Unique Southeast Asia: Where people own the green "window to the soul"

Asians in general and Southeast Asians in particular are often known for their typical image of yellow skin, dark hair, brown or black eyes. Therefore, the appearance of a part of people with the trait of blue eyes inherited through many generations is extremely rare.

In the island nation of Indonesia, there exists a tribe where most of the people have excellent blue eyes. Those are the Buton people currently living on Buton Island, Sulawesi region, Indonesia.

Buton natives possess a unique and rare eye color. (Photo: Instagram Korchnoi Pasaribu)

Blue eyes are not characteristic of Asians or Southeast Asians. (Photo: Instagram Korchnoi Pasaribu)

Next Shark wrote, the images of this tribe were widely shared on social networks and received great attention after geologist and photographer Korchnoi Pasaribu posted on his personal page.

Talking about his feelings, Korchnoi said that this is not the first tribe he has ever approached, but one of the tribes that overwhelmed and left the deepest impression: "Their blue eyes are very unique . unique and beautiful. They became my inspiration. Blue is also my favorite color.”

Blue-green eye color in the Buton tribe is inherited through generations. (Photo: Instagram Korchnoi Pasaribu)

The blue eyes make a strong impression on the viewers. (Photo: Instagram Korchnoi Pasaribu)

Seeing a tribe in Asia with deep blue eyes is likened by Korchnoi to catching a "gem in the middle of the jungle", only that "jewel" is in the eyes of the natives. Not only have blue eyes, but some cases also have one blue eye, one brown one, even a little purple.

After the images that Korchnoi took were spread, scientists also stepped in to clarify this strange eye color coming from a Southeast Asian country. Accordingly, the Buton people are said to have Waardenburg syndrome - an extremely rare genetic syndrome with a rate of only 1 in 42,000.

This eye color of the Buton people is due to the rare Waardenburg syndrome. (Photo: Instagram Korchnoi Pasaribu)

People with this syndrome can have both eyes blue or one blue, one black or brown. (Photo: Instagram Korchnoi Pasaribu)

People with this syndrome can change the color of their eyes, hair or skin to a color that is completely different from the majority of people in the same country or region. The most common change is that the eye color turns blue.

Although there is no denying the attractiveness of blue eyes, people with Waardenburg syndrome are likely to have hearing loss or be affected in a bad way. Therefore, it is difficult to say that the Buton people are lucky to own this rare eye color.

Waardenburg syndrome can also cause hearing loss. (Photo: Instagram Korchnoi Pasaribu)