Sunday, 17 July 2011

Cat eats dog eats mouse eats monkey eats you

==I am listening to Ani DiFranco, delightful music, perhaps you shall play it while reading==
When leaving the 'cyber-cafe' where I wrote last post, down in Khulna, I asked some youngsters just outside whether they could recommend a cheap accommodation. As they were not sure, asking 'elder' next door who turned out to be Bob from CS, whom I sent a request earlier - there is at least one million people living in this city. Do we call it what? This gentleman offered a place to stay instead his home at the house of father Mathew, missionary place next orphanage run by these people. Very interesting experience and talks I had with those participating. I could feel good intentions with a little nastiness accompanying it. I mean they run youth camps, orphanage, help the poor, what is the price for it? You shall follow Christianity. OK. For kids from street it is better than nothing but I just can not help myself thinking this is so inappropriate way of helping others. I had chance of talking to people about much more progressive ideas and these ideas are already applied and work. For example there are schools which are more or less run by kids themselves - school owns a land which is cultivated by them - for example they grow fruits which when sold become sufficient source of income - and it may by anything, handycraft etc. So kids are spending bit more time in school studying and helping to run these facilities. It is also a way of learning a practical subject as well as theoretical. This I find a great idea in country like Bangladesh. So 'only donation' based organisation I found old-fashioned and inefficient, if there is not enough funds they simply cannot exist.
Anyway, pastor and head-staff working for this Christian organisation seemed to be well-off. They showed hospitality to me for which I had to pay though it was up to me how much, the 'have to' in pastor's sentence when asking for donation is never necessary - well it rather puts me off and I tend to give less if any.
During my stay in Khulna I visited Sunderbans - the largest mangrove forest in the world - mangrove is kind of trees which grow where fresh meets marine water, it is place where you can find animals such as Bengali Tiger, I fortunately have not met any (yes, there is dozens of people eaten by this cat each year in the area). I have seen some macaques and many crabs and shrimps which are also specific for this area. In the artificial pond there was a crocodile which wanted to eat me but I did not feel like letting him.
Finding a boat to Sunderbans may be challenging if you are not willing to spend a fortune and people around the mole sometimes really get on nerves. I mean this may happen everywhere, people sometimes approach me, 'an obvious(and of course veeeeeeeeeeeeeeery rich) tourist' and try to sell their goods and NO must be repeated several times in better case. One gets used to it quickly in order to enjoy whatever there is to be enjoyed.
From Khulna I took a bus to Kustia, the home of Fakir Lalon Shah the religious man of no religion, philosopher and poet who did not want to be casted or classed. Here I meet many real elders and real gurus of knowledge, spirituality, traditional Bengali music, painting, hand-crafts... Here I have chance to observe and talk the spirituality and means of life. Analising the core of our thoughts analising ourselves, the self-realisation.
Life is very complicated but very simple, balanced. I first need to understand myself before attempting to understand others. One of the top quotes: 'The God is us.' Few days at the hatchery furthered a big step the knowledge of my own self.
If you are looking for a spiritual journeys you should never miss this place.

2 comments:

  1. hey...we are following you!

    at last you went to KUSHTIA!!!

    take care and keep posting....

    MO (DHK)

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  2. Cat eats dog eats mouse eats monkey eats you....Wow so funny,Here I meet many real elders and real gurus of knowledge, spirituality etc.



    Computer Memory

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