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I start this blog listening to the soothing sound of the Azaan, the call to prayer, filtering through the open sunny balcony of my mother in law's house, overriding the never ending honking and hustle of the dhaka streets below.
This sound is such a calming factor in such a busy and populated city and you can see how it can be a chance to stop and reflect in this rushing / traffic-crazy city.
Our trip to Dhaka began on the 18th of December after our short stop over in singapore. The walk down to our gate at Changi airport reminded me of the last time I visited Dhaka for my wedding 2 years earlier, and I did my usual count of westerners in the gate lounge - I was one of three - I think that must be pretty standard as it was the same last time!
The flight was a lot more modern than our flight from Sydney to Singapore, a lot more movie options - I finally got to watch Malificent whilst hubby was cracking up with laughter watching Brooklyn 99. One thing I will mention to any Dhaka Travellers and that I learned from my last experience, is go to the bathroom on the plane right before descent, you do not want to attempt public toilets anywhere in Dhaka!! Even the airport!
After getting off the plane we made our way to immigration where we waited a gruelling 45mins to be processed. I spoke in Bangla to appease the officer, and confessed to my husband teaching me and only knowing a small amount of bangla, to which he replied- "Ektu bangla bolo, ektu bhalo basho?' which translates to 'you only know a little bangla so you must only love your husband a little! Luckily I could understand this and responded 'nah oneck bhalo bashi' (no I love my husband a lot!)
He laughed, but maybe didn't like my response as after a few checks we were taken over to the 'immigration investigation desk'! My hubby immediately thought it was due to me - Miss foreigner, however it was actually due to a lack of paperwork in his passport for his departure from Dhaka last time, thankfully they found the info they needed on the computer and after a worrying wait, we we're let through and rushed to the baggage belt to get our luggage - worried with our lengthy delay our luggage may had been stolen or moved :(
Thank goodness it was still there, probably the only ones still on the belt, we collected our luggage and made our way finally out and to my patiently waiting mother in law and driver.
Leaving the airport at around 10:15pm it was just like I remembered it, foggy and crowded! Dhaka gets surprisingly chilly at night, a shawl is recommended in winter! Looking out the window on the way home, lights of all colours lit the way, decorations for the Bangladesh victory day an annual celebration held in last couple of days, the roads were their usual hectic array of rickshaws, cars, people, beggars, and CNG's ( like a tuk tuk?) however there seems to be a mutual understanding between everyone and everyone gets by (apart from the regular traffic jams!)
The driver skilfully manoeuvres through the tightest of spots honking to let the CNG's and rickshaws know he's coming- I wonder if they teach the art of honking in driving school, it seems to be the only way to get by!
19th December 2014 - Friday
The next day was a flurry of meeting relatives in the next house down, jumping on my second ever rickshaw to shop for shoes at the famous Bata Shoes (where I felt like a giant with no shoes in size 9!) Ordering custom made shirts and buying dress shoes for hubby for our first wedding that night!
We had been invited to the wedding of a distant second cousin in the airforce falcon hall. The hall was beautifully decorated with lights draping the ceiling and the bride and groom sitting sparkling on the stage at the front of the hall surrounded by roses and lights.
The food was dutifully served to us by the waiters with kebab, Kachi (goat),rice, vegetable, chicken and Kheer (milk based dessert) and pan for dessert. We had the pictures with the happy couple and departed an hour later- I think it actually took me longer to get ready in my sari and heavy makeup than we were there! So different to Aussie weddings! But then Aussie wedding are only 1 day, whereas Bangladeshi weddings go for 4+ days and this was just one function!
20th December - Saturday
Very lazy morning at home then walking over to the local shopping centre - orchard point to get a BD SIM card and some movies, this was were I got my first Bangladeshi purchase - a red Coach clutch! Very very happy!
We then made our way to visit the brand new Gloria Jeans in Dhanmondi where I had a mango chiller and a toffee nut latte and caught up with my husbands friends - I found it funny the price of a GJ coffee in BD is the same as in Australia, making it very expensive for BD as you can buy 3 weeks of vegetables for $7 AUD here!!
I think I then became overcome with jetlag as I slept from 11pm - 1pm!!
21st December 2014 - Sunday
After my crazy long sleep we went to look for a chandelier then after no luck went to pick up my mother in law at her school where I got personally taken around for a tour by the vice principal. After lunch we headed out to the 8 floor huge shopping mall - Boshundara city - for some bargaining! DVDs / table mats/ and jewellery later, it was back in the car and the traffic and home for an early night!
22nd December 2014
Today it was off to old Dhaka to shop for the chandeliers - on the way we past Dhaka University, a number of monuments to the war in 1971 and the international mother language day monument. I find it very convenient that all the same type of shops are all placed together - i.e. If you want shoes there is a part of a street in Dhaka dedicated to shoes, same for furniture, lights, bathrooms, plasticware etc...Everything! Only issue is you need to know or know someone who knows where this part of a street is!
After entering about 15 or more shops we finally decide on a light style and attempt bargaining, ( only getting a better price cos I asked in Bangla!) then home for a lunch with my mother in law's family.
Now when I say family, I mean the whole family! This includes my mother in law's sister, brother, brothers wife, their three kids and one wife to the oldest son plus my mother in laws brother wife's sister and her niece and nephew! Now I understand why every family member has a specific title ( I.e your Uncle on mothers side is 'Mama' and his wife is 'Mami' ) it's because there are so many family members and if you just said 'uncle' there would be way too many people answering you!
Another early night as we have a wedding to go to tomorrow morning!!
23rd December 2014 - Tuesday
Wedding time this morning! This time to the private function called the 'Akht' for my husbands good friend, this function is the equivalent to a wedding ceremony where the couple are officially married! This was a daytime event where the bride and groom are located in separate rooms and the kazi (marriage celebrant) leads the couple through the marriage. Due to the number of people (even though a family event still 40+ people ) I was located in the 'female' room next to the event. I have never been to this type of function before and was surprised when a high pitched wail was let out next door, and an extremely emotional mother of the bride rushed past the open door! A number or the guests went to view the bride so I joined them and was met with a number of teary females.. I then figured out this was when the family of the bride handed over their daughter, and so were understandably upset! After more biriyani and Jorda (wedding sweets) we departed to catch up with some friends at the bittersweet cafe in Gulshan.
A chocolate peanut butter milkshake later.. We made our way over to visit my husbands friends family in Baridhara DOHS, his friends dad being the past ambassador to Australia who we knew quite well.
Having an invitation to dinner is called a 'Dawat' and this time the food was a variety of two types of fish, beef, chicken, vegetables and deer.. Yes I ate bambi.. But like any dawat, you cannot refuse food!!!
So I finish this part of my trip blog still hearing honking at 12:32am... However I'm ready for the second part of my journey to the world famous Cox Bazar tomorrow!
- comments
Sabrina beautiful Amanda ... love the part ektu bangla bolo... shami kay ektu bhalobasho
Polomi enjoyed reading it and knowing that you're having a good time here :)