The capital of Bangladesh is a fascinating place where 10 milions people vibrate in a humid, terribly hot and dusty scenario. Dhakka has this kind of raw power, during daytime everything is moving very fast- it’s very original in its own way- it’s like a struggle. Roads are packed, people come from every possible direction, and 2 milion rickshaw driven elbow by elbow with a constant unhumanly effort by sweaty wallahs. Old Dhakka is something every visitor will remember about the place, the bazaar areas the small eateries and the multitude of cromatics. The north, on the other hand is the residential area where all the NGO people live. Is made to fit the standards of expats and diplomats of all sorts. In between you have some good areas and neighborhoods and the central area with the University’s large campus and very green compounds, very good museums, parks, the national anssembly and people…people everywhere!
My experiences, in my time spent in Dhakka where split in 2 parts. My first days I was hosted by Uzzal, which is a very friendly person; He welcomed me in the heart of his family. I was treated like a brother, well fed and accommodated. This was the legendary muslim hospitality at its best. Uzzal’s family is hearty and kind: his wife and 2 lovely kids, 2 brothers and parents. Uzzal is also a world traveler and he wrote books about his travels-thing very rare in Bangladesh. He has also a traveling club and I met his nice friends, spending good time together talking about travels and the world we live in. His projects are also very interesting, and I was glad to encounter him.
Uzzal left on a trip to China after few days and I moved in the north partof the city to stay with an american friend, Micah, who’s teaching here for the last 2 years. Staying with him brought in front of my eyes another kind of Dhakka: I met many of his expats friends, hanging around at the embassy clubs where people play tennis, have lunch over a drink, or go out dancing on the rythms of salsa. I met interesting people like this, all working here for multinational companies or NGO’s ,or UN or garment outlets. And believe me, one wouldn’t imagine how alive a night out in Dhakka can be! And it goes to the wee hours. At the end you get back to your home, roaming around empty streets when all the slums sleep, and next morning you wake up take a walk out of the embassies enclave not believing this is the same city.
0 Responses to “two Dhakkas”