A Day in the Life on Inle Lake

I got up with the sun this morning and headed to the restaurant for breakfast.






I had another incident with the Myanmar city folks, who were staying at the hotel. I got in line for the breakfast buffet and picked up a plate. I think you are supposed to normally just work your way down the line, taking whichever food items you want, while passing the ones you don’t want. Not the city folks, they just walk up, cut in front of you and grab a plate. Then march right to the specific thing they want, grab it, and move on, no waiting in line for them. They are a little people who just pop up in front of you. I was getting one thing and when I turned to get the next thing, out of nowhere a little Myanmar woman popped up and already had the tongs, at least she was using the tongs. Again, I don’t think she meant to be rude, I think that is just how they are, it is how they are programmed.

After breakfast my guide and boat arrived. Now that the balloon festival in my guide’s home town has ended I thought that would be the end of it, nope. First thing this morning my guide said that next year he was going to take vacation when the balloon festival in his home town happened. I told him I thought that was an excellent idea.

We headed out on the lake and saw some fisherman, this time using the method where they drag the net and scare the fish.


They actually row by wrapping their leg around the paddle and kick with their feet, this allows them to have their hands free.


We came across one of the many villages on the lake. The waterways are their roads, and they even have gardens and crops they grow entirely on the lake.




Floating crops.




They create the island for the crops on land and then bring it out on the water, float it, anchor it, and then plant on it.


Some of the fancier houses. This village was amazing and I’d love to live here for a while.


Kids out for a walk, or out for a paddle I guess.






The foot paddle technique. It’s amazing how they can stand on the very edge of the boat without a counter balance and not flip it over.




We continued exploring the village.






We then headed to the Phang Daw Oo village where the market was taking place. They actually rotate the market through each of the villages so that everyone gets their turn. I first checked out all the fish they had been pulling out of the lake, and they all seemed a little on the small side, but perhaps made a good appetizer.
















Vegetables.


Seasoning.


The food court. If you like to draw circles, then maybe this is the language for you, the script seems very circular.


The pork department, it looked nice and fresh.


A few ladies chatting at the beauty salon as they got their hair cut.


I thought for sure I would see my previous car driver here shopping, but he was nowhere to be found.


The pharmacy.


I always wondered where the monks went shopping, and now I know.


Lacquer.


After the market we headed to a local fabric factory, and they still use traditional methods, because that is all they have.




It was amazing to see these old looms in action. Watching her work the loom was like watching a fine pianist play something from the baroque classical period.






A few kids outside playing with a pack of cigarettes while their mom worked away inside.


We then headed to a local blacksmith, who had produced the blades we saw earlier at the market. It was hot as they took turns pounding the blade, keeping a nice rhythm in complete sync with each other.


Afterwards we headed to see where they made those crazy cigars I tried last night. Each one of these women crank out around 1000 cigars a day. And yeah, I found out there is a lot more than just tobacco in these. They offered me one of the smaller samplers, but I passed.


We headed out and stopped at this bar, where I picked up a can of Myanmar beer.


After my beer we headed to a Disney World type of monastery.


These use to be Buddha heads, but they have been covered with so much gold leaf, they are just round ball like statues today.


I was lucky to be a boy, because girls were not allowed here and don’t get to see it.


We headed back out on the lake.


Making a brief stop at a silversmith.


All the boats are basically the same hand crank start engines, with a nice throaty exhaust.


And another brief stop where they make paper umbrellas, which don't actually work in the rain.


This lady had a huge neck. She did admit that she takes them off when she sleeps.


Her kids were following in her footsteps.


We continued on to a monastery on the lake.




More wood carved Buddha cases.










Monks visiting with the head monk.


A monk finishing his prayer.


We headed back to the hotel to call it a day.


I saw a lot today and managed to survive any sunburn.


It was interesting to see all that happened on the lake, however I missed that one on one interaction with the people. This was more of a look and see instead of a sit down and learn.




Back at the hotel I relaxed with a beer and watched the sun go down. My clothes were drying nicly.


VIDEO: Day 4 - Inle Lake