The East Trip I.
2. 10. 2007
As a regular monitor trip, three people from our organization has departed on a trip to Bangladesh. The project we run in this country is supporting the education of Bengal children. Since there are number of students sponzored in quite few schools, the first trip in the country was going eastwards.
Arriving on Sunday early morning to Dhaka, we had one day to relax a bit and do the few of compulsory visits and yet the very next early morning we headed again towards the airport. We took the domestic flight, with domestic plane to domestic destination of Chittagong. The second largest city of Banlgadesh.
The van that was awaiting us at the airport set for a three hour trip to the Hill Tracts. Expect for the completely new scenery of the country, the constant buzz and movement anywhere you look, the first really exciting moment (although I was extremely excited to land as well) was when we were crossing the river on a ferry with all those riksha men, trucks, locals and little students. The trip continued till we have reached our first school. It is a boarding school up on a hill, thus unaffected by flood. We have been greeted really warmly, got flowers, songs and dances were performed as well as we have a chance to watch the kids during classes.
The first visit pretty much set our minds on track of what has to be done and changed.
After local meal WHICH (to my utter dismay) has never really changed since and we are being constantly served exactly the same food at every new place, has been that time new and very tasty. Yet then I could not wait to try some other local specialities. Ilish... Ilish... Ilish... at each place, with excitement in the hosts eyes we are always told ... Ilish ... you know... Ilish is the national fish here.
In the afternoon we set on a long trip towards south. Using a shortcut we were to pass through some resctricted areas in the region of Bandarban which required a police authorization. Not sure why but at some point we were stopped and had to wait for confirmation from HQ, which meant half hour delay since the communication thanks to the hilly area did not work.
Anyways, continuing down south we have reached Cox´s Bazar. It was before 7pm when we arrived at one village school. The children were waiting there for us the whole day (whatever one might think). Btw, Bengal children are tiny. Some start school around the age of four...
The procedure at each schools usually looks the same... the difference is created by the teacher, the building (if there is any), the supply or no supply of electricity, the school equipment if any... etc...
The night was amazing though, as on our way away from the school we have stopped at the Bay of Bengal. Cox´s Bazar lies on a beach which is supposedly the longest beach in the world. Taking shoes off and feeling the sea was amazing... especially since this October is very hot in Bangladesh.
After a dinner we headed back to Chittagong. Arrived by midnight and seeing the hotel room was one of the most beautiful views ever. Although it was shabby and probably with lots of little animals hiding around...
Btw, no tigers, no sharks, nor other animals were around at the beach (the response to my sms).
As a regular monitor trip, three people from our organization has departed on a trip to Bangladesh. The project we run in this country is supporting the education of Bengal children. Since there are number of students sponzored in quite few schools, the first trip in the country was going eastwards.
Arriving on Sunday early morning to Dhaka, we had one day to relax a bit and do the few of compulsory visits and yet the very next early morning we headed again towards the airport. We took the domestic flight, with domestic plane to domestic destination of Chittagong. The second largest city of Banlgadesh.
The van that was awaiting us at the airport set for a three hour trip to the Hill Tracts. Expect for the completely new scenery of the country, the constant buzz and movement anywhere you look, the first really exciting moment (although I was extremely excited to land as well) was when we were crossing the river on a ferry with all those riksha men, trucks, locals and little students. The trip continued till we have reached our first school. It is a boarding school up on a hill, thus unaffected by flood. We have been greeted really warmly, got flowers, songs and dances were performed as well as we have a chance to watch the kids during classes.
The first visit pretty much set our minds on track of what has to be done and changed.
After local meal WHICH (to my utter dismay) has never really changed since and we are being constantly served exactly the same food at every new place, has been that time new and very tasty. Yet then I could not wait to try some other local specialities. Ilish... Ilish... Ilish... at each place, with excitement in the hosts eyes we are always told ... Ilish ... you know... Ilish is the national fish here.
In the afternoon we set on a long trip towards south. Using a shortcut we were to pass through some resctricted areas in the region of Bandarban which required a police authorization. Not sure why but at some point we were stopped and had to wait for confirmation from HQ, which meant half hour delay since the communication thanks to the hilly area did not work.
Anyways, continuing down south we have reached Cox´s Bazar. It was before 7pm when we arrived at one village school. The children were waiting there for us the whole day (whatever one might think). Btw, Bengal children are tiny. Some start school around the age of four...
The procedure at each schools usually looks the same... the difference is created by the teacher, the building (if there is any), the supply or no supply of electricity, the school equipment if any... etc...
The night was amazing though, as on our way away from the school we have stopped at the Bay of Bengal. Cox´s Bazar lies on a beach which is supposedly the longest beach in the world. Taking shoes off and feeling the sea was amazing... especially since this October is very hot in Bangladesh.
After a dinner we headed back to Chittagong. Arrived by midnight and seeing the hotel room was one of the most beautiful views ever. Although it was shabby and probably with lots of little animals hiding around...
Btw, no tigers, no sharks, nor other animals were around at the beach (the response to my sms).
Labels: Bangladesh, Travelling
posted by Mart'a at 7:39 PM
2 Comments:
=) as a response to your comment on my blog today: I read all your post and since they are soooo long I forgive you that you havent had time to read mine :) Take care
haha, that is fair :o)). Few more days and I should be home again with lots of time to spare... :o)))... so I will have to catch up.
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