Burma, Inle Lake

     We are now in Malaysia with better wifi so I can take this time to update a bit before we head off to an island (Pulau Tioman) for a week... With even more limited wifi. Below is a journal entry from our time in Inle Lake; this is the place that is so often photographed because of the fishermen using their leg to paddle their oars and they use a large bamboo net to 'trap' their fish.  I can't add photos yet, too bad, I have some great ones!

          We arrived in Inle Lake in the wee hours.  Dropped off at the side of the highway
at 6 am in the freezing cold was quite a treat - this after spending 12 hours in the Disneyland bus from Iceland.  At our drop off spot, a tuk-tuk driver was there to meet us.  We were informed that our hotel was further so we would have to pay 1000ky.  Oh well! A few minutes wait turned into 30 minutes, in that time Jon was able to sniff out a coffee and 'donut' shack.  The fry-man was dressed in winter wear out at the side of the highway frying long donuts in a wok of oil that was heated by burning pieces of wood.  We all had one - it tasted like heaven! 

     Our hotel is great.  There are about 10 rattan huts dispersed amongst gardened grounds- a bit dry, put landscaped nonetheless.  Upon arrival we were instantly offered breakfast.  A traditional breakfast: coconut rice, peanuts, fried little fish, and a garlic/ginger/chilli paste.  All very yummy.  

     The town itself is about a ten minute bike ride.  We pass villagers building, school children heading to school, and people on motorcycles heading in all directions.  The street is filled with motorbikes, some cars, some horse drawn buggies and even some tractors.  The town is build up around a Main Street with many smaller, quieter side streets.  The market is covered with tarpaulin sheets and sells everything.  The little shops are the Main Street are not only for tourists.  There are hardware shops, pharmacies, dr office, banks, restaurants and numerous 'travel agent' shops.  We are amazed at the number of hotels around the town.  The side streets have many little restaurants and hotels.  We even found a lovely gallery with watercolours - very good watercolours.  

     Our second day was spent touring around Inle Lake with Hugutte and Rejean from Quebec.  We spent the day this long wood boat with a large and noisy motor.  We would visit little villages that specialized in a handicraft.  We visited a silversmith shop, a shop with long neck ladies making scarfs and a textile shop with looms clicking away.  The last shop made scarfs from lotus flowers.  The stem of the flower is cut into 2" pieces and then the fibres are pulled out.  They are then attached to the last drawn piece by rolling it on a board - this is a lot like the way wool is made.  The strands are then used in the looms to make scarfs.  Each 100% lotus flower scarf takes 2 days to make.  A pure lotus flower scarf costs $150 USD, Jon's mixed scarf was $50USD.  

     On Wednesday, we toured around the town on our bikes.  Three days and we feel like natives.  Next thing you know we will be offering tours on the lake.  At the end of the day, we met Hugutte and Rejean at the Red Mountain Winery for a sunset glass of wine. It was a nice end to our day.  Our dinner was had back at my favourite spot, Sin Yaw Restaurant; this is where I learned the secrets to making a tomato salad and a tea leaf salad (I even bought all the ingredients today for the tea leaf salad- not sure what I will do with them).  

     After dinner, we headed to The French Touch to see a movie that the owner has made.  It was very interesting.  A story about a monk who leaves the monastery to learn medicine, gets a woman pregnant while there.  She later dies of cancer but there child, a young boy, lives with the monk in the monastery.  He is later adopted by a couple with a handicapped child.  It was a very interesting story.  Monks can freely leave the monastery and return as often as they chose.  Many men enter the monastery after having children.  It is a way to live that is supported.  Young boys stay often until they are 14 then leave to try to work.  After the movie, the movie maker talked to us a bit about monks and the Inthien culture.  It was a very nice way to learn about the people.  We rode home in the dark with our Lucis flashing away; to bed early, tomorrow is a long travel day.