Boat Making, Inle Lake
The primary means of transportation on Inle Lake is the long tail boat. There are water ways that resemble roads, blocks of homes, and even what appeared to be traffic rules for the boats. These long tail boats are made from teak and come in several different sizes and styles. Needless to say the creation and maintenance of boats is a very important job. Most of the boats are made from teak because of its ability to hold up so well in a consistently wet environment. Small boats take several weeks to construct, whereas the larger ones used for mass transit and the transportation of produce and other goods to the market can take up to 6 months. Though the boat we saw under construction was only a model for tourist purposes, you definitely get an idea of the scope and craftsmanship involved.
