Inle Lake

Inle Lake's fishermen have developed the ability to paddle using one leg, while handling fishing nets with their hands hand. All this is done on the rear end of unstable wooden canoes. The highest concentration of fishermen on Lake Inle usually occurs near the entrance to the main channel of Nyaunshwe: Nan Chaung). There also tends to be quite a few fishermen on the west coast of Lake Inle. Inle Lake fishermen use several fishing techniques. One of them uses nets in a conical shape, in another traditional nets. Hitting the water with their oars trying to direct the fish into nets.

As the sun rises we wake, the smell of smoke fills the air, the faint sounds of boat motors in the distance. As we set off on a tour of the lake. The beauty of the water, its so still. It's as if we are slicing through glass. As we putt along our boat motor drowns out all other noise and as we come to a stop to watch a local fisherman catch fish for the day our driver shuts the motor off. Peace, quiet. Silence.

Traveling in Myanmar, we agreed on the visit to Inle Lake with a traditional festival in which the people set sail with their traditional boats. I was surprised by the colors and the smiles of the people and landscape of the place, a place not to be missed by anyone traveling to a country as beautiful as Myanmar.