Traveling
We just returned from traveling to the north of Bangladesh to see some MCC projects. Photos and narrative will come later. This is just some random thoughts/impressions noted as we traveled for 5 days.
Dhaka to Bogra – 120 miles – 5 hours there and 6 hours return
Bogra to Dimla – 110 miles – 5 hours each way
Traffic – much!! Some of the patterns remind us of other countries where we have lived, but there are also unique patterns.
Constant honking – (Haiti) – in towns it usually means “look, I’m here.” On the roads outside of towns, it usually means “look, I’m here and I’m coming through.”
A barrier down the middle of the road does not necessarily mean I need to stay on my side. If I need to get to someplace over there, or if it is too far to the next break in the barrier, I’ll just go down the wrong side. (Uganda)
Lights – (East Africa) – “It’s not completely dark, I can see, therefore, I don’t need to turn on my lights.”
Passing – (Indonesia) – “So what if this is a two-lane road, I want to pass. The vehicle coming towards me will get out of the way using the shoulder.”
Pedestrians – At times there seems to be total disregard. They are very, very seldom given right of way. On the other hand, pedestrians seem to have no fear walking along the road with traffic coming within inches. They may even be standing in the lane talking, and just look at you if you honk and want to pass. Quite unconcerned that you are coming.
Drivers seem to know the space available and the size of their vehicle to within a centimeter!
Don’t worry! We are in our lane of a two-lane road, a car is passing on the left, a bus is passing on the right, and we see a truck coming from the other direction.
95% of vehicles outside of Dhaka are buses, small lorries, CNGs (described in an earlier post), and bike powered carts or rickashaws. Very few cars.
Driver – “If I can weave/serve around the object (hole, vehicle), why slow down?
Colorful painted vehicles – (Haiti)
Scenes along the way – but no time for photo
– Soccer game being played in a wet rice paddy with the spectators watching from the banks.
– Woman with a large flat reed basket on her head filled with ducks – heads drooped around the sides.
– Man on a bike, riding in the rain, holding an umbrella with one hand, with a child (3-4 yrs old) standing on the crossbar, weaving around potholes and traffic.
– Our first elephant! Just walking in the village.
Using an Asian toilet (Sally Jo):
– Locate the correct door – words in Bangla script and often no picture
– Survey the situation
– Wrap orna (scarf) around my neck, even though it is very hot, so that it does not drag
– Hang purse handle over my head so it does not fall
– Throw the back of my chemise over my head so it does not get in the way
– Pull down pants
– Step over the hole, making sure I don’t slip
– Squat
– Relax – Hah!!!!!!!
English accent – Before leaving our room one evening, we discussed the fact that there was plenty of soap in the room, and maybe we could take one with us since we needed a small bar for traveling. We then got in the van to go for supper. Our Bangladeshi colleague asked “Would you like soap?” Huh? He said it again. Oh, he’s asking if we want SOUP for supper!
As we sat in bed one evening, three frogs came hopping around the floor! And we’re going to need to get up in the middle of the night with no light???
We notice that the colors of the material in the north remind us of colors, patterns, and combinations of East Africa. Different than in Dhaka.
Much of travelling here almost seems to provide over-stimulation
- So much to learn
- So much to see
- So many questions to ask
- So much activity
- So many colors