Inle Lake, Myanmar

After we finished our trek we climbed aboard the long, narrow lake boats for an hour and half ride from the south end of the lake to the north side.

I was so happy to be sitting and not walking!

The village was a little off the main lake which was reached by travelling through a narrow waterway, this lady paddled right by us...

Along the waterway people were living and farming...

The long poles help to hold the floating gardens together.

The houses are on stilts with their boats underneath. 

As we got out of the waterway the lake opened up with direction signs pointing the way to the approximately 20 villages around the lake...

We also saw more boat traffic as this is the only means of transport around the lake...

This band was rehearsing as they went by...

And of course we saw the one legged rowing fishermen with their unique style  that has evolved for the reason that the lake is covered by reeds and floating plants making it difficult to see above them while sitting. Standing provides the rower with a view beyond the reeds. However, the leg rowing style is only practiced by the men. Women row in the customary style, using the oar with their hands, sitting cross legged at the stern.

We arrived at the largest town on the lake where we stayed for three days.Here we are making our way into town...

We had a wonderful guest house here run by a very caring family. There were flowers everywhere...

It was also located a little out of town so lots of peaceful scenes as we walked back and forth...

On our second day there the plan was to take a couple of the guesthouse's bicycles to ride around the lake but my feet said so we walked into town early and came upon the local market which was so full of color.

The typical shopping bag used here...

Beautiful roses...

Colorful produce for sale...

All the family are there...

The fish market was quite interesting as they were cleaning and filleting the fish with much skill...

Making the sale, always with a smile...

Some other pictures from around town really showing that the people here work very hard and are still very poor...

The next day we did what most tourists do here and that was to take a boat tour around the lake. Inle Lake is 13.5 miles long and 7 miles wide with an average depth of 7 feet so it is very shallow. It may rise another 5 feet during raining season.

Heading out...

We came across this fisherman who was showing off his form...

And his fish...

Seeing it was earlier in the day the lake was still and beautiful...

We motored through many of the villages...

 

People moved through them peacefully in their boats...

And of course there were temples to see and visit...

And like anywhere shops to walk through that displayed the local crafts, this girl is showing the threads from the lotus plant they spin into very expensive scarves...

There was also iron work...

Don was wondering how he might get this knife back in his carry on...

Inle Lake also makes its own unique cigars with these ingredients...

They tasted sweet...

 

Oh and then there was the silver shop where I made my one and only purchase...

 After that we told the  guide no more shops!

A few scenes from the boat ride home...

Loved their headgear.

Walking home at the end of the day.

Kids playing ball in the lake.

This is a lone man in the smaller lake boats.

The monk like many others was washing up at the end of the day.

And this is us at the end of the day...

 

And a great day on the lake it was!

This was our last stop in Myanamar and we both liked Inle Lake, it was so peaceful and such a different way of living,  very simple and basic compared to ours.

Overall we are so glad we came to Myanmar, we loved the country, the landscapes, the people and the culture..a wonderful visit!