Kalaw to Inle lake - 62 km
Nice and cool to start off, a gentle 8 k climb then a cruisy ride down. So nice to be off the main highway of the previous week. Quite a few Indian and Nepali descendants here, the British brought in labour when the built the railway years ago. We lucked out at the first village and arrived in time to see a parade. An annual event, everyone in traditional clothing. They looped around town so we got to see it all twice. So many kids dressed up on horses. Music, floats, fun.
Then downhill passed all the sugarcane fields, ahh imagine all those snakes... What a job. Tourism is what it's about here, Inle lake is on the must see trail. Found a nice place to stay, booked a boat for the next day and caught up with Bea and Piet again for dinner. And beer, we have all decided it is the safest and cheapest drink! Just 60 cents a handle.
We were out all day on a small boat, whizzed around to the morning market, the floating village, the weaving, knife making, cigarette making,( photo) temples, pagodas, right down to the ' long neck' women. Touristy but interesting. We heard the workers get paid so little, about $1 per day.
The lake is large but shallow, (polluted) lots of fishing and those boats are rowed with a pole using one leg while they organize the nets with their hands. Houses built on stilts on the water, no sewerage system to be seen. They also have gardens floating on the water, using boats to get around and manage them. Lots of boat traffic, taking stuff everywhere.
Expensive resorts built on the lake but the majority of tourists stay in the nearby town. Good places to eat. Enjoyed an aubergine curry and avocado salad.
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