8. Inle Lake and a traditional way of life

Leaving Mandalay we flew East to Shan State bordering Thailand in an old turboprop plane, landing at He Ho airport where the control tower was original 1940s and I expected Humphrey Bogart or Glenn Miller to appear any second. (Unfortunately no pics ) 

We travelled to Inle Lake where we saw the lake fishermen and their families who live in reed and rattan and bamboo houses on stilts on the lake, and they fish using one leg to paddle to allow two hands free for the nets. 

Many boats have 25 hp outboards used by locals and tourists alike to visit the lake dwelling people. 

 Local boats are the same but without seats and pack in lots more people and goods! 

Many of the families on the lake catch fish, living in homes on stilts, but they also create floating island where they grow crops, build boats, make cheroots, make umbrellas and lanterns, play football and keep pigs...! Some properties have electricity but it is very expensive so many run TVs from battery power with wires draped across rooms.

Paper being made from Moon flower plants.

Homes and fields on floating islands

Local people,selling their wares. They are from the various hill tribes that live in the area and in Shan State. 

This lady was selling the local equivalent of popadoms, cooked in a hot gravel mixture. They were delicious! 

Of course I had to buy a scarf from this little one!

We also visited a family in their home on the lake. They said their house lasts about 12-18 months before they have to rebuild. We were paddled there by a little girl of about 5 and her Mum. 

They even keep pigs in what amounts to their back yard!

We visited a local boat builder. Much of the work is still done by hand, even though they do have electricity. It takes them about a month to make a boat. 

The sunset was beautiful as we made our way back home.