Tuesday 21 October 2008

Bangladesh: Heading to Barisal

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album
Day 7: From a steamer to Barisal

This is a day of several parts starting with a very hot 400 bedkit distribution in Dhaka at a wonderful club that some members of Rotary belong to. Lots of happy kids heading off on bicycle rickshaws and pictures to follow in a couple of days and you will see why shortly. Lunch at the same club was a delight, with chili fish, chicken beryani, beef curry, and ice cream. We are well-fed and looked-after by the Rotary Club of Dhaka.

Then it was back to the hotel to pack up to leave most of our stuff at a Rotarian's home, take our overnight bag, head to the Rotary club for a brief meeting, and then to the Old Port of Dhaka to catch a steamer for an overnight boat ride down the
Buriganga river to our next distribution in Barisal.

We had a fascinating walk through the streets and shops of the Old Port as we waited for departure. This is the poorest area of Dhaka and also the busiest.

We stood on the top deck and watched Dhaka disappear and then feasted again, this time on Hilsha, the national fish of Bangladesh, pomphret fish, and eggplant. We will need all the nourishment and stamina we can get as we — due to circumstances beyond our control — do two day's distribution in one tomorrow. Then we will be back on the boat for an overnight to Dhaka.

Thus no pictures but, thanks to wireless and a Blackberry, blogging is still possible.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device.

Arrival in Barisal: view from the foredeck.
From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album
A photo was sent by Doug Jamieson from his iPhone® early Tuesday evening after Doug M's report had been posted:  "After a peaceful night's sleep aboard the steamer, we've arrived in Barisal. Here's the view of the dock from the foredeck."

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