One of the highlights of a trip to Bangladesh is the cruise boat which runs from Dhakka to Khulna in an 30 hours journey, passing small busy ports of call on the way. The boat with the side engines is large, and the first class is splendid. All vintage of course.Small charming cabins, a dining area where all the passanger in the 1st class dine together at one long table, and very friendly staff. The roofed patio with armchairs is wanderful to overlook the vistas and the extremely reach wild life. Lower decks housing the 2nd and the deck class are crammed with local people, for them this is not a cruise but a transport way to their destinations. Ports are overwhelmingly crowded and watching this from the deck is fascinating. I got off before the final destination in Mongla which is the gate to The Sundarbans - ”the beautiful forest.” It is a virgin forest which until recently owed nothing to human endeavour and yet nature has laid it out with as much care as a planned pleasure ground. For miles and miles, the lofty treetops form an unbroken canopy, while nearer the ground are works of high and ebb-tide marked on the soil and tree trunks and many varieties of the natural mangrove forest.The Sundarbans is a cluster of islands with an approximate area of 3600 sq. km. forming the largest block of littoral forests. It’s beauty lies in its unique natural surrounding. Thousands of meandering streams, creeks, rivers and estuaries have enhanced its charm. Sundarbans meaning beautiful forest is the natural habitat of the world famous Royal Bengal Tiger, spotted deer, crocodiles, jungle fowl, wild boar, lizards, rhesus monkey and an innumerable variety of beautiful birds. Migratory flock of siberian ducks flying over thousands of sail boats loaded with timber, gopatta (round-leaf), fuel wood, honey, shell and fish further add to the serene natural beauty of the Sundarbans. Many notorious companies organize safe and good trips, but being alone I had to organize it by miself with the fishermen in Mongla. It’s adventurous that you have to hire armed guards along with the trip. They are not as I thought for protection or to shoo away the deadly Begali Tiger, but also for protection against pirates. May reports show that people were held at the point of a gun.
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