲為止，到了二十五歲這些銅圈更可高達二十五圈重達5至10公斤；銅容易生綠锈，要時常擦拭，而且銅很沈，會將肩膀壓塌，所謂的長頸並不是因為頸子變長，而是因為鋼圈的重量長期壓住鎖骨和肋骨，使得脖子看起來變長了。

Many reasons regarding why the coils are worn have been suggested. One of the reasons is that they think the rings can protect the women from becoming slaves by making them less attractive to other tribes. Another reason might be that the coils give the women resemblance to a dragon. And the coils might be meant to protect from tiger bites, perhaps literally, but probably symbolically.

婦女戴銅圈的說法眾說紛紜，有一說是因為女人留在村內照顧家庭，但又是住在山上，難免會遭受到野獸的攻擊，所以小女孩五歲開始就須在脖子、手臂、小腿上套銅圈，以防止野獸攻擊。另一個說法是為防止其他族的男人對Kayan族的女人有非分之想，但這些都只是人們的揣測罷了，真正的原因已經隨著時間流逝了。

1.Coiling的意思為盤繞，Kayan族裡的銅圈是用盤繞的方式放上脖子，所以每一次的過程都是需要很長的時間。

2.To set the record straight字面上是把記錄變直，實際上是所謂破除迷思的意思。

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