Exploring Cittagong city

Biscuits made in Malaysia.. on first day in Dhaka

6th Dec. 2007 we arrived safely in Dhaka after 4 hrs travelling by Malaysian airline system from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Zia International Airport, Dhaka. Travelling for hrs made my legs strain alot, but we had prepared first aid for our needs.

At domestic departure we were served with some biscuits and cakes made in Malaysia before boarding... very interesting! We departed at 4 pm and arrived at Cittagong International Airport 40 mins later. From high above I could see some big ponds or wide swamp area. Later on I was told that some area had been affected by flood before winter season came.

At exit door of the airport we were welcomed by 2 of our hosts. They were from Dowlatpur Village who was working in MidEast country for years. With cheerful face one of them handed over a bouquet of flower one for me and one for hubby.

5 pm was time for maghrib prayer. We were told to take one night stay in Cittagong city because Dowlatpur village is 40+ km away and it took abt 2 hrs to arrive. Our host said he will get 2 taxi because we have 2 big luggage. I was surprise why 2 taxi .? .. 2 big luggage and 4 passengers was enough for one taxi .

Three wheels taxi

Oo masyaAllah ...! There came the taxi with 3 wheels that could take only 3 passengers according to traffic law. In bangladesh it's called cng taxi, tut tut in Thailand and riksha in Pakistan... did not check wat it's called in India .. but this kind of taxi in Bangladesh was imported from India.

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It's cheapest way to travel and faster compared to another cheaper transport called riksha. We saw this 2 kind of transport many on the road . Very rare motorist seen . They were cars and vans, buses and lorries too. The road was so so busy and not systematic

No traffic law..the driver is free ...?

Traffic jam happened sometimes but nobody showed anger to the driver that cause the blocking. Every driver seemed to understood each other, and tolerate to impatient driver. I guess no one here knows know the meaning of breaking the traffic law eventhough it run over the red traffic light . No matter driving agressively eventhough it made me screaming frightened from collide. No accident eventhough the drivers over take at curve road. The driver will make hon to warn if any car coming from opposite side and the car from opposite road will slow down to let this car over take safely. Bangladesh drivers were skillful in driving .. but i did not see any drivers drived more then 80 km/hr or maybe not even 60 km/hr on of 2 lanes road in Cittagong. 12 days in Bangladesh. I didnt see any car collide or accident too. Mercyful God...!

On the first night we were accomodate at Quader home, a student of computer science. His father an engineer welcomed us and served special dish as starter. Itts the culture. They call it noodles which was instant fried mee in malaysia and some Benggoli sweets. This noodles make my stomach full. .

At 10 pm was their dinner time.. They served Benggali cuisine consist of chicken in gravy, dried shrimp fried, boiled eggs, fried fish, 2 dish of vegetables , special dhall soup and rice. Phuh ..! This was so gooooodd ! I was so surprise to see them serve one full plate plenty of rice. I had to ask apology because I could not take that much and transfer half of the rice to other empty plate. It recalled me when I used to eat at Indian restaurant they used to give u full plenty of rice in one pack which i could only ate half of it. I used to complain my husband ate too fast ... but here I saw my host he really beat my husband. He ate faster then my husband... He didnt care eventhough I was laughing at him .

Its winter season in Bagladesh. The temperature at night in Cittagong was abt 18 degree celsius. Due to long journey we slept like a log in this house which has 3 rooms with 2 toilets, dining area, hall and medium size kitchen. Very convinient for small family. It's beautiful and had most of the basic needs for convinient living. Florescent lamp, clean pipe water, gas stove, fridge ... but no eletric heater for winter season or air condition for summer season. Only fan for summer and soft thick blanket made in Korea, sweater local made and hot tea with milk blend on stove to keep warm in winter.

Second day In Bangladesh..

Giving respect to Imam al Hafiz Abu Jaafar

Fajar solat in Cittagong was abt 5.15 am Bangladesh time .. but our eyes that used to fajr prayer in Malaysia had awaken at 4 am that would be 6 am in Malaysia. After solat cant sleep anymore so I took a stroll outside . It was 6.30 pm the sky was so bright.. but resident area still quiet. Only few peoples walking and some riksha waiting to offer services . The fare was less then 1 RM per ride depend on the distance .

In the picture with Hj Amin is an Imam of Masjid Jamie Al falah the national masjid of Cittagong Imam Al Hafiz Abu Jaafar. He is a famous Imam in Cittagong . He wrote many religious articles in national language. Can speak Arabic but not English. Together in the picture is his son a student of madrasah in Cittagong city. In Cittagong city madrasah teachers and students are obliged to stay in hostel and they can return home during week end or public holidays .

Imam Abu Jafar lives in Dowlatpur Village. We was taken by our host to visit him on the second day to give respect ... Hubby and me will stay in his home for few days. He welcomed us and served lunch Pullau rice with chicken and boiled egg. So sweet and so plenty. If I ate all of them I might sure increase in my weight another 5 kg within few days. They ate so much but they really thin. I was wondering what kind of body metabolism they had.

He told us that he could not attend us at his home. But he will meet us on friday because that would be his off day to join his family in the village which was abt 75 - 80 km away from Cittagong city.

Many beggars in City but not any in village

While we were talking suddenly a lady beggar simply enter the Imam's home. she was talking banggali, squating infront of me and touching my feet with her 2 hands. I used to see that in Indian movie but this was first time it really happen to me. I just move my feet backward and look at her curiousity . My host gave her some money but she refused to take and still begging something from me which I could not understand. I ask my host what she said but he not telling me. Later on the Imam son asked her to go out, but she still begging from the window.

These were common in city. Many beggars from small kids women and men too. , but u will not meet any beggar in village. Once there was a woman carrying a handicaped man while begging. I was told that its activity of a syndicate.... these poor people were used to beg to collect money for a syndicate group. wallahualam



After visit Imam Abu Jafar who was our host's father, we started our journey to Dowlatpur village by cng taxi. It was 300 Taka fare abt 15 RM.. since we hired 2 taxi so that would be 30 RM for 4 of us and my 2 big luggage for distance abt 75 - 80 km . It was adventure to ride an open air transport for more than 2 hours in winter .. and sometimes had to pass on groovy road make your body shaking rock and roll.

to be continued....

If any mistake in my grammer or vocabulary kindly inform me plsss .. tq!