Inle Lake is located in central Myanmar, southeast Asia. 13.5 miles long and 7 miles wide, it is a serene place to sightsee, witness the local life style and watch sunset.

However, the lake has shrunk in recent years.

First, more floating gardens have been built to grow plants such as tomatoes and crops. It does help those who work in this business, but the pesticide they've been using and the fact that they've transformed areas that used to be water into their farmlands, are nonetheless two contributing factors toward the shrinking of the lake.

Second, according to UNDP's report on Inle Lake, there has been an increase in the use of fuel wood around the lake for cooking and residential purposes. It impacts the surrounding mountains, causing silts to appear in the soil, therefore enabling erosion to occur and flow into the lake.

Third, local tourism has greatly developed over the past years, but it lacks regulations and management, therefore hotels are somehow clueless on how to keep their development at the right tempo. 

As a result, fishers are making way for farmers, as there are fewer and fewer fish to catch, and more vegetables are being harvested. It is now urgent that tourists take care of Inle Lake's fragile eco-system. 

Inle Lake's beauty is undeniable. We can't wait to see the Intha fisher's unique leg-rowing technique, and the stilt houses. 

Myanmar's new eVisas are fast and easy to obtain. Apply online, upload a photo, and pay 50 U.S. dollars. You'll receive a 28-day e-Visa by email within 72 hours. Take the visa with you, and go straight to passport control in Yangon or Mandalay airport.   

The surrounding towns are all within biking distances, so with a bike that costs you only 1.5 U.S. dollars a day, you could try the famous tofu in Khaung Daing, which is made with split yellow pea flour, mixed with boiling and then poured into a mold to set. After lunch, you could hire a boat for 8,000 Kyats ( about 5.26 U.S. dollars) to ferry you and your bike across the lake. Get off on the eastern side, continue cycling north through sugar cane plantations and small villages, and you will see Red Mountain Estate winery to the east. Head up the hill for a magnificent view of Inle and the vineyards, where you can also taste it for about 3,000 Kyats (about 2 U.S. dollars).You need to continue towards the northern side of the lake and head to Nyaungshwe, because after sunset, you won't be able to see the road.