Our final day of tourism-related activities in Myanmar was an all-day boat tour on Inle Lake. The lake itself is a living, breathing, thriving environment of human activity. The Burmese have lived on the lake for a long time. Carving out an existence in homes elevated by stilts, fishing, and creating arts and crafts.
The fisherman are amazing! They balance on the back of their long boat on one leg and the other leg hooks around their paddle for forward propulsion. Their hands are free for manipulating their nets. Remarkable balance.
Check out the video below for a look at the local metal work taking place at Skol Studios East. I would like to see Jeff, Alan, and 1F Jef show me something at Skol Studios West next time I am in Ouray.
We had such a terrific travel experience in Myanmar. The local population made it what it was. While the government has been oppressive for some time now, the people are as kind and welcoming as any we have ever encountered in 25 years of world travel. It is another reminder that there is a HUGE difference between human beings and the government behind their nationality. With the political winds shifting in Myanmar for the better, I expect it will make the world travel short list of 'must see' locations.
We are now in Cape Town, South Africa after about 40 hours in transit from SE Asia. Whew! The flights went off without a hitch: Inle Lake to Yangon; Yangon to Bangkok; Bangkok to Doha, Qatar; Doha to Cape Town. A new continent for the kids and a new phase of our trip.
We will be in CT for a week. Hopefully, getting in some good hiking, climbing, and sightseeing. I have contacts here from having done an RfR gig 3 years ago and we intend to get together with those friends as well.
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| Hamming it up for the tourists |
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| Shan Sword (Oh, how I wanted one!!) |
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| Lady at Floating Market |
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| Fisherman - Inle Lake |
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| Cigar Making |
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| Inle Lake Village - entirely on stilts with boat only access |
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