Page 261 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

INLE LAKE INLE LAKE AND THE EAST 259

“SONS OF THE LAKE”  THE INTHA PEOPLE
The Intha people – “sons of the lake” – are descendants of Mon from the far southeast (though
they’re now categorized as a subgroup of the Shan). Lacking land of their own, the Intha have
taken to life on the water with a will, not only setting up house upon it but also constructing
the remarkable patchwork of floating gardens which now cover large parts of the southern
lake, producing abundant crops of fruit, flowers and vegetables. Fishing is the other local
economic mainstay, and you’ll doubtless see some of the lake’s endlessly photographed Intha
fishermen in their long, narrow boats, a large conical hooped net (sometime taller than the 6
fisherman himself) to hand. The Intha are also famous for their unique style of leg-rowing,
standing on one leg and using the other to push the oar (leaving an arm free to manipulate
the net) in a precariously balanced feat of floating contortionism. Not surprisingly, the strange
and seemingly timeless image of these traditional figures perched stork-like upon the sterns of
their boats, net in hand, oar dangling from a leg, has become one of the signature images not
only of Inle, but of Myanmar itself.

in Mandalay. The village can also be reached as part of an enjoyable bike ride from
Nyaungshwe (see box, p.251).
Thit Tha Kyaung

Sitting pretty up a steep hill to the east of Maing Thauk is the gorgeous Thit Tha
Kyaung “forest monastery”. From lake level you’ll be able to make out the stupa at its
front; the lake views from here are excellent, if somewhat sullied by electricity wires,
while the monastery itself provides some great photo opportunities. It’s a long,
sweaty walk here from Maing Thauk, one that will take almost an hour; coming by
bike, you’ll have to drag the thing up the last few hundred metres, though coming
back down is joyfully fast.

Nampan

One of the lake’s larger villages, NAMPAN is the first stop on most boat tours. Here
you’ll probably be directed towards weaving workshops, goldsmiths or cheroot
factories, though if you get the chance it’s well worth going for a walk between the
beautiful stilt houses. There are a couple of good lunch spots hereabouts (see p.262),
and those not yet temple-tired could ask to be dropped off at Alodaw Pauk shrine,
one of the oldest religious structures in the area.

Phaung Daw Oo Paya
• Daily 24hr • Free; camera K500, video K500
Boats converge on the tiered lakeside Phaung Daw Oo Paya, west of Nampan and south
of Ywama, to the extent that you might need to climb over a logjam of them in order
to reach the shore. The pagoda building is nothing special, but men crowd around to
add gold leaf to the revered group of five small Buddha figures at the centre of the
main hall – already so coated that they’ve been transformed into what look like a little
heap of golden boulders. Women aren’t allowed to apply gold leaf, and will have to
hand it over to a male assistant.

Ywama
North of Phaung Daw Oo Paya en route to Inthein you’ll probably pass through
YWAMA. It’s an undoubtedly pretty little village, but also one of the most touristy on