We are now on the ship Pandaw II, which is sailing down along the Ayeyawaddy River from Magwe. The Ayeyawaddy River is bountiful in fish, thus, there are many fishing boats along the waterway.

Later, we arrived at Minhla where the famous Minhla Fort existed. Minhla Fort was built about AD 1864. The square shaped fort is on the bank of the Ayeyawaddy River to crush the enemy vessels which sailed upstream of the Ayeyawaddy.

After studying the Minhla fort, we proceeded to Gwe Chaung village on the other bank of the river by a small motor boat. It is a village where Gwe Chaung fort existed. The fort was constructed on the higher part of Gwe Chaung village on the eastern bank of Ayeyawaddy River. Gwe Chaung fort was built about AD 1864. It was constructed under a hill as an underground fort. The fort was these to crush the enemy vessels which sailed upstream of Ayeyawaddy River.

On our return from the fort, we saw pleasant scenes of Gwe Chaung villagers fetching water from the river at sunset. Our team left Minhla for Thayet on the western bank of Ayeyawaddy in Thayet District of Magwe Division. We enjoyed beautiful sceneries of Myanmar countryside along our route.

As we arrived in Thayet, we observed the first Golf Club in Myanmar which was opened since AD 1887. Later, we left Thayet.

The Ayeyawaddy River is the heart of all Myanmar nationals as all their traditional culture and heritage and rural life are depending on the river. One could realize more about Myanmar and its nationals by a riverine trip, from north to south, down the Ayeyawaddy River.

As the ship Pandaw II, continued it’s down stream journey, we arrive of near Pyay, the destination of our journey the in Pyay District of Bago Division, 334 miles from Mandalay City.