Waterborne Islands?

Greetings from Myanmar! Today, I decided to visit Myanmar’s peculiar and picturesque Inle Lake. The Inle Lake is the second largest lake in the whole of Myanmar covering a grand surface area of 116 kilometres squared! The lake and its beautiful natural views were a true treat to the eyes, boasting a diverse range of flora and fauna, some that cannot be found anywhere else on earth. However, the amazing natural views are not just what make this lake so special.

Around the entire lake, were small, peaceful villages full of many Myanmarese known as the Inthans. As I wandered the lake’s edge, I spotted many Inthans rowing their simple boats trying to retrieve their daily catch of fish. They rowed in a very peculiar rowing style, wrapping their legs around the oar. Along the coast of the lake were the Inthan’s basic houses, made of wood and bamboo. However, not all Inthans lived in huts on the coast.

After stopping to take in the sights, I spotted a few masses of land just sitting on the lake’s top. I turned to ask a local about the mysterious floating islands, in which he replied to me that they were collections of a waterborne plant known as water hyacinth. Overtime, water hyacinth pile up on one another to form a hardened piece of land and voila, a prize floating island! The local also told me that water hyacinth is very strong and can even support a house (which is what some of the locals do). This slab of floating land can be also used for farming, which is why Inthans are so well known for their great range of oriental fruits and vegetables. It soon became apparent to me that the Inthans live a far more simple and peaceful life than most of us westerners.

With Burma’s current political state however, sometimes things weren’t so peaceful. Quite often, the serene views and wondrous culture of this little lake was interrupted by soldiers patrolling the lake’s edge. People would often try to hide as the soldiers walked past, fearing their intimidating presence. Despite this however, the Inle Lake was a great experience, embracing its beautiful nature and a very different and rich culture. Although Myanmar’s political disabilities definitely interfered with the experience, Myanmar shouldn’t be overlooked as a beautiful country. I will write more about my travels in a few days.