Lake Inle in Myanmar

*WS08 - Lake Inle in Myanmar*

Lake Inle is a fresh-water lake in the State of Shan in Myanmar, with a surface area of 116 sq km, about half the size of Kuala Lumpur. The average depth of water is only about 2 m in dry season and 3.5 m in wet season. About 70,000 people live in towns and villages bordering the lake.

It supports a thriving tourism because of the way of life here. An attraction is the floating gardens. Farmers gather lake-bottom weeds to form the floating beds of their gardens topped with soil, and anchored by bamboo poles. These gardens would rise and fall with the water level, so no flooding problem. Vegetables are planted on the islands. Shown a floating garden and typical stilt houses. We were here in 2013.

Another touristic attraction is the unique way the fishermen paddled their boats. They use a single leg to paddle the blade of the oar in a snake-like motion. And fishing is an important industry. The common fishes are carps. 

Then there are many temples to see. The Shwe Inn Thein Paya is an old temple complex with more than 1,030 ruined stupas. Very impressive indeed. Many are in the process of being restored by individual donors.

More things to see: like sea gulls that may "bomb" you with "you know what", or speed boats to splash you if you go too close to them (or they too close to you).