Inle Lake and Markets
Inle Lake was the last part of our Myanmar (Burma) trip.
We flew to Heho, drove to Nyaungshewe on the edge of Inle Lake (a very hilly Meclizine car-sick med) ride - and boarded a private boat to our hotel. The lake is over 3,000 feet above sea level and 22 km long, encircled by wooded hills. We were staying at Golden Island Cottages a beautiful resort
Inle Lake is known for its natural beauty: floating gardens (built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles; local handicraft workshops; and famous "leg-rowers." The "leg rower" fishermen stand at the stern of the boat on one leg and wrap the other around the oar to propel the boat - this gives a better view to spot obstacles and fish! (However, we never saw one.) There is also the teakwood Ng Phe Kyaung Monastery (named "Jumping Cat" monastery because its monks have trained a few cats to jump through small hoops) built on stilts on the lake.
My focus? Visiting one of the 5-day rotating markets. All kinds of hill-tribes in traditional clothes come to the market from the surrounding mountains. Remember, I told you, I LOVE to shop.
It was pouring "jumping cats" and buckets...but we rolled up our pants, put on Tevas, took umbrellas, got into our boat and putted down the lake.
Our boat pulled up the market, and off we squished through the mud. View image
This market was loaded with minorities wearing orange/red scarfs...what a great spot of color on that gloomy day.
my orange scarf people
We squished along, and finally came to a covered arcade where some hardy people were trying to sell various articles....Buddhist-offering jars, old food trays (big round trays on a pedestal stand - food for entire family is placed on it and everyone sits on the floor and eats off it), and so much more...I could have spent hours haggling in there but Toe (our guide) kept insisting we had to walk back out in the rain and mud. There were some special Buddhist relics he wanted us to see. Grudgingly, we slopped back out, and there they were, these beautiful remnants of a Buddhist civilization. (I haven't the foggiest notion what they were called or what year they dated from.)
All I know is, these were incredible. Covered with vines and leaves, untouched for centuries...very Angkor Wat'ish. And there was just us to see them.
On our last morning we watched hundreds of monks, walking in line to collect "alms" (actually, rice, which they all share back at the monastery) through the village. View image This is a daily routine for them, and families wait outside to distribute the cooked rice into their bowls.
morning rice
Then it was time to leave Myanmar with it's unique sights and wonderful people, View image
but we'll be back!
Comments
Dear sheila,
thank you so much for travelling articles,so i will visit to inle.
Posted by: winkhine | June 9, 2006 08:57 AM
Hello,
How do you do.? What are you doing now.
Posted by: Myo Htet | June 9, 2006 08:59 AM