Inle Lake

Inle with its cooler temperatures and blurry distinction between earth and water has beckoned travellers since Myanmar opened to tourism. Uncertain shorelines and high hills ring the 22 km shallow lake, which is filled with Intha folks fishing and propelling flat-bottomed boats with their feet. Locals needing to borrow noodles from next door don't walk - they can't! - so they take the canoe out. There is a big population living in different floating villages. The best way to experience the lake is to take a full-day motorboat tour. So I rented a guide and a boat driver and explored the whole area. There are numberous artisans shops, where weaving, blacksmithing, paper-producing, jewellery-making and many others happen. They can all be visited. Floating markets take place weekly, each day at a different village along the lake. A major attraction is the floating gardens where tomato can be harvested three times a year. Farmers also plant zucchini, eggplant and coliflower. On our way back we also visited our boat drivers new house which he completed two months ago. Total cost USD 2'500.--!!