Inle Lake, Burma

There is an otherworldly feel to the beauty of Inle Lake. The shallow waters are fringed by an all but lost way of life where vegetable patches float and inhabitants paddle along boats with just one leg.

Pushed along in this peculiar manner we explored the semi-aquatic street-life of a village built entirely on stilts. It's a surreal feeling to glide along at the eye level of tomatoes, broad beans and chillis growing voraciously on little organic islands.

At another village, we visited a project supported by our irrepressible new friend, Pascale. A workshop producing refined scarves from silk and the root of the vital lotus plant.

Behind the tourist friendly shop-front a team of craftsmen and women keep alive their traditional techniques. We were humbled to learn that the silk-workers' daily reward was less than the change from a modest purchase.

The many traditional ethnic groups of the area are recognisable by the colour of their rich clothes. We couldn't help but be inquisitive and our friend Nan Pan, a more worldy modern Burman, was able to break the ice.

We soon became objects of curiosity ourselves. Kids in the marketplace stopped to stare at us before collapsing into giggles.

The extraordinary sights, sounds and feelings of exploring Inle Lake, and in such good company, will live long in our memory.