Traveling in Bangladesh

Have an alternate plan

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 05:05:00 -0700

On this score, you should have your own plan for an alternate activity or route in case the scheduled itinerary starts to collapse, folks get combative or you realize you want to move at a different pace than the group. In the end the quality of your trip is in your hands alone, and you need to accept that responsibility.

Break ranks as necessary

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 05:04:00 -0700

Break ranks as necessary

There is no rule that says a group that starts the day together must finish the day together. On several of our outings, we started out with other folks, saw a couple of things in which we all had interest, and then split up. In one case, we didn't see the other people for a few days after that. No big deal; we had a great morning together, and a great afternoon apart.

Don't be over-ambitious

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 05:03:00 -0700

Don't be over-ambitious
The single most common error in traveling with a group is to set too strenuous a schedule; even small groups are not as nimble as you and a bud can be, and you would do well to realize this up front. Setting yourselves up for, and then trying to execute, a forced march through countless sites with a large group is represented as a ring of Dante's Purgatorio, if I recall correctly

Speak up, but listen well

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 05:02:00 -0700

Speak up, but listen well

As during the planning phase, once you are underway make sure everyone has a voice in what happens during your ambles, and be respectful of their traveling styles.

You will need to speak up if you want any say in the proceedings. In particular, if you have something that folks need to know — you are calling home at exactly 2 p.m., or you are short on cash — you need to share it. Conversely, pay attention when someone has a special request or requirement for meals, breaks or similar needs. For example, you will want to know if someone in the group is a vegetarian before you insist on eating at Maison du Boeuf or La Casa de Vaca.

Not everyone necessarily needs to have an equal voice. If one person likes to be out front at all times, and another person likes to ride the caboose and simply follow along for the ride, it is often best simply to let them do so. Let the conductor steer the train, and the caboose rider catch the sights as they go by. Both will likely be happy in their chosen roles.

Let folks play to their strengths

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 05:01:00 -0700

Let folks play to their strengths

As you get underway, it will become clear who has the best sense of direction, who can read maps fast and well, who is happiest asking questions and directions of strangers, who can speak a foreign language best, who excels at handling money, etc. Let those people do those jobs with which they are most happy and at which they are most competent. This way the workload gets spread around, everyone feels useful and valued, and things actually get done.

If someone falls into one of these roles, encourage and thank them for it; it can be difficult and thankless work figuring out train schedules or restaurant bill portions for an unappreciative mob.

Of course, in a large group there is always the risk that a "control freak" wants to do everything and make every decision, but I have also found that the large numbers can tend to lessen the ultimate impact of these folks.

Have your own must-do or must-see

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 05:00:00 -0700

Have your own must-do or must-see

You don't want to drop a few thousand dollars on travel, lodging, admission and bruising exchange rates only to get on a plane home having failed to do the one thing you really wanted to do. Although I do sometimes recommend it (Return trips: Why the second time's a charm), few people take repeat vacations to the same major cities — so if you have a bucket list item that needs crossing off, don't fail to make it happen.

On this trip, I was traveling with my family, and our 4-year-old wanted to see the clock that Peter Pan lands on (Big Ben, obviously), as well as the playground with the ships and teepees — but he also wanted to see the statue of Peter Pan. We scheduled the statue last, as it seemed the least compelling of the lot, and when a typical flash London rainstorm rolled in toward the end of the day, we never made it.

He didn't seem to mind, but when he got back to pre-school a few days later, the first question the kids asked was "Did you see Peter Pan?" Despite having seen the clock and the ship, he couldn't quite answer yes, and it was a (very) small disappointment, I could tell

Share your knowledge

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 04:59:00 -0700

Share your knowledge

Almost everyone in the large group had done a bit of research, much of it reflecting their own expertise and interests, so that when they all started throwing out ideas and suggestions, in the aggregate it was like having the ultimate guidebook writer sitting in the room with you outlining your perfect itinerary

Talk it out

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 04:59:00 -0700

Talk it out

The exercise of having everyone more or less in the same room, where preferences and approaches could be aired out, really seemed to help this group. After 45 minutes of discussion, it was very clear who wanted to do what, what time folks wanted to get started, whose tastes more or less synched up, and which folks really wanted no part of the whole thing. Getting these right is really the heart of traveling together.

Making sure everyone had a voice — or at least enough air to get some words in — was an important part of the exercise; despite their different styles and energy levels, everyone made some kind of positive contribution to the discussion. Even Eeyore was helpful, forcing everyone to be a bit more realistic (and it turned out rightfully so) about things like transit times and crowds.

survive group travel

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 04:57:00 -0700

survive group travel

On a recent combined business/leisure trip to London, I ended up in a large living room with a group of more than 20 young women who were trying to plan their day in London. Different travel styles emerged almost immediately: Captain Planner was making written checklists ranked by priority, with Definitely's, Maybe's, If Possible's and Maybe Next Week's. The Tourist was listing off obvious landmarks and looking up prices for bus tours. Eeyore the Traveler was bemoaning every idea as boring, too far away or likely to have long lines, and wondering aloud if they should just stay home and read. The Laissez-Faire Traveler was sitting on the couch flipping through a magazine, saying every so often, "You guys are crazy; just pick one thing and then figure it out after you get there." The Shopper had but one idea: go into town, get a drink and go shopping.

These were just the stylistic differences; the choices of preferred sights offered proof that there's no accounting for taste. At one end of the spectrum was a murderous schedule of high-culture museum visits; at the other end of the spectrum was a schedule of visits to the sites of famous murders. In between, just about every London landmark ever to grace a guidebook was mentioned at least once.

There is no reconciling someone who wants to go to the Tate with someone who wants to take their kid to the Peter Pan statue and playground. It will never happen. Sure, some kids would put up with Miro mobiles at the Tate Modern, but not the Tate proper.

Similarly, there are people who want always to be with large groups of people, and others who would rather travel in smaller groups, which they may find more manageable for reasons logistical, emotional or financial. If you find yourself trying to reconcile a dozen or more diverging interests, here are my tips for keeping the peace and the pace when traveling with a large group of friends, family, colleagues or acquaintances (or even frenemies, as the case may be).

group discounts

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 04:31:00 -0700

Traveling in Bangladesh: group discounts

If your final group is large enough, it may qualify you for considerable discounts at many attractions. These discounts are often best arranged or even purchased in advance, but if this isn't an option, it is simple enough to ask.

Traveling in Bangladesh: trip planning service

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 04:11:00 -0700

Traveling in Bangladesh: trip planning service

For big trips, you might consider a travel planning service that walks you through many of the steps above; check out Triporama.com, TripIt.com, TripHub.com, Groupon.com, LivingSocial.com and PayDivvy.com (for divvying up expenses). There are apps for some of these as well.

In the end, while the original intention was to travel as a roving horde, the large group sitting around the living room ultimately split off into a handful of smaller groups — pretty much the same individuals who were most comfortable at dinner together, or when walking around, or when picking roommates. That is, everyone went for their comfort zone, which has its own rewards. But the living room exercise was hardly for naught; on multiple occasions over the next few days, the groups stumbled across one another unexpectedly in pursuit of common interests, and the recombined groups showed a powerfully increased energy level. Everyone got to do what they wanted, sometimes on their own, sometimes together — and always the better for it.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:32:00 -0700

Traveling: to Bangladesh is quite affordable through Air India, especially when using an online service that offers cheap flights. In addition traveling through Bangladesh is cheap as well. Tipping is encouraged in most restaurants frequented by foreigners, expect around 5%. It's how much of the staff make their wage, so please be thoughtful in this regard as some tourists can be a little stingy, being used to their own countries. "Baksheesh" is Bangle for tipping. When purchasing a souvenir, you'll find the people skilled in the art of bargaining. This is also custom, remember have fun with it even though you might feel a little frustrated. Just start at around half of what the asking price is and go from there. Walk away if you feel the price is too high, there are many other sellers nearby. Just be aware of the restrictions of your own country and conscience when making a purchase. There are some industries that you you shouldn't encourage in any country.

Tourism alive and Well in Bangladesh:

Since the year 2000 tourists arriving in Bangladesh have been swelling in numbers. Also travelling further within the country and visiting places like Cox' Bazaar, Teknaf, the Sundarbans, Kolkata, Paharpur and Tetulia. Not only is it international visitors but locals are also taking their holidays and coming to Dhaka, Khulna and Chittagong. All these travelers require appropriate accommodation and the demand in hotel beds and restaurants are now being met for every taste and every budget. Many of the visitors are expariate Bangladeshi coming to Bangladesh not only to visit their families, but for a holiday and to experience the vibrant and culturally rich country of their forbearers. Catering for all these people have seen an increase in the demand for new hotels and restaurants in Dhaka and other tourist locations.

Climate Of Bangladesh

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:15:00 -0700

Bangladesh has a sub tropical monsoon climate. There are six seasons in a year; Winter (Dec-Jan), spring (Feb-Mar), Summer (Apr-May), Monsoon (June-July), Autumn (Aug-Sep) and Late Autumn (Oct-Nov). The average temperature across the country usually ranges between 9 C - 29 C in winter months and between 21 C - 34 C during summer months. Annual rainfall varies from 160 cm to 200 cm in the west, 200 cm to 400 cm in the south-east and 250 cm to 400 cm in the north-east. Cyclones above category three/four are uncommon (especially in the deep winter January through March)-- but while rare, can still bring widespread disruption as expected to infrastructure and power outages, especially in the coastal areas. The weather pattern is akin to the Gulf Coast in the United States (Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana).
The current weather can be seen by hitting the 'play' button on the following interactive map, Current Bangladesh Satellite Weather Radar

Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:11:00 -0700

Pohela Boishakh - The most widely celebrated secular national festival of the country. Here people from all walks of life participate in various cultural shows called Boishakhi Mela,wearing national dress (kurta or Shari), eating sweets and wishing every one happy new year.

Ekushey - National Mother Language Day - February 21. This day marks the anniversary of the martyrs that died in 1952 while protesting the imposition of Urdu, in the name of Islam, as the mother-tongue. The uprisings to support Bungle as the mother language fueled the movement towards secular nationalism that culminated in independence in 1971. The holiday is marked by (one of the most colorful events in Asia) tributes to the martyrs by political leaders, intellectuals, poets, writers, artisans and singing beginning at one minute after midnight on the 21st. Government offices are closed, and expect traffic disruption from February 20.

Independence day - March 26th- On this day 'Father of the Nation' Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proclaimed country's independence.

Victory day - December 16th- On this day Pakistani occupied forces surrendered to joint Bangladeshi & Indian forces.

Eid-ul-Fitr - the largest Muslim holiday of the year, it celebrates the end of the holy month of Ramazan. Food is the highlight, and if you're lucky you'll be invited into a private home for a feast. Businesses close for at least a couple days if not a week.

Eid-ul-Azha - is the second largest Muslim festival.

Durga Puja - Four days around October. The largest Hindu festival in the country, it goes on for several days with festivities varying each day.
Christmas - December 25th, This is the largest Festival of Christian Community in the country which is declared as a government holiday. A prayer is held at Tejgaon Church at 11 PM (Local Time) in 24th December. Also some other churches in Dhaka also arrange prayer at 24th December.

Cities Of Bangladesh

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:40:00 -0700

Most of these cities are also the capital of the '''division''' of the same name:

*Dhaka- The hectic capital city, an intense and thriving metropolis of some 12 million people that's growing by the day

*Chittagong- a bustling commercial center and the largest international seaport in the country

*Cox's Bazar- The country's premier beach resort, filled to the brim with boisterous Bangladeshi holiday makers.

*Khulna- located on the Rupsha River, famous for shrimp and a starting point for journeys into the Sundarbans

*Rajshahi- The silk city

*Barisal- Southern city famous for Paddy growing and many rivers, best reached by a slow-paced and relaxing boat ride on the Rocket Steamer

*Sylhet- the largest city in the northeast, known for the shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Shahjalal, one of the holiest sites in the country

*Jessore- a nondescript small town, and a likely transit point to or from [[Kolkata]], famous for ''Gur'', a form of cake-like molasses produced from the extract of the date tree

Traveling By plane

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:40:00 -0700

Air travel in Bangladesh is very affordable and convenient.
There are airports in all of the division capitals and in Jessore, Cox's Bazar and some other small cities. Most of the domestic airports are served by either Biman Air , the national airline, or GMG Airlines , their private competitor.
Biman had the interesting distinction of flying the half-hour Dhaka-Chittagong (DAC-CGP) leg (~250 miles) on DC-10's and Airbus A-310's - both large wide-body jets.
United Airways , Regent Airways and Royal Bengal Airlines are three private operators offering excellent domestic and international flights. Regent is a new operator in 2010 and has new aircraft. Most of the private operators use the Bombardier DASH-8.

Traveling By bus

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:34:00 -0700

Local Bangladeshi buses are generally crowded, often to the extent of people riding on the bus steps (entrance) and sometimes even the roof. The state run Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) buses usually fall into this category. Avoid all of the low cost buses - they are easy to spot by their poor condition. There are daily fatal accidents involving them. If you do use them, it is worth noting that they do not usually stop, but rather slow down slightly to let passengers on or off. Additionally, fare collectors, disconcertingly, do not wear uniform making them difficult to identify. If you do not speak the language you may have to simply jump on the bus (literally) and give money to the first person who asks you.
However, there are luxurious air conditioned bus services connecting major cities and popular tourist destinations. Green Line , Shyamoli , SilkLine and Shohagh usually have a couple different offices dotted around the cities they serve. Greenline has a few Scania buses running between Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar that offer a level of comfort you've probably never seen in a bus before - they cost about 1/3 more than their Volvo buses, but are comparable to business class on an airplane, at least.

Traveling By train

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:28:00 -0700

Bangladesh Railways is the state and only train operator. The ticket prices are reasonable and usually similar to bus ticket prices and sometimes even cheaper. However, due to the roundabout routes and tricky river crossings, the journey durations are usually much longer. Tickets can be booked over the phone, though unless you speak Bengali you're likely to get better results at one of the computerized station booking offices.
Trains are generally comfortable, with more leg room than buses. Though the carriages are generally not very clean, the AC and 1st class seats are manageable. Sulob class is the highest 2nd class ticket, with reserved seating and not much different from 1st class (except in price).
Kamlapur Rail Station in Dhaka is large and modern. It serves all major cities but due to the existence of broad gauge and meter gauge tracks around the country it may be required to change trains en route

Traveling By boat

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:20:00 -0700

There are over 230 mighty and small rivers throughout the country, and boats and ferries are an integral part of travel for locals and tourists alike. A journey along the river in any mode is probably the best way to see Bangladesh. There are a number of private tour operators offering river sightseeing trips of various lengths, or using the ferries to get between cities is a great way to see the country at a moderate pace. The Rocket Steamer service connects Dhaka and Khulna via Barisal, and is a fantastic way to enjoy riverine Bangladesh, for those who prefer the scenic route. The 4 ferries are operated by BIWTC and run several times per week in each direction. It's advisable to book several days in advance if possible. While there are several different classes it's unlikely that you will end up in anything but 1st or 2nd class. Both of these consist of around 10 small berths on the upper deck of the boat with 2 beds each and a sink (no doubt doubling as a urinal), and fairly clean shared bathrooms. There's a central dining/sitting room in each class with a chef cooking Bengali meals and the odd fish-and-chips or an omelette for around Tk 50-150. Cheaper food can be bought at the vendors in the lower classes on the bottom level. First class is at the front of the boat, with the bow made into a nice sitting area. If you're traveling single you must book 2 beds if you want a berth guaranteed to yourself in either class, though unless the boat is completely full it's unlikely they'll put someone in a foreigner's room even if you just pay for one. The full journey takes anywhere from 26-30 hours and costs Tk 1010/610 in first/second class. It's best avoided during the rainy seasons and during holidays when the launches get over crowded with home-returning city dwellers. The more eco-friendly may prefer to take their trash off with them: otherwise, it's likely to end up in the river at the end of the journey. BIWTC also operates many other more basic ferries that may be useful for smaller distances.

Talk

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:13:00 -0700

The national language is Bengali (Bangle) and is spoken everywhere. It's an Indo-Aryan language derived from Prakit, Pali and Sanskrit and written in its own script. Many Bangladeshis understand only limited English such as basic affirmatives, negatives, and some numbers. This is especially so in rural areas and among the lower socio-economic classes. Learning a few Bengali words ahead of your trip will prove very useful.
Two centuries of British colonization lead people to identify most foreigners as either British or Americans, and to view them with curiosity. The first question you will probably be asked is "What is your country?" ("Desh kothay?" in Bangla). If hawkers or rickshaw-wallahs are over-zealous in selling you their products or services, simply say "Amar dorkar nai" ("I don't need [this item]") or "Lagbey nah" ("No need") as a colloquial way of saying "No, thanks."
If you don't wish to give money to beggars and other unfortunates, simply tell them "Maaf koro" (with informal you) or "Maaf koren" (with polite/formal you), which means "Pardon me"; or you can apply a tricky concept by saying "Amar bangthi poisha nai", meaning "I have no change." Above all, if you're refusing a service or product, don't linger. Walk on as you say these phrases. Otherwise, your lingering may be misinterpreted by peddlers as your uncertainty about refusal.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:13:00 -0700

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:12:00 -0700

Bangladesh as a vacation land has many facets. Her tourist attractions include archaeological sites, historic mosques and monuments, resorts, beaches, picnic spots, forest and wildlife. Bangladesh offers opportunities for angling, water-skiing, river cruising, hiking, rowing, surfing, yachting and sea bathing as well as bringing one in close touch with Mother Nature. She is also rich in wildlife and game birds.

*Sundarbans — UNESCO world heritage site, largest Mangrove forest of the earth

*Cox's Bazar — world’s longest uninterrupted natural sandy sea beach

*St. Martins Island — Bangladesh’s only coral island

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keokradong Keokradong peak] - The highest peak of the country

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nafa-khum Nafa-khum Waterfall] - The largest waterfall of Bangladesh also a place to enjoy rafting on local boats

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawachara_National_Park Lawachara National Park]- IUCN category V protected landscape, a tropical forest of Bangladesh

If you arrive at a historic monument after it has already closed for the day, it may be possible to "pay" a security guard an "after hours tour fee" to be quickly taken around a site.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:09:00 -0700

*Sundarbans — UNESCO world heritage site, largest Mangrove forest of the earth

*Cox's Bazar — world’s longest uninterrupted natural sandy sea beach

*St. Martins Island — Bangladesh’s only coral island

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keokradong Keokradong peak] - The highest peak of the country

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nafa-khum Nafa-khum Waterfall] - The largest waterfall of Bangladesh also a place to enjoy rafting on local boats

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawachara_National_Park Lawachara National Park]- IUCN category V protected landscape, a tropical forest of Bangladesh

If you arrive at a historic monument after it has already closed for the day, it may be possible to "pay" a security guard an "after hours tour fee" to be quickly taken around a site.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:09:00 -0700

What will it cost?

* 2 liter bottled water: Tk 23

* Chai: Tk 4

* Newspaper: Tk 10

* Candy bar: Tk 15

* Coke/Pepsi: Tk 15

* Pair of readymade pants: ~Tk 100

The currency of Bangladesh is the Taka (Tk). As of September 2010, US$1 = Tk 71.30.

Bangladesh is one of the largest ready-made garment manufacturers in the world, exporting clothing for famous brands such as Nike, Adidas and Levis. Though these products are usually not meant for sale in the local markets, they can be found in abundance in famous shopping areas such as Banga Bazaar and Dhaka College.

In most stores, prices are not fixed. Even most stores that display 'fixed-price' label tolerate bargaining. Prices can thus be lowered quite considerably. If [[haggling|bargaining]] is not your strong point ask a local in the vicinity politely what they think you should pay. Besides there are loads of handicraft, boutique shops. There are lots of shopping malls in and around Dhaka and Chittagong. Foreigners will usually be changed a higher cost, however you will not usually be priced gouged, with what you are changed usually being only slightly more than what the locals would pay, with the difference for small items often being only a matter of a few US cents.

Aarong [http://www.brac-aarong.com/] is one of the largest and most popular handicraft and clothing outlets with stores in [[Dhaka]], [[Chittagong]], [[Sylhet]] and [[Khulna]]. It's a great place for souvenirs or to pick up a stylish kurta or salwar kameez at fixed prices.

Women can find a cotton ''shalwar kameez'' for around Tk 400 in a market or Tk 800-1500 in a shop. Silk is more expensive.

'''ATMs''' can be found in most metropolitan areas. Dutch Bangla Bank has the largest ATM network in Bangladesh and finding one isn't hard (there is one at the airports of both Dhaka and Chittagong). These ATMs accept all Mastercard and Visa credit/debit cards. Most international banks in the country such as Standard Chartered and Citibank also rely on the Dutch-Bangla Bank Nexus™ ATM network for their own clients. HSBC [http://www.hsbc.com.bd/] ATMs are located at most hotels but accept only Visa debit/credit cards and HSBC GlobalAccess™ cards (no Mastercard).

Most ATM's are usually quite safe to use as most will be set inside a building with a security guard standing (or more likely sitting) guard at the door.