John Callanan Hats: BURMA - our boat ride along the shores of Lake Inle

Inle Lake

Inle Lake is located in the centre of the greatest depression in Myanmar's Nyaungshwe Valley, situated between two mountain ranges. With a length of 22km, a width of 11km, and an elevation of 875 metres, Inle Lake is considered as the second-largest natural lake in the country. It is interesting to note that the lake does not have an actual shoreline, but its shores and islands are home to 17 villages on stilts.

Most of the attractions found in Inle Lake are of the religious variety. Because the Inthas (the inhabitants of the lake) are Buddhists, this is something to be expected. One of the religious attractions in the area is the Phaungdawoo Pagoda. It is said to be the most sacred pagoda in the entire southern Shan State, and one of the most famous shrines in the country. Two more pagodas found in Inle Lake are Shwe Indein Pagoda and Alodaw Pauk Pagoda.

After visiting the beautiful but parched plains of Bagan, it was both physically and spiritually to motor around the cool and beautiful Lake Inle for 2 days We stayed in the glorious Villa Inle Resort and Spa.

WWW.VILLAINLE.COM

It is situated on the banks of the lake. You arrive by boat which feels very glamorous.

To reach the hotel, we had to go through a narrow channel of floating gardens of tomatoes, peas and other legumes.

The final stretch was achieved by a hotel worker who used in feet and inner thigh muscles to get us to the dock. This could be a totally new workout craze.

The afternoon helper wore a pajamas style outfit.

The hotel dock lake entrance.
The hotel is a cluster of 17 luxurious teak villas. They have plans to build another 15 villas next year as they cannot meet the demand.

Each villa looks over the rice fields to the lake.

Loved the indoor shower with the outdoor feel.

I wish I had this bathroom every morning.

The teak parquet was as beautiful as any that I have seen in Paris.

The lake is very large and I was consumed with a sense of ease and bliss as we put-put-putted along in our long boat. The locals went about their daily lives only to look up with a smile or a wave as we went by.

These chaps are gathering lake weed (seaweed) to use as fertilizer.

We were at the lake the end of April which is the end of the dry season, so the water table was very low and the hyacinths were at their worse. Both can stop a boat in its tracks so you can jump over board and lend a hand

So you get a little muddy and wet, but the locals love it.

or wait for the villagers to come lend a hand. FYI, these people are dirt poor so do give them a few dollars for their generous and free assistance.

These men are dredging the water way by hand

I think these kids are hired by the restaurants to help drag the bots to the restaurants. The lake is usually half way up the house stilts and sometimes even over them.

There is just so much to see but one must visit the SHWE INDEIN Pagoda site.

I just love these stupas in their original state.

I just love the atmospheric ruins of the unrestored sections like these.

Here we can see where the stupa tops have been repaired. Too bad they do not use red bricks for the restoration.

Looking down on Buddha. The ceiling has collapsed but Buddha was undamaged as he is made of copper.

I spy with my iPad. "I say, look what's over here old chap".

Here we see a little stucco Hindu influence.

I just loved this stupa. It was so dry and red and it reminded me of a church in Mexico. Call me crazy but is it a statue of the resurrected Christ above the center doorway or maybe its a play of light and shadow;-))

Man this is so RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARC looking.

I am all for restoring but rebuilding is just a no, no!

When you make it to the Pagoda everything gets very shiny.

Buddha's foot print and image at the SHWE INN THEIN.

It is quite dazzling looking back into the covered walkway from the cool interior of the pagoda.

The restored central core lacks the atmosphere of the older section.

SAMKAR AKA A TOWN NOT ANYMORE is another wonderful archeological site.

NASTY REBUILT STUPA

new Buddhas in new pagoda.

GIVE ME AN OLD TARNISHED BUDDHA ANY DAY.

EVEN BUDDHA IS BIGGER THAN THE ELEPHANT WHICH IS THE LARGEST ANIMAL IN THE WORLD

This site may be a national treasure but people need to feed themselves.

OUR GRACIOUS GUIDES

The Frangipani Stupa.

protecting Buddha from thieves

My most favorite visits on the lake was to an unnamed islet. Out boat got stuck in the low water so we had to jump over board and help. As the water was not too deep we asked our guide if we could wade our way to the islet in the not too far distance. The guide did not know the name of the islet, had never been there and had never seen anyone going there.
Well, that got me all excited and I morphed into Indiana Jones and man was it worth it!!

The outboard motor engine.

I say Livingston, is that a hidden temple yonder?

There is no way in hell that I'M GETTING OUT OF THIS BOAT and stepping into the bracken water.

Well, if you really, really want to see what's on the island.......

Look, it really is not that deep. Lets do it.

OK, you promise me that there are no water snakes!!

OMG, that was sooooo worth it.

In the meantime the boat driver, who by now thinks we are totally crazy, has managed to free the boat from the weeds and we are on our way back to the hotel. Not only is the lake a super highway with signposts.........

QUO VADIS DOMINUS?

......... Need some groceries, then head to downtown main street......

but it is the public baths for all concerned. After a long hard day in the fields everyone gathers lake side to quench their thirst, wash their bodies, teeth, cloths. I hope that no international mine starts polluting these people water.