March 5 2012
Map (not exact route because new road that bypasses Taungdwingyi is not on google maps)
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| Thank you Magwe Immigration! if only the immigration officer in Mandalay was this nice! |
Start: 845am Pyay
Arrive: 4:30pm Magwe
Total distance traveled Zach: 222.7km, 138 miles
Total distance traveled, David : 221.4km, 137.3 miles
Dad's fuel efficiency:50.3 km per liter, 118.1 mpg
Zach's fuel efficiency: 50.4 km per liter,137.3 mpg
The trip north to Magway was through a mostly arid area, reminding me
of the central plains of Turkey. Near Pyay rice farmers were tilling
their flooded fields, riding wooden implements pulled by water buffalo
and oxen. The fields were in all stages of development, from dry
fallow, to flooded tilling, small rice shoots being planted and rice
that was nearly mature. The fields were probably supplied with water
from the Ayeyarwady River.
Arrive: 4:30pm Magwe
Total distance traveled Zach: 222.7km, 138 miles
Total distance traveled, David : 221.4km, 137.3 miles
Dad's fuel efficiency:50.3 km per liter, 118.1 mpg
Zach's fuel efficiency: 50.4 km per liter,137.3 mpg
The trip north to Magway was through a mostly arid area, reminding me
of the central plains of Turkey. Near Pyay rice farmers were tilling
their flooded fields, riding wooden implements pulled by water buffalo
and oxen. The fields were in all stages of development, from dry
fallow, to flooded tilling, small rice shoots being planted and rice
that was nearly mature. The fields were probably supplied with water
from the Ayeyarwady River.
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| Dried up river |
Further north were plains, with large fields, some with corn, peas or
beans, but mostly bare land that had been tilled. Some brown pasture
areas had cattle grazing. Nearer Magway tall palms, I believe they are
Toddy Palms, lined the fields, making a unique visual picture.
 |
| Short cut under construction |
We took a chance on going to a road not marked on the map. Zach
thought it may be a new road: it was. The road was wide and smooth for several miles. Then it turned into a road under construction, still
not really bad. Some sections were packed dirt, some a rather well
packed stone, and others not good at all.I tried to get off a single
lane portion to allow a bus that was coming towards me to pass. I was
driving slowly, and got stuck in the deep fresh earth. The bus driver
did not honk his horn; he just opened the door so a helper (relief
driver) could get out to help me get off the road. By that time I was
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| Ahhh, a smooth road! |
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| Magwe (photo taken from the bridge into town) |
Hotels in Magway are relatively expensive, and well booked. Two were
full, a couple were not to our liking. The lady in charge at the Htein
Htein Thar Hotel refused to register me because my visa expired
yesterday. We explained the renewal process to her. She would not
budge. Zach suggested we go to Immigration and have them approve my
stay. She agreed. It took half an hour to find the office, then the
man in charge would not make a decision. He called another office,
then and an employee escort us there. The man at the second office got
his assistant and three office ladies involved, then called the
hotel to give approval. The process took over an hour.
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| Stupa with moon in Magwe |
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| Riverside at the foot of the stupa looking south |
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