This brings me to the question I've been getting a lot, why Bangladesh. Well to be honest, Bangladesh was not at all on our radar until about two months ago. Our original thought was to go to Myanmar and India, but lately Myanmar has seen a huge increase in tourism and has really increased in price, putting it out of our reach. I've also really wanted to check out Bhutan, but strict government regulations on tourism make this a pricey country as well. So one day, we were looking at a map and I mentioned Bangladesh. Derrick was skeptical, but started to do some research. We quickly became intrigued by what we read. There were stories of the incredibly friendly locals, tales of traveling for days without seeing another tourist, and accounts of real authentic cultural experiences. We were sold.
Bangladesh is really one of the least traveled (non-war torn) countries. Here's a quick look at the numbers. With 154.7 million people Bangladesh is one of the most populated nations in the world, 1,119 people per square kilometer. Compare that to 38 people per square kilometer in the US and 2 people per square kilometer in Montana. Despite all those people, Bangladesh only receives about 300,000 international visitors per year. Neighboring India receives about 6 million and Thailand, close to 20 million! Fun fact, the most traveled country in the world is France, followed by the US.
Now, traveling in Bangladesh won't be easy. Infrastructure is basic to say the least, political disputes often lead to widespread shut downs, English is infrequent outside of the cities. Are we crazy? possibly. Will this be a grand adventure? You better believe it.
