....... I've been struggling to find tourist-friendly things to say about this country. It's too hot, too humid, too poor, too difficult to travel around, too 'basic' in its amenities, food too same-y - all too, too, tooooooo.
But, at last, I can say it. Come to Sylhet and Srimangal in Bangladesh! You'll love it. The land of the tea gardens, pink lotus lakes, pineapple fields and rainforest. Gibbons, langurs, makaks playing in the trees above our heads, butterflies and birds galore. Indigenous communities hidden in the forests. Enormous trees, brilliant flowers and NO TOURISTS. Our guest house was perfect. Our eco-guide was wonderful. The air was fresh, the food was delicious, fresh pineapple juice to die for. Fireflies dancing in the forest opposite the balcony where we had our dinner.
Just what I needed, to get out of the city and breath some proper green country air. Cox's Bazar didn't do it as it was too hot and humid. But this was a weekend to remember.
So here are some photos and a few words.
Buy Fair Trade tea. These tea pickers are paid the the measly sum of 48 Thaka (less than 3 pence) per day. At 2 Thaka per kg, and having to pick about 24 kg per day, this is slave labour. Okay, their accommodation is free, but it's basic to say the least and the pathetic daily pay means they have no hope at all of lifting their eyes from the tea bushes to think about what choices, if any, they have.
After our walk to the lotus lake we drank wonderful tea from dirty china cups and bought delicious tea flower honey to take back to Dhaka.
In the rainforest. It rained. The intrepid explorers got soaked. Note the trousers tucked into socks - tres chic - to stop the leeches. Yes, millions.
Whatever it is, it's beautiful. And it smelt delightful.
Rather blurred, but this is a flying flower. Move near it and it leaps out of the way. Bizarre.
In our CNG, I'm about to drive off into the sunset, probably to look for a beer. But that would have been to miss out on the next day - a boat trip in the wetlands.
Our taxi arrives....
Our boat took us through miles of lotus fields. So quiet, so beautiful.
And finally - our room with balcony and night-time show of fireflies. Why did no-one tell me how spectacular they are.
But, at last, I can say it. Come to Sylhet and Srimangal in Bangladesh! You'll love it. The land of the tea gardens, pink lotus lakes, pineapple fields and rainforest. Gibbons, langurs, makaks playing in the trees above our heads, butterflies and birds galore. Indigenous communities hidden in the forests. Enormous trees, brilliant flowers and NO TOURISTS. Our guest house was perfect. Our eco-guide was wonderful. The air was fresh, the food was delicious, fresh pineapple juice to die for. Fireflies dancing in the forest opposite the balcony where we had our dinner.
Just what I needed, to get out of the city and breath some proper green country air. Cox's Bazar didn't do it as it was too hot and humid. But this was a weekend to remember.
So here are some photos and a few words.
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| Tea garden |
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After our walk to the lotus lake we drank wonderful tea from dirty china cups and bought delicious tea flower honey to take back to Dhaka.
In the rainforest. It rained. The intrepid explorers got soaked. Note the trousers tucked into socks - tres chic - to stop the leeches. Yes, millions.
Whatever it is, it's beautiful. And it smelt delightful.
Rather blurred, but this is a flying flower. Move near it and it leaps out of the way. Bizarre.
In our CNG, I'm about to drive off into the sunset, probably to look for a beer. But that would have been to miss out on the next day - a boat trip in the wetlands.
Our taxi arrives....
Our boat took us through miles of lotus fields. So quiet, so beautiful.
And finally - our room with balcony and night-time show of fireflies. Why did no-one tell me how spectacular they are.
Fabulous photos. You clearly had a wonderful time, I suspect you deserve it.
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