After my trekking days in Hsipaw, the Inle Lake is next on the visiting list. When you visit Myanmar, the Inle lake in Shan State is the area which is a primary place to to see.. Hardly impossible to imagine that you forgot to add this area on your travel wish list… Arriving early in Nyaung Swe, at 3 o’clock the morning, there was still time to get some sleep… Breakfast starts at 8 and then at 8.30 the boat driver was already arrives…
A day trip across the Inle Lake should cost you, at the time of writing, about 20.000 Myanmar Kyats. This is the price for the full day with the boat driver… The price remains the same if you go with 4 people. So then it be 5.000 Kyats each.. Taking a warm sweater and a head cap is more a need instead of a luxury.. At the early morning sunrise the temperature is still chilly on the Inle Lake.. Exciting the Canal and entering the lake we quickly spot the famous Inle Lake Fisher men..
These Fishermen are famous because of their way of rowing the boat with the leg while standing on the other leg… Simultaneously they hold the fishing tools in the other hand.. Amazing how these artists can keep their balance.. One of the locals told me that the water level of the Inle lake is dropping rapidly.. They expect the lake could be dry in 20 to 30 years.. The water level drops at a rate of 1 to 2 feet per year.. From 2014 to 2015 the water dropped 2 feet.. This is another reason why you should take the opportunity to experience spending the time here.. Our first destiny is a village were we stop to visit the local weavery store..
The goods are hand waved and the ladies wear the rings around the neck, arms and legs… The local guide at the weavery explains its their believe they are children of the dragon… The rings cannot be removed as their neck would never hold the weight of head anymore.. The Ladies of the weavery are very skilled and friendly… Also they invite to pose on the photo… After taking a good look at the weavery we move on and continue our trip by boat across the Inle lake… It is an inspiring to feel the life on the lake… The boat trip takes us through several villages…
The Inle Lake feels like being in another world in this beautiful country. How the life between the mountains feels so peaceful here… At our next stop we arrive at Maco’s Iron Working stall… Swords, knifes and other useful tools are skillfully made by hand and with excellent quality… The people even let me use the hammer on the hot steel.. After a cup of hot Myanmar thee the trip continues.. The boat driver informs that today is the 5 day market… So seems like a great place to visit and experience more of the life on the Inle Lake…
Next stop is the inle market. The market at the Inle lake rotates from location and has a different location every day. When we arrive at the market the bay is filled with boats. The local people however are very helpful and friendly. Without hesitation they offer to help with docking the boat and getting us out of the boat… At the 5 day market they sell everything of use for daily life… Fresh foods, products, Jade and Silver jewelry of Myanmar and also fuel… The fuel is kept in large steel cans.. When ordered some fuel, they carefully transfer it into bottles or smaller cans… An hour or two at the market is enough to see the most of the place …
There is so much choice of places to see on the lake. We head out to the next village.. Interesting at this stop is the temple and the boat crafting… The boats here are decorated and plated with gold… All this by handwork, really amazing how they skillfully build the vessel… The ship is a bird with her wings in the water… In the middle there is the shrine for Buddha… After completion of the vessel a Buddha statue is placed in the shrine… Its getting around noon and time for dinner. The dinner we have at a small less touristic restaurant on the Inle Lake…
The view is amazing as we are being in wonderland… Being here it feels as wanting to stay and never leave… Fortunately the feeling of this visit at Inle Lake remains part of you.. Means you carry some of this good feeling with you every day… The dinner is delicious, Inle fish and vegetables together with rice… Naturally as usual dinner is served with hot Myanmar thee.. While eating i have a view with mountains on one side and the life on the lake at the other side… After the dinner we head out again…
Through the canals the activity is high.. In this part of the trip we visit the silver smith, one pagoda and a temple.. One of the two highlights at the end of the day is the floating gardens… Inle Lake is famous for its floating tomato gardens and the way they maintain the agriculture… The boat driver explains the way they how they preserve it… Also he offers to try to taste the vegetables… Even more delicious when can eat it so fresh here..
Our last stop is the “Nga Phe Chaung” Monastery.. Better know as the jumping cat monastery… In this wooden monastery cats are trained to jump on command… However today the cats seem to be very relaxed and playful.. So jumping will be probably to see during another visit… With day is ending we set our course back to Nyaung Swe.. As the sun sets behind the mountains, the lake again shows its beauty, but now from another side…
We end the day with a delicious Dinner at Nyaung Swe… Next day we head out to a different destination… Lifting you also colors your cheeks.
More to discover In Hsipaw: Trekking to the Waterfall in Hsipaw
Myanmar Lashio: The Railroad trip From Lashio to Hsipaw
Myanmar Travels in the south: around Hpa-an by motorbike
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