Leg 163, Xingyi, Guizhou Province, China to Bago, Myanmar (Burma)
DAY02_01.PLN (7.4 KB)
Into Myanmar, formerly Burma (until 1989), the land of golden pagodas, with one of the strangest capitals I’ve seen. New (planned) capital since 2005. This just in: Myanmar coup: Aung San Suu Kyi detained as military seizes control Myanmar got rid of military rule in 2011, only 9 years ago. Now back under military rule as of today.
01-31 Xingyi ZUYI 5:23 PM
01-31 Luliang Air Base ZZHO 5:50 PM
01-31 Wujiaba ZPPP 6:11 PM
01-31 Lintsang Airfield ZMEE 7:15 PM
01-31 Tanyang VYTY 8:00 PM
01-31 Anisakan VYAS 8:45 PM
01-31 Chanmyathazi (Mandalay) VYCZ 8:58 PM
01-31 Mandalay Intl VYMD 9:07 PM
01-31 Pakhokku VYPU 9:32 PM
01-31 Bagan VYBG 9:45 PM Bagan Landmark 21°09’41"N, 94°51’28"E
01-31 Pauk VYPK 9:58 PM
01-31 Kyauktu VYKU 10:09 PM
01-31 21°17’54.13"N, 94°2’6.95"E 10:18 PM CTD after the game froze, no warning signs
01-31 Last known position 10:26 PM
01-31 Sittwe VYSW 11:03 PM
01-31 Kyaukpyu VYKP 11:26 PM
01-31 Manaung VYMN 11:41 PM
02-01 Mazin VYTD 12:00 AM
02-01 Pyay VYPY 12:31 AM
02-01 Naypyitaw Intl VYNT 1:04 AM Capital
02-01 Taungoo VYTO 1:20 AM
02-01 Bago VYBA 2:06 AM
Flight time 8:35 19 stops
First up, Kunming before dawn, modern capital city of China’s southern Yunnan province
Home to a stone forest of tall limestone formations (on the right)
Yiliang Jiuxiang Scenic Area
Dian Lake next to Kunming
Xiaoqingkou Reservoir
Near Xiawuyan
Sun coming up behind me near Hetaohe
Colorful farms near Shijiacun
And Hebiancun
Lintsang Airfield
Which is actually Lincang Airport
Hka-lingngwa, I made it into Myanmar
Flying over Tanyang, a township of Lashio District in the Shan State of eastern Burma
Elephants are the local workhorse, still around 4,000 domesticated elephants are used for logging
About 2,000 wild elephants are left
Anesakhan or Anisakan (in game) looking at Dat Taw Gyaint Waterfall
Mandalay Chanmyathazi Airport with Mandalar Thiri Sports Stadium on the left
Mandalay Palace in the middle
Mandalay is the former royal capital in northern Myanmar, next to the Irrawaddy River
Many pagodas can be found around here, Kuthodaw Pagoda
The Mahamuni Buddha image is deified at this important Buddhist temple & pilgrimage site
The view from Mandalay Hill
Pakhokku in the Magway Region in Myanmar
Bagan, ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar
From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom
Mingalar Zedi Pagoda or the “Blessing Stupa”, built in 1277 by King Narathihapati
(It’s simply called Bagan landmark in game)
The real thing on the left, one of very many in the area
All beautifully showcased on Samsara
Photogrammetry here pls! There are about 2,200 amazing buddhist temples around here.
Crossing the Arakan mountains on the way to the coast
Nat Ma Taung National Park in the Arakan mountains
Mount Victoria behind on the left
The Chin state’s highest scenic mountain, at 10,016ft
Following the Mon river out of the mountains
Kaladan river flowing into the bay of Bengal
Sittwe, capital of Rakhine State, on the coast with View Point Park on the bottom right
Kyaukpyu, Yanbye Island on Combermere Bay
Manaung on Manaung island
Thandwe Airport at Ma Zin
Approaching Pyay in the Bago Region in Myanmar
Pyay next to the Irrawaddy River
Naypyitaw, administrative capital of Myanmar since 2005
Planned city without a real center
Diplomatic housing development across the lakes
Uppatasanti Pagoda, replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon
A peek inside the national museum
Not all that much here yet since the city is only 15 years old
Taungoo on the Sittang river
Home to the Shwe Sandaw Pagoda
Near Sabyin, enjoying the vast forests
And many reservoirs, Ye Nwe Dam Reservoir
Baing Dar Dam Reservoir
BawNatGyi Resevoir in the Moe Yin Gyi Wildlife Reserve
Theybu Reservoir (first one up)
Bago formerly known as Hanthawaddy
Hantharwaddy Airport, which is still in the planning stages
The project was first initiated in the early 1990s, but due to ongoing financing issues there’s not much there yet. The first phase of the new airport, a joint venture between Myanmar and Japan, is slated to be complete in 2027. MSFS let me land there just fine! Sometimes it’s behind, sometimes it’s ahead (like an already flooded lake in Africa with the dam still under construction)
Bago is home to the Golden Palace, with a reconstruction of a 16th-century royal audience hall
And you can visit the Snake pagoda here
Home to a massive uncaged python (and many others) that is believed to be very old & holy
Tomorrow some more of Myanmar (the former capital) then on to Thailand.