Myanmar (Burma) - a charming country

Myanmar used to be called Burma (Birma), though in 1989 the authoritarian military junta, changed the name for Myanmar. 

At the beginning of the 60s of the last century, the time has stopped in Myanmar. The authorities decided to isolate the country from the rest of the world. For this reason the country remains unique and very traditional. Though, for all those that want to experience its uniqueness the clock is ticking fast, as Myanmar reopened for the world somewhere at the end of the last (twentieth) century and is changing (Westernising or rather commercialising) fast. 

The part that we liked the most is the Inle Lake...

At dawn the traditional fishing is still going on...

...fishermen move forward by paddling with one foot, holding the conical net in hand... 

...sometimes it's getting quite acrobatic...

Our boat continues passing by floating gardens... 

 ...where work in the 'fields' is going on

Next we enter the town on stilts

And finally, we make it to the most lively place on the Lake the rotating market. Rotating because each day it takes place in different location.

 At first, it's a bit hard to find a boat parking space, though we manage to make it :)

Then we hop out for some shopping

And off we go to another town on stilts ...

To see traditional weaving workshop

... more pagodas...

... and young monks...

Then we relax a bit.

And passing through another floating garden...

We make it to the longest teak (teak is a very strong tree typical for Burma) pier in the area 

And our cool boatman takes us back home