Straight from the docks of the Shodhorghat!

What a cool day! We went out to Old Dhaka….it was simply amazing. Old Dhaka (the nature of the region being obvious, given the name) consists of small streets that are no wider than about 5-6 feet. Lined along these windy streets are shops upon shops selling all kinds of things, from jewelry, clothes, food, fruits, musical instruments, etc. etc. This part of the city was very different than what I have seen thus far. Luckily, we were there on a not-so crowded day. Apparently, on the weekdays the streets are so packed that you can’t walk along the street without brushing shoulders with passers-by. I went with five other people. During the entire time we were there, we saw only one other group of “white” westerners. Suffice it to say, my buddies were more of an attraction to the locals than anything else. As we would snap pictures and walk through the stores, people kept coming up to me (seeing me as the token Bengali escort) and asking “are you filming a documentary?”

This guy was melting gold using a mouth-blown torch and then remolding it however you want it...

Here is a pic of a typical street. Cars cannot pass through these streets, so rickshaws get people around. At times, the streets were so narrow, it was common to find rickshaws that had locked each others’ wheels in an effort to pass each other by…..

There was so much color everywhere...one could look into an alley at a row of shops and the number of vivid colors was pretty amazing. This picture just doesn't do it justice but its a sampling.....(plus I have no clue how to use the "dimly-lit indoors, at times seedy"feature on my camera)

More pics of Old Dhaka.

Here is a guy building a Hindu God. I forgot to ask which one this was They use hay which is molded using mud from the river banks. No template, he makes that up without any pictures as a reference.

This guy was selling fresh sugar cane on the road side. There are several like him all around Old Dhaka.

We saw several musical instrument shops. They make the instruments right here at the shop….anything from guitars, violins, tables, etc. can be found here. We stopped and played around at a couple of these shops…..

We took several pictures between the six of us. The funniest part was, people will let you take their picture, very eagerly. Afterwards, they will stop you and say, “hey can you mail me that picture?” That’s it. They don’t give an address or anything, they just say that and then they wave you goodbye. Thus far I owe about twenty different people pictures.

This guy was just chillin', selling his coconuts, but he was quick to don his shades and strike a pose when I asked to take his picture...

After we were done with Old Dhaka, we decided to hitch a ride on a “Tahla”, essentially a flat board on wheels that is pulled by a man riding a bicycle and go through town to the docks of Shodhorghat. Along the way, it was like we were a circus act riding through town. I know how the monkeys feel as Barnum & Bailey parade them through town….that's Steve and I waiting to take off for the docks. Notice my shirt. No thats not a shadow. That's actually how much I was sweating. Also notice the crowd of onlookers...

At Shodhorghat, again we were the only westerners. So we were swarmed by at least fifteen different boatmen who were vying for us to get on their boat and pay them. That was a little overwhelming! I had to negotiate with one guy and to give you a sense of the negotiating game one has to play and how these guys see dollar signs when they see a westerner, here is how the conversation went:

Boat guy (speaking in slang Bengali, of course): “Sir, where do you want to go?

Nabil: “Just around the river and back, how much?”

Boat guy: “300Taka!”

Nabil: “You’re insane!”

Boat guy: “Fine how much”

Nabil: “10 Taka”

Boat Guy: “No way!”

Nabil: “Fine how much?”

Boat guy: “100 Taka”

Nabil: “My last offer is 50 Taka, take it or leave it”

Boat guy: “Deal!”

NOTE: We went from 300Taka to 50Taka (I gave him 60Taka). Actual cost for a local Bengali to take that same ride: 10Taka…priceless..

Here we are at the docks…sorry did I say docks…I meant mud landing leading to murky water leading to boat….

The river ride was great though!

Very peaceful….

Again, great show, with people yelling (in a friendly manner) “Hello…how is your day?” and “hey, hey take my picture?”

The old man and the sea…..this guy just looked very cool....

As I finish this blog up, its almost Eid. So Eid Mubarak to everyone. Talk soon!