Weaving Through The Five-Day Market

A morning market takes place for Inle Lake residents but its location rotates between five different communities enabling the people of the Hill tribes to travel between the locations with their goods.

Our arrival proved to be yet another experience where we felt as though we had dropped in from outer space.

Stepping over a series of moored boats to get to the shore, we walked up an uneven path to a crude bamboo bridge, with one token handrail attached rustically to uncertain looking uprights with nylon rope.

Once over the bridge we took in the scene. Life bustled with traders, and when we had passed the obligatory tourist stalls, the peoples of the Hill tribes who had trekked for hours to be part of the action, were distinctive in their black clothing with colourful headdresses.

Under a series of corrugated tin roofs and colourful tarps, coconut matting formed the floor. The challenge was to take in the enjoyment of the scene while avoiding serious injury from a jagged tin gable or a garrotting from a tightly strung nylon rope.

The assortment of items on sale was colourful – tomatoes, eggplant, scallions, peppers, betel, beans and garlic. Eggs were laid out on mats, their stalls tucked in amongst displays of every conceivable kind of vegetable, fruit and grain.

A brisk trade was taking place in cheroots, there were people making pancakes and other snacks, and old sages discussed the merits of their fighting cocks.

Dogs watched the pork seller in anticipation and all the while there was a constant chatter – the market simply bubbled with energy.

The Inle lake area is also well known for its weaving industry and I was particularly interested in this stop after the morning market. Shan-style tote bags used by many Burmese are produced here. High quality hand-woven silk and a unique fabric produced from the fibre of the locally grown Egyptian lotus plant are woven on bamboo looms. Doug was extremely patient while I satisfied my need for a spot of retail therapy - easily accomplished from the large array of finished items on display.

Another wonderful day and as with every experience we had in Myanmar, the people proved to be curious, gentle and charming.