And so I arrived to capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka. After around 20 hours spent on planes and at the airports - starting in Tehran International to Sharjah - 9 hours wait and continuing to Dhaka, which I reached at 8 am, having to pass the officials - applying for a short tourist or long transit visa (valid for 15 days), costing me only 11USD. BTW Slovakia is not in the list of countries according to which they assign the fee.. Fortunately it did not take more than an hour and so I was free to explore another country on my journeys. First I took a taxi to my new friend Jonatan's place, who warmly welcomed me with fried egg, cup of coffee and a joint - I could have not imagined it better. We managed to talk about few interesting as well as important topics before I realised my brain was misfunctionning more often than usual and that I should get a rest a bit.
I got up in the late afternoon meeting two other strangers, Mato and Carin from Apennine, who have taken me out for closer observations of Bangla life and markets. We took a rickshaw to the bajar(market) where we bought the ingredients for a dinner very traditional in Apennine, also a reason why these people come so strong, Pasta. Rickshaws here are very colorful(will try upload some pictures soon) and Riksha-ala are many times very skinny but strong men. Dhaka is sometimes called the Rickshaw capital but as I see it is not an easy job at all. They have to face all the rest of the traffic and are targeted as the weakest/slowliest compared to motor vehicles. It is also one of the lowest paid jobs, a ride to market for 3 of us, which is maybe 2 kilometers, cost only 30 Taka - 10 Taka each. On our way back home I had a chance to become the riksha-ala myself - I think it would make a good start for me in Bangladesh, if I wanted to live here. I enjoyed driving this vehicle a lot and I am glad that the actual riksha-ala could rest a bit. It is a hard-work and even struggle sometimes...
Discovering Dhaka with my new friends was very enriching having a great opportunity gaining first few information about the local culture and habits, nevertheless the local mosquitos which are sucking me a lot. Widely used gestures are very unique and I enjoy them a lot - for example gesture for thank you is a (usually right)hand palm next to face, head tilt away from raised hand - back and sideways, maybe closing eyes for a second to give it even greater meanings. :)
Traffic here is creazier than in Iran, wohoooo! CNG (it is a tricycle with an engine power by gas(LPG=CNG, that's why nickname CNG)) drivers are complete nuts, they drive missing other vehicles by milimeters, if they manage to miss. Cars here have installed big bumpers to protect the body.
My digestive system is getting used to local foods, I hope it would not take more than few days. There much more to write, but not so much time I am willing to dedicate to it today...
Bangla instead of Pakistan...Wow different think.I remember this to seeing this post that's a glorious idea to improve some problem.
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