Old Dhaka

4/26/2013

So one Aussie, Mike, made it out after last night. We went to Old Dhaka as planned. It started off with a ride on the most putrid river. It was an unsettling black color filled with rotting material like watermelons. Still you could see people lifting buckets of it and rinsing themselves off.

Afterwards we wandered the bazaars, played cricket in the streets, had lunch, thirst breaks, and checked out the Pink Palace before the heat got to us. On our way to the palace, Mike's friend called and said there were car bombings in the city center so it was safer where we were. They were probably triggered by the Rana building incident. Later I learned from Chris's roommates that the crowd was quickly diffused with rubber bullets and tear gas. On their way home, the streets were empty except for three green rickshaws, aka CNG. They had never seen it in that state in the several months they've been here. Considering Bangladesh is the most densely populated country, I doubt it rarely ever is. For all of those that inquired about my well-being, thank you. Besides suffering from some nasty mosquito bites, I am safe and well. As for my dear passport, I do fear it is lost forever as there has been no news today and no returned call from the US Embassy.