30.05.2018 - 03.06.2018 Inle Lake

We have heard that train travel in Myanmar is a must-do. However, as the trains move at a snail's pace and the shortest routes take forever, we chose the approximately 55km journey between Kalaw and Shwengnau, which is known for its beautiful scenery. 

So we arrived at Kalaw train station at 12.30, as the train (the only one in this direction that day) was scheduled to arrive at 13.30, and the tickets can be purchased one hour in advance, signaled by hitting a gong-like instrument. At that time, we were informed that the train would be coming later and we could buy our tickets later as well. So we had to wait, as the train in the other direction was scheduled to arrive first, with a delay of one and a half hours. Since waiting is a big part of traveling, and as mentioned before, the temperatures were very pleasant, and there's always something to snack on at the train station, it was not a big deal and we eagerly watched the events around us. 

Our train finally arrived at around 13:30 and took three hours to reach our destination with three stops along the way. Yes, it was quite an experience. The train was divided into two classes, and as tourists, we were only allowed to purchase a ticket for the first class, which cost us less than one euro per person (the difference from the second class is that the seats are slightly padded and not wooden benches). So we arrived very comfortably, at a snail's pace, at our destination, and after several night buses, we finally got to see some of the beautiful landscapes in Myanmar.

We spent the next four nights in the lovely town of Nyaung Shwe, in a nice guest house where we were the only guests and therefore well taken care of. If there's any backpacker tourist atmosphere in Myanmar, it's here. They even set up a night market specifically for tourists, as tourists from other Asian countries love it so much. However, it was noticeable that it was the low season and there wasn't much going on. But we find that very pleasant. 

This town is located on a river that flows into Inle Lake after about 4 kilometers. Besides the beautiful landscapes it offers, the lake has other interesting sights, as we discovered on a boat trip on the lake. As we wanted to see a sunrise again, we arranged to meet a boatman at 5:30 to go to the lake. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and there was no sign of the rising sun, but at least we were the first ones at our stops, and the temperatures were pleasant. These boat trips include observing the daily life on the lake (fishermen rowing with one leg, entire villages on stilts with gardens for growing vegetables, temples, monasteries, etc.), as well as visiting various craft workshops located on and around the lake, each with an adjacent souvenir shop. So we were able to observe the work of a silversmith, some weavers who make wool from the lotus plant, the production of sun and rain umbrellas, and the production of cigarettes. Apart from the sales aspect, it was very fascinating. The fact that the boat tour is a tourist attraction became very evident when two *Long Neck Women* were sitting at a workshop and being presented - now you can take photos with them - that was a bit too much for us. 

We spent the other two days relaxed, taking walks in the countryside, which was quite nice in the sometimes pleasant temperatures, and visiting local tea houses, before heading south again.