vaga #3/12 Inle Lake “a”
Inle Lake. Myanmar and its magical life in the lake, canals, villages, monasteries and floating crops
Part XII
I want to clarify: I have about 100 photos and videos of this place, it is challenging to select which ones to use, but that shows how magnificent the site is.
I had already been travelling for 15 days through the harsh dryness, and they had told me how beautiful Inle Lake was. Furthermore, I checked with my LP, and I know the places that were not to be missed, but I had only done a quick scan because I want to see what destiny holds for me. I like to go without expectations, !!!!! Oh, I'll have a look, and sometimes it was fabulous!!! And sometimes it was not (if it was raining, or I could not get to see it for example, and I am disappointed, I don’t mind. So I go with a blank mind, which is essential to me. It is always a surprise, and I do not strictly follow the suggested route. I follow what is presented to me. If I go to a well-known destination expecting to see things, I always see something different or something that happens to me that is not mentioned in travel books. Another reason is that I never take any tours. I have taken them when I have had no other choice because it is the only way to get somewhere, yet I am always in a different vibe.
I will write a blog about Vaga and tours later.
The whole area around Inle Lake was beautiful. First, the lake, that was similar to the South of Chile, with green hills surrounding it. Secondly, I have never seen people living on the water, and the ease that the locals moved around on the water was a sight to see. They have transportation, houses, markets, and greenhouses that were all floating on the lake. Everything was on top of the water. Why didn’t they go onto the land surrounding the lake? I can imagine that this is because they can’t afford to pay for the land, and they live for free on the water. I took my boat with a captain who spoke no English at all. Zero, None. All the boats were beautiful. The area around the lake is gorgeous, and I was fortunate enough to be there during sunny days. The water was calm, and I could enjoy the experience fully. As you can see, there are no tourists at all.
This floating village of Ywana, among many others
Every day, they spend their time selling lunch, cooked on stoves on the floors below.
life under the houses
I was late getting to the market, and they were closed. It was not the rainy season, so it is done on land. During Rainy Season, the lake rises more than 10 meters. It is the market environment. In Myanmar, there is no view without a temple dome, even in remote and impoverished places.
They are returning to their homes with their products.
It is a lake where many crafts are created, I saw how the famous brand of Cheeros cigars were made. There were many mixtures with different flavours. I didn’t particularly like them. But, seeing them doing metalwork and making handmade jewellery, boat building, and the weavers weaving fabrics, and I, being passionate about these, took photos. Here is a workshop..
It was EXTRAORDINARY, and from what they tell me, it is unique in the world. I have already mentioned that I do not double-check my facts, and I repeat what I am told. The fibre of the lotus plant is woven, and they grow it right there. The photo in the centre depicts the weaver pulling the fibre out of the stem.
The production of yarn; a very old lady, sitting on the floor and spinning with bicycle wheels, and again I have lots of photos, dyes, warp preparation system, etc ..... but it is a more technical issue than I can explain here
General view of the workshop, it was lunchtime, and there was little activity. It has two floors and about 20 looms made from bamboo.
Some products on the looms, the last photo is a silk fabric for men's skirts “lengthy”. The number of designs and quality is impressive, with more than 100 different products. The lotus fibre fabrics being the most expensive.
and I end up, with a reflection on the water