Sunday, January 9, 2011

Cruising Inle Lake




The colorful gondola lining up for its passengers at Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery in front of floating garden is the greatest attraction at the foot of Shan Mountain.



Ngahpechaung Monastery is nested in huge scheme of floating farms of Inle Lake.






Ngaphechaung Monastery has three main principal clearly stated at the board: (1) To learn, practice, progress towards Nibana (2) To unfold and teach Buddhist wholesome truth to others (3) To propagade Dharma for the sake of world peace.



Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery is an old wooden temple at the lake. It is also known as Jumping Cats Temple as cats in the temple are trained by the monks to show jumping acrobatic.



These Buddha Images at Ngahpechaung monastery were made from lacquer and are hollow inside with light weight.



Phaung Daw U Pagoda is one of the three principal shrines in Myanmar. The Building site was dated back to 18th century but have been renovating over past years. It houses five units of 12th century Buddha images which had completely lost their shape resulting by devotees constantly plastering them with gold leaf. During Phaung Daw U festivals in October, 4 out of these 5 Buddha images ( one left behind to guard the Pagoda) would be carried out in two golden pedestals by royal barges for a procession of 18 days in the lake. The barge is in a shape of a royal colorful bird something like a phoenix. Celebrations include boat racing and musical carnivals .



The beautiful view from Phaung Daw U Pagoda site and an attractive gathering religious hall erecting right at the center of water way.



The canal connecting the village and Inle Lake is a busy logistical center, goods are loading and unloading from this natural and simple river dock.



Shwe Inn Tain Pagoda located in the village by the bank of river connecting Inle lake. The life of villagers is as peaceful as this creek along the stream where children taking their bath and women doing their washing.



Thousand of old Buddhist shrines and stupas around the monastery complex, in which some were offered from centuries ago or longer..






Stupas initially were built and offered by royal families and later followed by wealthy lay people. The faith in Buddhism of this country could be revised from all these historical buildings and remains.



There are 400 pillars in this corridor leading to the hidden and unknown shrine of Shwe Inn Tain Pagoda Complex. The stair path way are filled up with stores supplying Buddhist related items and local hand-made handicrafts in the morning.



We had a local grown avocado juice and tomato dishes in this wonderful dinning restaurant. Good Service, good environment, good view!





Orchid are widely grown in Inle Lake. Pots and pots of plants could be seen hanging from the edges of houses or cottage factories.



The beautiful orchid flowers.



A visit to Ngwe Zin Yaw Cottage cigar factory



No machine, no equipment, all home-made. Cigars are made by young girls, freely sitting on the floor with hands keep-on rolling, non-stopping. Ngwe Zin Yaw Cottage cigar factory employs mostly female to hand-role cheroots by using Codia leaf grown locally. A young girl like her is able to role up about 2000 cigars a day. One packet of 23 small size cigar cost about 1000 chad (about one US Dls).



Cidia leaf were kept in piles and tied up.



A scenic sight of Inle Lake from the window of Ngwe Zin Yaw Cigar factory.



The well grown flowers blossom at the balcony of Ngwe Zin Yaw Cottage, jazzed up the tranquil blue water of Inle Lake.



Every where is a good background for picture.





The building of Ngwe Zin Yaw Cottage tobacco factory looks exclusively attractive and its backyard fully exposes the beauty of its surroundings.



Traditional weaving factory, hand-making items from silk, cotton and lotus fabric extracted from lotus stem.






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