From Yangon, I will fly Air Bagan to Sittwe, capital of Rakhine State. The predominant Rakhine ethnic group is a Buddhist people with a language similar to the Bamar language, that of the largest ethnic group in Myanmar as a whole. There is a Muslim Rohingya minority that is subject to some controversial treatment in the state. For the tourist, Sittwe, also known by the old name of Akyab, is the gateway to Mrauk U, capital of the old powerful kingdom of Arakan. Mrauk U is today a major archaelogical site but attracts few tourists because of the lack of quick access from anywhere. I will have to take an unreliable boat there from Sittwe. Google Maps has amazing satellite photos of Sittwe Airport and the city itself. |
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