Myanmar

Inle Lake

Next day toward daybreak our bus stop Kalaw and passed through narrow mountain path. I didn't remember how long dose it, might be 1-hour half or 2-hours ride from Kalaw we were down at junction. Tourists who visit Inle Lake have to change car to lakeside village Nyaung Shwe.

The Lake caught the morning sunlight.
Entrance fee of Inle Lake zone is 10US$, you can pay it at hotels or check post near port. As Inle is reed-grown shallow-water Lake, we must charter boat to see sights of the Lake. Located 1328m height above sea level I felt chilly than cool especially early morning. I borrowed cotton blanket from hotel and later I bought it in memory. Don't forget to take precautions against the cold !

Market

Our boat tour took one day and visited to floating factories, Phaung Daw U Pagoda, floating vegetable garden and jumping cats monastery. First visited place was market. As I interested in everything to see I looked costumes, foods, tools...etc this way and that in delirium.

Phaung Daw U Pagoda

Looks like floating Pagoda
After lunch we visited Phaung Daw U Pagoda that have unique 5 Buddha images like golden bolls because of putting gold leaves. The statues rest on a pedestal in heart of the main building hall. By the way do you remember Myanmar's religious tradition; women don't allowed to touch them. So that I couldn't approach them, to say noting of get on the pedestal.

Jumping cats

Jumping cats monastery
When the sun was sinking in the west we landed "Jumping cats monastery" as Nga Phe Kyaung; last place to visit in one-day boat tip. As guidebook said, "Cats jump through the hoop" all of us visited there in expectation of cat's show. But we could see only two trials.

Although we asked monks to show us more, he said "Today is finish because of cats are tired."

"Oh!" to my regret I took only this photograph of cat just landing.

Half day trekking

Trekking Map in Inle Lake zone
Therefore Kalaw is famous for enjoy trekking among tourists; there are some trekking courses in this area too. I chose half day trekking from north dam to south dam via small cave temple and minority race's villages.

Woman of a minority race.

The dig was constructed by national aid

Guide's wife making our lunch

Today's lunch

Smithy of open air

I found an unusual job "Smithy of open air" near the market.
After lunch I parted guide and his wife at outskirts of the village. I jumped at strange motion woman when I was strolling to my hotel. This tool she worked was bellows made of bamboo, she was sending air to bonfire on the ground. Beside the bonfire his husband was mending farm tools.

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