Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
March 18, 2017

Thapyaekone Roundabout
The administrative capital of Nay Pyi Taw in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar is all set to warmly welcome President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as it hoisted the flags of the Philippines and Myanmar at the Thapyaekone Roundabout.
President Duterte will embark on his introductory visit to Myanmar on March 19-20, 2017.
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Military Defense Museum
The Military Defense Museum sits on a 603-acre site on a gentle slope located northeast of the city. It is divided into three main sections – the Army, Navy and Air Force. The Army section covers the early history of Myanmar’s military from the time of former kings, but majority of the exhibits showcase the inception of the armed forces up to the present day. Collections of old and recent military machinery, planes, tanks, guns and ships can also be viewed.
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Gem Museum
The Gem Museum displays various precious jewels such as ruby, sapphire, jade and the largest pearl in Myanmar. Jewelry shops are located in the ground floor where tourists and locals alike can purchase from a selection of precious gems.
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Parliament (Hluttaw) Buildings
The Parliament complex is made up of 31 buildings, with the Presidential Palace nearby. In Buddhist cosmology, the number 31 is significant as it refers to the 31 ‘planes of existence.’
The Parliament Buildings are situated in 800 acres of land and are highly decorated with the traditional Myanmar-style roofs. The Parliament is made up of 664 members from the Upper House (House of Nationalities) and the Lower House (House of Representatives), with all members elected except for the 25% reserved for the military. Hluttaw is a word used before to refer to the Council of Ministers under the King of Myanmar.
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National Museum
Opened on July 15, 2015 after almost five years of construction, the National Museum has the following galleries – Primates and Fossils Exhibition Room, Pre-Historic Period Exhibition Room, Proto Historic Period Exhibition Room, Historic Period Exhibition Room, Myanmar Art Gallery, and Myanmar Performing Arts Exhibition Room.
The museum contains displayed works from the Bagan period with 11th century jewelry, replicas of colorful mural paintings, and models of temples. Exhibitions cover Myanmar’s history such as important fossils, Stone Age tools, small figurines of minstrels from Sri-Ksetra (early evidence of musical culture in the region), and landscape paintings and portraits by 20th century Myanmar artists.
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