The photo above was taken by Bhanu at Sundarbans- not related to Bogra but I like it and want to use it. Back to Bogra. From the grubby YMCA (passing Hotel Sod!)I moved to Red Chillies Guest House and enjoyed the nice clean room and delicious food. Two nights and 3 meals came to £18 and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. Taking two bus journeys I made my way the Unesco World Heritage site of Paharpur said once to be the biggest Bhuddist monastery south of th...

I like Rajshihi . The lady in the picture is turning the handle on the circular contraption which then fans the embers on which she is roasting the corn of the cob. Now on bus 3 hour journey to Sona Masjid a 15c mosque complex. A young chap is teaching me to recognise the Bengali numbers. 3 of the easier ones are that 8 is 4, 9 is 7 and 2 is 2. The rest are squiggles but not so difficult once you get into it. I am enjoying the trip watching things going on. An...

After overnighting in The Whitehouse Hotel Dhaka again, I rose at 4.30am to take CNG to the train station. Feeling tired from only 3 hours sleep. At the big breezy station quite a few sleeping bodies around and one or two beggars. Couldn't see where to go as both my ticket and all the platform signs are in Bengali which is impossible for me to decipher. I was helped to find the train and my seat by a young chap called Jinnah. Wasn't too happy about my seat in th...

The Sundarban Tour was what I looked forward to more than anything. This national park is said to be the world's largest mangrove swamp and home to the largest single population of tigers in the world. We knew that it is not easy to see one, but they are there, as averaging every couple of weeks they kill a villager! Ronnie the guide from Guide Tours at the hotel and waited for a Jenny Piche It turned out had stayed elsewhere. She was French Canadian working i...

Barisal to Hularhat on rocket again. This time a slightly posher version and was proudly told it was the one that Michael Palin travelled on. The third class ticket cost less than 50p and I went straight up to the first class deck and rested my head on the table until breakfast of omelette and sweet bread half toasted. A Scottish couple Andy and Alison who been working in America came and joined and we had a good chat as they have been travelling around Asia for...