Expedition Day 41 My 1240 nm short cut across the Bay of Bengal. I contemplate the fate of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, that disappeared while flying over these waters. How could a large, certified aircraft carrying hundreds of passengers vanish from radar and never be found? Would I ever be found if my engine were to fail over this remote area? "May's" Lycoming experimental engine does not care that I am flying over the ocean and continues to run smoothly. Once leaving Mattala, Sri Lanka, I climb to 9000 ft and set the autopilot on a easterly heading. The monsoon weather is finally behind me as "May" cruises over the Bay of Bengal at 150 knots. 11,000 ft over the rugged, black spine of the Bukit Barisan mountain range. Island of Sumatra, Indonesia ATC initially provided me with a cruise altitude which would put me with a collision course with the mountain range. I requested and was given a higher altitude for terrain clearance. I flew north of the Toba super volcano which produced the largest known volcanic eruption on earth during the past 2 million years. On the next flight (Kuala Lumpur to Bali), I flew past the remnants of the Krakatoa caldera. After crossing the Malacca strait, I joined heavy jet traffic in the clouds while on approach to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Malaysia. It felt incredibly satisfying as a low-time IFR pilot, to keep ahead of the aircraft and land safely at a busy international airport. My 75 knot approach speed to the runway became problematic for the much faster jets, which were quickly closing the gap to my aircraft. Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque This impressive mosque can handle 24,000 worshipers under one roof. The 140 ft (43m) golden Lord Murugan statue guards the entrance to the Badu caves. The stairs leading up to the cave are quite steep and treacherous. The capacious interior of the Badu caves.
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