“Inle Lake is like living in a dream”
Our trip to Myanmar would not have been complete without visiting Inle Lake.
We took an internal flight to the region and then drove to where we would catch a boat to take us to our hotel. On our way from the airport to the waterway we stopped by a local artisan's shop. They demonstrated how they make parasols adn floral paper. both were very unique to watch being made. I enjoyed seeing the skeleton of the umbrella being put together and watch it turn into a beautiful piece of art.
We also stopped by a temple that had two buildings making up it's complex. One was made entirely out of wood and the other was decorated with Buddhas on every wall. The wooden temple had big round windows that were open to let in the sunlight. By one of the windows two little monks were playing with a cat that had wandered in. The sun's rays would dance into the room and light up portions of the temple as we walked around.
The other building had hundreds of small arched niches carved into the walls each housing a Buddah with beautiful intricate mosaics adorning the spaces between the niches.
After the temple we worked up an appetite and went to a restaurant in the town by the jetty. The town was dotted with motorcycles and bustling people. We had Shan Stye Noodle Soup. It was absolutely delicious! Felt like the perfect comfort food.
We then hopped in a long yellow and green canoe with a motor strapped to the back and we were off on Inle Lake! The waterway from the jetty was busy with these canoe-type boats going in both directions. After passing the town on either side the narrow waterway opened up into the wide vast lake. When our guide described Inle Lake as a dream, I really was not sure what to expect. But as soon as we popped out onto the lake I knew immediately what she meant. The water is calm and reflective. The scenery is serene with mountain cradling the lake and an immediate calm and awe washes over you as you peer out into the blue water.
We passed fisherman quietly catching their food. One style of fishing looks like a dance the fisherman does with their wire cage. They delicately balance one leg at the tip of their canoe and the other hugs a paddle as they slowly dip it into the water and turn their canoe to get the best angle to catch the fish.
Our second day we woke up early to go to a market place where the locals go to get their produce. The mornings are chilly on the lake with fog lifting off the water and the lighting turning everything shades of blue.
We took an hour boat ride to the market passing multiple villages built on stilts with unique designs for each house, some were painted and others had different wood finishes. We passed floating gardens where the crops are grown and then parked our boat on shore near the market. There were oxen with carts waiting to be filled with items purchased for the week. Women in colorful clothing hurriedly walked by us. The market was a great spot to see people from surrounding villages and understand their culture. There were fresh vegetables, fish, spices, and everything was vibrant and colorful. Everything was a feast for our eyes!
After exploring the market we hopped back into the boat and went down a waterway where we had to speed up so the boat could jump over various levies that were built to irrigate the floating fields. This was one of my favorite things! The front of the boat would push up and fly over the levee then plop down into the water with a splash. This adventurous ride took us to Indein. As soon as you walked into this temple and pagoda complex you could feel the history and sense of magic. The colorful temples are from the 16th and 17th centuries. We felt like we were in a fantasy walking through this sacred area, like it was a secret we were sharing as we peaked around temples.
On our way back to our hotel we went through a village that had built bridges over the water. Each bridge was built differently and were interesting to ride under.
Our last day in Inle Lake was busy, our first stop was to the Floating Market. Once we entered the market area a wooden boat with two women in it came up next to our boat. They were trying to sell silver products. As they showed us their wares they held onto our boat so we'd float down together. Then an older woman on a boat grabbed onto the other side of ours and was showing us flowers she had for sale. They both held on till we made it to the dock and we got out to walk around the rest of the market.
This floating market used to all be on the water but the area has since dried up so now the market is mostly on land. There is a worry that the environment in Inle Lake is changing due to deforestation, higher populations, higher poverty level and will one day dry up. The water levels have already decreased drastically and waterways that once were used are now almost gone. It would be so awful for it to dry up for all the people who live there and depend on the water for their way of life as well as a natural beauty disappearing forever.
After exploring the market we went to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda where we walked around and saw the Five Statues of Buddha that have been rubbed and piled with gold leaf that they have lost their features and look like round shapes. There is a festival where they put four of the statues onto a golden boat shaped like a bird and parade through the villages. The boat is docked near the Temple so you can go see this enormous detailed boat.
We had our lunch at Inthar Heritage House. It is a beautiful building with flowers surrounding the front. We tried their fish in banana leaves and it was delicious! The Heritage House also has a burmese cat sanctuary where you can go into different rooms and play with some of the cats.
The rest of our day was filled with meeting people and learning about their culture and crafts. We saw a silver smith and watched as he carefully made jewelry We went to a weaving factory where they make scarves, shawls, and longees, we watched as women pulled thread out of a lotus stalk, boat craftsman working on a canoe, and a woman making cheroot (their traditional cigars). The culture is so rich and the crafts have been handed down from generations. It was such a beautiful experience to meet these people with my Mom and learn together about this unique culture.
