Day 1 - Dhaka, the world's second largest Muslim gathering and the dangers of a cancelled flight
The first thing I noticed after arriving in Bangladesh is that the airport was packed with people. I learned later that I happened to fly in during Bishwa Itjema, which is the second largest Muslim gathering in the world that happens every few years in Bangladesh in the city of Dhaka. Little did I know at that time that I was in one for one crazy first day.
After clearing customs and after some confusing time purchasing a cell phone sim card, I managed to make my way from the international airport to the domestic airport with only 10 photos being taken with friendly Banladeshi's. Finding myself at the domestic airport, I managed to find an English speaker to inquire about my flight to Sylhet where I was planning to meet my guide and begin my trip. They let me know that it was cancelled due to the hartal or strike that is going on in Bangladesh. I immediately scrambled trying to find another flight but there were none that day. Making things worse, all flights were booked for the next 2 days to Sylhet. I found myself in a tough situation.
Locals let me know that all roads and trains are blockaded due to the strick and there was no way I was going to get to Sylhet unless I was willing to pay a ridiculous amount of money to a taxi cab driver to risk his life on the roads of Bangladesh. Earlier that day, the protests had derailed a train injuring many people and burned busses in Dhaka and everyone was on edge. After coming to the decision to stay in Dhaka, I called Jahid, my guide that I had planned on meeting up with in Bangladesh.
Jahid is a young man I met last year on my travels and I set up to travel with him during my time in Bangladesh. He has been a great travel companion and has helped me immensely on the trip so far. Jahid decided to take the journey and meet me in Dhaka.
Heading to the hotel that Liz and I stayed at last time in Bangladesh, I passed thousands and thousands of people walking on the road to the airport coming from Bishwa Itjemi. In my entire life, I had never seen so many people in one area walking, on busses, and in cars. I managed to snap a photo of a bus packed with people and then another 30 riding on the top. It took three to four times as long to get to our hotel as the gathering was creating a huge traffic jam. I finally arrived a the hotel safe after 34 hours of travel from the US.
Day 2 - Trouble in Bangladesh & Bangladeshi Television
Jahid arrived early in the morning with only minor incidents on the road and the next day we scrambled to find transportation to Sylhet. After trying 15 bus companies we journeyed to the rail station to try our luck with a train.
At the railroad station, we met a German couple that had been waiting for their train for the past five hours. While we were chatting with the German couple a crowd of 40-50 Bangladesh people surrounded us. A little while later the crowd parted to form a horseshoe and a camera crew set up and started filming us. The crowd grew bigger. We learned later that the Bangladesh TV had come to the railroad station to film the hundreds that were stranded or delayed due to the hartals, strikes and road blockades in the country.
We decided the only thing left to us was airline travel so I booked a flight to Cox's Bazaar the following day. We ended the day with a trip to the local fair and purchasing some beer from a very rare and illegal Bangladesh bar.
Day 3 - Rockstar at Cox Bazaar Beach & Government Wedding Invitation
On the plane, I met some local Bangladesh individuals that were coming to take part in a wedding. They let me know that there was a large pre-wedding party for the Bangladeshi Prime ministers nephew at a local hotel later that evening. On the plane with a security detail, was a Bangladeshi Parliament Minister. After exiting the plane he spotted me and introduced himself welcoming me to Bangladesh.
Jahid and I found a hotel and went out to the beach. Cox bazaar is one of the most famous Bangladesh places to visit as it is the largest natural beach in the world stretching over 120 km. Walking on the beach was beautiful. We started in an isolated part of the beach but quickly found ourselves crowded with attention. After taking 80 pictures with Bangladeshi Tourists we ran to another isolated area. On the way, we spotted the first foreigner, I had seen on the trip thus far. After introducing ourselves we found out that, EJ is from Holland and was also avoiding Bangladeshi tourists.
After dinner, we headed to the nearby area where the pre-wedding was being held. There, we were invited in to the pre-wedding party and were treated as honored guests. The wedding party even pulled EJ and I in for a picture with just them with their professional photographer and camera person. The wedding was tons of fun and will best be shown in pictures (uploaded at a later date). After a dance performance, a great dinner and a chat about politics with the parliament members daughter, we started dancing. Being pulled on the dance floor over the course of the night, I learned many Bengali dances. I was told again by 3 Bangleshi's that I was the best dancer. (totally not true). Around 2AM the wedding dances ended and after 50 photos taken with individuals at the dance. I am continually reminded and amazed at the hospitality and friendliness of all Bangladeshi people.
Photos coming soon. Sadly, I cannot upload from the computer I am on in the hotel managers office.
Day 4 - Derrick becomes a Tom-Tom driver and adventures in Cox Bazaar
