Fernweh

Myanmar, also known as Burma, is an ancient country located in southeast Asia, bordering Bangladesh and Thailand, among others. Its 50+ million inhabitants include more than 100 different ethnic groups.

Until recently, it was quite difficult for westerners to travel outside the capitol city of Yangon / Rangoon. It’s still a place where it’s much easier to travel with a good local guide.

Inle Lake

Inle Lake is a large lake in central Myanmar, bordered by more than 40 villages. Many of these villages are built over the lake itself, with small homes on stilts in the water, and the residents live their lives traveling by long, narrow boats.

One of the larger villages is Inn Dein; there there is a large market building and a variety of other buildings all on solid land. Additionally, there are a large collection of stupas that make up the Shwe Inn Dein Pagoda.

Kayan People

One of the larger populations of the Kayan people live on Inle Lake. These people are known for the brass neck rings that women wear to give their necks the appearance of being lengthened.

The Kayan people are also known for their beautiful woven fabrics made in many colors.

Monks

One fascinating feature of Burmese society is the monks. Many are orphans or poor children, who become monks to find refuge and a home. They go to schools, pray, and live communally.

It is also quite common for people who are not poor to become monks, sometimes only for short periods of time, even as short as a couple of weeks. They may do this once, or multiple times, as they feel appropriate.