Picture of Intha
Caption: INTHA MYANMAR, JULY 2018
Inle Lake
Caption: Inle Lake, 2018.
We were meant to trek 2 days to Inle Lake.
An old lower back injury saw an end to that idea. Within hours of starting it felt like I was walking on glass.
I spent two days in physical and mental agony in a small hotel as I waited for the others to arrive.
Video of Inle Lake
Caption: It takes about three or four hours from Kalaw to get to Inle Lake.
The easiest way is on these long, fast boats which sit just centimetres above the water.
Video of Inle Lake
Caption: They aren’t quiet.
Video of Nyaungshwe
Caption: Then you finally pull into Nyaungshwe.
Nyaungshwe
Caption: After missing out on the trek I was keen to make the most of the time we had at Nyaungshwe.
I’d seen photos of the Intha fishermen and their beautiful conical nets and we had a rare break in the otherwise-unrelenting seasonal rains, so we hired two boats and set off onto the lake at sunset.
Intha
Caption: “The Intha are best known for their unusual leg-rowing techniques. Most transportation on the lake is traditionally by small boats, or by somewhat larger boats fitted with 'long-tail' motors that are necessary because of the usual shallowness of the lake.
Local fishermen are known for practicing a distinctive rowing style which involves standing at the stern on one leg and wrapping the other leg around the oar.
This unique style evolved for the reason that the lake is covered by reeds and floating plants making it difficult to see above them while sitting. Standing provides the rower with a view beyond the reeds. However, the leg rowing style is only practiced by the men. Women row in the customary style, using the oar with their hands, sitting cross legged at the stern.”
Video of Intha
Caption: The stiff conical nets act as a cage to trap fish which are then speared through a hole in the top.
Picture of Intha
Caption: The Intha fishermen charge to have their photos taken. Fish stocks are dwindling and making a living is hard.
I was more than happy to pay the asking price, and I thought maybe we would have 15 minutes of his time.
Instead, he posed for us for almost an HOUR
Picture of Intha
Caption: As a side note Myanmar is unique in that there are only a few names in Myanmar and citizens can change their name whenever they feel they need new luck or a new life.
His name was pronounced. “Lawmawa”. I kicked myself for not writing it down.
Picture of Intha
Caption: His movements were calm and graceful, never rushed or uncertain.
It was more like a dance than fishing.
Picture of Intha
Picture of Intha
Caption: I’m still very proud of these images.
But more than that it was just a special moment.
Picture of Intha
Caption: As he prepared to leave to a rainbow appeared over the orange sunset.
Video of Intha
Video of Intha
