Inle Lake, Myanmar

October 15

What a day!  Best 2 lines of the day Bob to Jill "Can I borrow your skirt?"  And Dad to Mom " where is the bag with my skirt in it?" We started our adventure today at 6:30 am Chang our guide down the hill towards the lake. We got into a narrow boat, we all sat in chairs one behind each other (me in the front) and head across the lake.  The lake is always extremely flat as the small motors on these long boats is quite small so not too much wake.  We got into position on one of the sides of the path of the Pagoda boat floats - it was a very special time for us to be in this area as it was Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival (which does last for about 2 weeks). These narrow and very long boats are moved by a paddle a person and they row using one leg. We watched the procession of the boats for a good hour.  Chang our guide is from this area and was very excited to view the parade.  Supposedly they do this procession all day long for 2 weeks.
Next we went to see how they grow the hydro-? Plants especially tomatoes are all grown in the water.  Then we went to the Ngaphechaung Monastery where Bob proudly wore my sarong as his skirt.
We went through many towns all in the water - all these towns are all on water.  In Cambodia I saw one floating village but this is much larger. 
They wash their clothes and dishes in the lake water which is basically not clean.
There is a 5 day market that moves around and so we went to it. It was very similar to the markets I have seen in other Asian countries. People chopping up meat parts that could turn me quickly into a vegetarian and fish laying on large leaves (no ice).  Mom bought a straw sun hat and this Burmese lady helped us with the bargaining so we felt obliged to go check out her souvenir table and so bought 2 necklaces and a pair of earrings.  All with the mountain people circular pattern on it. Dad and I also bought some monk paintings.
Next we went to see how the boats were made. The boats are made of teak and last a generation (about 50-60 years).  The shorter boats (fishing boats) and cost about $700
And the longer boats which are used for transportation/shipment were about $4500.
Next we saw how lotus flower silk was made and wove. The lotus flower stalk is quite spiky and a woman breaks about 2 inches up the stalks and pulling the stalks apart gives you the silk threads, similar to worm silk it is a tedious hand task. 
We had lunch at the Golden Kite Italian restaurant in the middle do the lake and then saw how mulberry wood paper is made and then quite exhausted headed back to the resort for good nap and relaxation.  
Dad and Bob wore their new skirts to dinner and Jilla wore her new outfit.