Too touristy = Hilarity

Vistiting Inle Lake means that you take a noisy boat and go out to explore what life is on the water. Well kind of then. We set sail on our noisy motorboat out with the four of us and our absent minded and rather indifferent captain. When we reach the open water we slow down. A fisherman right in front us in action. One leg paddling. Picking up his net. Enthusiastically we take pictures. The fisherman smiles back at us. He sits down. Pulls his boat next to ours. Shows the catch of the day. Ah I see. He awaits his tip prior to putting up his show to the next tourist boat.

We moor at a traditional boat building place. A lovely lady patiently explains in pretty good English the entire process. A couple of crossed-legged seated ladies are making the local cigars. And of course a couple of souvenirs are for sale. Fair enough.

Soon we get the concept. There is no explanation how the farming is done on the lake or how this place became such an active trading area. It’s all about going from one craftsman place to another. They even have ladies with the rings around their necks, who don’t even live in this area. Indeed as a tourist one cannot visit the area where they normally live, but to get them over as sort of museum piece feels rather far-fetched. When the sun starts to set and we feel like going back we make one last stop. And it’s the best surprise. It’s not very secluded but it’s beautiful. A wooden monastery on the water. Splendid Buddha statutes superfluously decorated. The oldest monk is humbly approached by bunches of people who bow deeply for him. The devotion is impressive when groups move away afterwards on all fours careful not to turn their back to him. The monk closes his eyes, leans back in his chair. And then he’s ready to see more people.

When we’re back in the village we agree to go for a drink to have a bit of a laugh over this hilarious day. When the village already seems to be in deep sleep we totter find our way back to our guesthouses after way more cocktails then predicted.