We hired a boat and driver and spent an exhilerating day on Inle Lake.

Here is some of what we saw...

This is called a floating garden. Soil is dredged up, by hand, and put in a wooden cage that 'floats' on the water. Crops are grown in the garden.

Fishing Inle Lake. The circular things behind the fishermen are fishing nets made of reeds, not Florida Everglade style fans to power the boat.

Intha paddling is quite unique. The boat men stand on the back of the boat and use a leg against an oar to paddle the boat.

We saw this young boy paddling in a village on the lake.

We also got the timing right on the floating market. Villagers come to market from all over the lake and beyond. Here's the wet parking lot.

Rice cakes.

Taking a break.

Smoking cheroot.

Selling tea.

Look at that hair. Myanmar women are renown for their long silky hair. The shampoo that they use is sold, in markets such as this, in clear plastic bags. Although it doesn't look like something you'd want to touch, let alone put in your hair, look at the results!!

Pharmacy.

Our next stop was a weaving business. Cloth was weaved from cotton, silk and 'silk' obtained by peeling lotus stem! The products were gorgeous and we each treated ourselves to a longyi (Myanmar sarong).

These guys are making a knife. The guy in the back pushes plungers into 2 organ-pipe type cylinders that stoke the fire. The blacksmith heats the blade-to-be in the flame and when ready, places it on the anvil. Once there, the chorus straightens it by successive pounding!!! Watch your fingers!

Few of many stupas

It seems that 5 p.m. is bathing time in rural areas. On our way back to the boat, we caught these wash-up scenes...

The Paduang people straddle the border between Thailand's Mae Hong Son Province and Myanmar. Although only a very small percentage of women ever wore the 'famous' neck-rings, now almost all 5 year-old girls are fitted with them. These rings push down on the body, rather than lifting up the head, to give the appearance of a swan-like neck which is deemed to be very beautiful. Paduang women wear rings for decoration and beliefs. It was believed that, long time ago, the spirits were angered with the people and sent tigers to kill and eat the women. The ancestors advised them to put on brass rings on their necks to protect themselves. The women's neck rings make for a whispery voice and those who wear them cannot shout. They also wear rings on the arms and legs, often 20 or 25 kilos of weight! Yet they still carry loads, like jars of water atop their heads, and gather firewood.

Perhaps 30,000 or more live in Kayah state of Myanmar, mostly west of the Salaween River. They trade in livestock, rice, cotton, fruit and vegetables, weavings and basketry and few still have the long necks. On either side of the border, the Paduang have been nomadic hunters and farmers.

The Paduang are friendly and love visitors (especially well-mannered ones), but they also love quiet.

They are usually Buddhist, but believe in their animistic shamans too.

The Nga-phe-chaung Monestary is known for its spectacular jumping cats, pictured blur at right. The monestary has a valuable collection of ancient Buddha images. The monestary building itself is considered a national heritage.

We completed our tour after sunset and completed our trip back in virtual darkness, an experience in itself. We saw more people bathing and people taking their water buffalo for a swim!