Cross-country of Bangla-speaker.

Nevertheless, why Bangladesh? To understand, here my travel report... In the first evening after my arrival I was received warmly by my guest family in “Farazi Manzil” and was welcomed with a delightful dinner. On the subsequent day Eakram showed me the city center of Dhaka, with the many shopping passages, Traffic Jams and people in a quantity I never saw before. But also culturally there was to discover a lot like Star Mosque, Pink Palace, Hindu Street and Lalbagh Fort in Old Dhaka and a boat trip on the Buriganga from Sadarghat is a “must be”. The first both days are gone and we thought to ourselves which other places (of interest) we wanted to go…
23 kilometers away from Dhaka is located Sonargaon. A day trip full of culture and adventures! In many small villages there are several structures from the British colonial age with her overgrown gardens, hidden temples and mosques to see. This tour for me Bangladesh has so reflected as I have always fancied it: rurally, culturally, adventurously, fully from friendly people to me constantly smile with interest. The visit of the National Martyrs’ Monument in Savar which is dedicated to the victims of the struggle for independence of 1971 stood as a contrast point also on my travel list.

After the first days and experiences in the capital our real trip, straight through the country began. As the first up on the agenda: the Sundarbans. I had already got to know a lot about the biggest mangrove-forest of the earth; by the way, translated Sundarbans means “nice wood”. We started from Dhaka by the minibus to Mongla, then from there it went with the riverboat further out in the biggest river delta of the world, direction Bay of Bengal. 4 days with suitable tours directly in the side arms and depths of Sundarbans. When we there came I understood Holger about what raved, a place of silence and rest of the blustering noise of the cities, simply wonderfully in his wild, natural kind.

Firm ground again and our next goal was the city of mosques, Bagerhat. There, not far from Mongla, among other things you’ll find the Shait Gumbad Mosque. This biggest and most traditional mosque of the country (also famously as the 60-pillar Mosque) is also part of the world cultural heritage. In immediate nearness is the Bibi Begni’s Mosque we also visited. After we had seen the most important mosques, there were still several temples only 2 kilometers away, for example the Khan Jahan’s tomb, by the way, it’s the only one in original state. An important pilgrim’s place is the Daragh Mosque, very colorful in comparison to the usual mosques of the country.

Further to Jessore, but it was not our main destination... In Jessore we decided the Banchte Shekha, a project which exclusively by women is managed and exerts itself for health, education and protection of children and women in Bangladesh. Our real destination was a small, very small village nearly Narail, the only one place on earth where you can see coached otters help the local fishermen to float many small fish in the nets. An experience of the quite special kind, that for sure…
On the way to Rajshahi we even had other short stops in Kushtia, the house of the philosopher, painter and author Rabindranath Tagore who has been distinguished in 1913 with the Nobel prize for literature and (for me a small highlight of our tour) the shrine of Lalon Shah. In the late evening a surprise in Rajshahi; a hotel with hot water! This was also urgently necessary (my last bath: in the Sundarbans directly in the Bay of Bengal). On the next morning hit the road to Paharpur, where the biggest Buddhist cloister is to the south of the Himalayas and what impressive day trip from Rajshahi! The next day on the way to Natore & Puthia.
My quite special recommendation in Puthia, asks for Mr. Bishwana, he can tell you everything about the impressive Hindi temples and, besides, is an exceedingly amusing as well as pleasant contemporary who will supply you with all information about every single temple. The fun factor at this trip is more than guaranteed, you will already notice what I mean with it… Then, for our last day we had still selected to us quite a special destination nearby. Mahasthangarh is the oldest known city of Bangladesh. In every year (but in April) the annual pilgrim’s festival of Hindus here will happen. But the highlight here were not for me the gigantic ramparts and historical artifacts, it was the (rather accidental) visit of a Sports day of a village school which in immediate nearness considers. The interest which here is brought is simply not to describe with words. Once again became conscious by me like kind-friendly-curious the people in Bangladesh are.

Don't travel at night! Of course, normally it’s healthier, but what is “normal” in Bangladesh? Because we had a distance of approx. 400 kilometers to go, we opened directly from Mahasthangarh to our next stop, Srimangal. A night ride! The next morning after 15 hours on the street, with no visibility (fog) and exactly not the best driving conditions we stay there (on time for breakfast), finally. By the way, Srimangal is also called Tea-capital. Here you find out definitively everything about tea, in the midst of picturesque scenery of tea gardens, lemon groves and pineapple plantations. Pls. try the 5 or 7 Layer-Tea! Only 8 kilometers of Srimangal you’ll find the Lawachara National Park. Rain forest purely! Who likes flora, fauna and apart living tribal people is in good hands. My stay in Srimangal draw to a close, time for the return to Dhaka but by train. Anyway an experience in addition with interesting people, evens the first tourist since the Sundarbans. After approx. 5 hours by the train we stay in Dhaka again and I was glad to be again “at home”. I spent the last both days exclusively in Dhaka and relaxed from the tour. On my last day I was still invited to a wedding in the neighborhood. It was so different from German weddings, you will notice when you take part in such an event!

To leave isn’t really easy not after such a nice time, more than ever together with so friendly and affectionate people. Already days before my departure a feeling of sadness spread in me and of course it wasn’t easily to say “See you soon!”. Before me my guest family to the airport brought everybody has dismissed me warmly, has wished me all the best and has invited me already on a reencounter… Eakram, only hover over, after it was clearly I was sure and without problems in my airplane sat. And the mobile phone (I got at the beginning of the trip for my security) was a class measure! Never and nowhere, also not in the biggest bedlam and deepest jungle I lost the contact “with my guys” of The Lonesome Traveler.

This miraculous country with all problems and the people I have taken to my heart so much and left Bangladesh on one hand with a crying eye, but also with a laughing one. I am glad about my next trip, about a new chapter Bangladesh, my friends & guest family and a wonderful country with even more wonderful people... Thank you for everything!

Robert (in January 2011)