Incredible Inle Lake

View from our hotel

Our mode of transport

Leg rower in action

Inle Lake is an incredible place to visit. With it's crystal calm waters the local tribes live in harmony with their surroundings making a living from fishing and the fertile floating gardens. Around the shores farmers grow garlic, chillies, sugar cane, vegetables and rice. The shallow lake is only 22km long and 11km wide. The silvery blue surface is like a glass sheet only broken by the daily commuter boats and a late afternoon breeze. Villages are built over the water on stilts and on the lake's edge. The only way to get around the lake is by noisy long tail boats. The fishermen find it difficult to fish during the day due to number of boats causing a disturbance. All boats transporting people have to be off the lake by 4.30pm to give the fisherman a chance to bring in a catch. 

Inle Lake is infamous for the leg rowing fishermen. They have a very ingenious technique of rowing with one leg wrapped around the paddle which leaves their hands free to push the net down into the water. Once fish are in the net they pull on a draw string to hold the fish as they bring the net back out. 

Pushing the net down to capture the fish

Small catch 

Another method of fishing is to slap the water with long poles to frighten the fish in the net that has been strung between 2, 3 or 4 boats. The fisherman work together, but each takes home the fish caught in their own net. 

The floating market gardens are unique method of farming. The weed that floats on the lake is gathered to form a long garden and anchored with bamboo stakes. Silt from the bottom is dug up to be used as fertiliser.Flowers are grown on the gardens along with tomatoes, beans, gourds and other small vegetables. 

Villages on the lake

     

Other than fishing people earn their living silk and cotton weaving, boat building, cigar making, silversmiths, jewelry makers.

Making knives

Making a silver necklace

These two boat builders are at either end of a saw. They're preparing the timber by cutting perfect planks.

Cheroot makers

Rolling balls of cotton ready for weaving

We took a hike in the hills, passing by rice fields, house construction, vegetable patches, road works. Walking through villages and being invited to tea. 

House construction 

Rice fields

Eating sugar cane

Road works

After leaving the lake we headed up a track in the bush. We crossed a stream, carefully balancing on bamboo poles and met a Mum doing the family washing. Her 8-year old son had the youngest member of the family strapped to his back, his 25-day old sister. 

 Our last stop was for a cup of tea, made in an old thermos and served in small, chipped cups. Our hostess was suddenly joined by her friend and a group of young children curious to see the white-skinned foreigners. She makes small delicate baskets from bamboo, so we bought a couple from her as a thank you for her hospitality. The house is built on stilts and quite cool inside where it easily catches the breeze.