Lying south of the famous Inle Lake in Myanmar's Shan State is Samka (also known as Samkar), once the capital of a Shan dynasty and home of the man-made little sister of the larger reservoir. A three-hour boat ride from Nyaung Shwe through Balu Chaung Creek takes travellers past crumbling Buddhist stupas, the quaint communities of the Pa-O, Shan and Intha people, and stilted houses above the water known as 'floating villages'. This scenic trip is rewarding upon reaching the old town of Samka. Resting on the banks of the lake are age-old temple ruins of an old Shan temple settlement with a few stupas and the Tar Kaung Temple complex, where a small but beautifully carved reclining Buddha is the highlight. End the trip with a quiet paddle along the calm waters of Samkar Lake, surrounded by tropical vegetation, sloping hillsides and serene countryside.