Ratha Mela

July 10th, I went to Dhamrai to see Hindi festival, "Ratha Mela".
Dhamrai is located 40 km away from Dhaka.

So, how to go?
A ticket seller told me to go via Mohakali.
I went to next ticket counter, but a staff said to go via Gabtali.
I bought a ticket to Gabtali, and other man said Mohakali, exchanged the ticket with the one to Mohakali.
So, I got off Mohakali, asked where the bus to Dhamurai.
Then, people told me to go to Gabtali.

Another man took me to wrong bus, so I got off on the way.
I took another bus which was wrong.
So, I took one more bus, and finally got to Gabtali.

Let's go to Dhamurai!
Bus started.
After an hour, gradually slowed down....
Bus, OUT OF ORDER.

・・・・・anyway.

I got to Dhamurai 4 hours after I started from home.

People were preparing for festival.

Isn't their face a little scary?

A big float appeared.

 



There are many Hindi, so atmosphere is a little different.
At Hindi temple, a Bengali letter was found.
The letter means "GOD".

 

People came to me, painted for a seconds!

Enjoying festival, but.......when will the float go on the parade?
"Sun set time"
........it was 1pm, and I had meeting at 7pm.

Before I forced myself to take bus back to Dhaka, I visited nearby area famous for clay pot making.
I see this pot every day!!
It's for yogurt.

There is stair to underground where people make fire there.
When I said I want to see the factory, kids took me here, and the family showed their work.
I enjoyed.

If you just want to take a look at Ratha Mela, you will find in Dhaka city, too.
A float starts from Motijheel to Dhakeshwari Temple.
It will be smaller, but may be better access.
I will catch it next year!!

So, today's lesson.
Correct information from someone who surely knows.
Be ready for unexpected occasion.
What's more, enjoy unexpected occasion.

Military Museum

I visited "Military Museum" in Dhaka.

There are......
tanks in the huge gargen.

Boys taking pictures



In the second floor, there are many kinds of guns and other weapons.
In the first floor, there is exbitation of Bangladesh's PKO activities.
I didn't know many Bangadeshi army went to African countries.
There are some pictures of massacre, too.

I am not interested in weapons, but enjoyed the first floor.
Or, come just to see GREEN in Dhaka city, yard is pretty.

---------------------------------------
By the way.....
Hartal was announced the day after, so there were few buses to back home.
I had waited for 40 minutes, and finally gave up, walked for an hour.
On the way.....mosque, beautiful with sunset.

 

Honey Month

What is incredible in Bangladesh?
Definitely, fruits is one of them.

May and June are called "HONEY MONTH".
You will find lots of fruits on the street.

 

Litchee.



Streets are filled with Lithcheesssss

Litchee is only available in short period in June.
After 2 weeks, it will be gone.
you have to EAT EVERYDAY during this 2 weeks.

Then, Mango.





Mango.....

Mango Mango........



Mango Mango Mango.........

More Mango.....

Many kinds of Mangos come one after another!
Mango which comes gets bigger and bigger.

What else?
Jack fruits.

Banana is available through the year.


He sells me banana from 1pc.

Bangladesh is heaven to eat fruits!
Eat a lot of fruits when you come to Bangladesh.
Or, come to Bangladesh to eat fruits. 

Cha Dokan

In Bangladesh, you will find "Cha Dokan (tea store)" EVERYWHERE.

In Japan, you will find convenience store everywhere, but Cha Dokan is 10 times more.

If there is space, there is Cha Dokan.

People have sweet milk tea with biscuits, banana, pancakes and so on.


75 years old chadokan owner

Cha dokan dokan dokan....

Cup is small.



milk tea in a small cup (6tk)

Even though I say "little little little sugar!",
it is still sweet because of condensed milk.

Even though I say "little sugar and little milk",
it is still sweet.......somehow.

But actually very good to have sweet tea after sweating a lot.

Except tea, snacks are available.



Looks crepe, cream inside. tastes like....Uiro.(7tk)



*Japanese sweet, Uiro.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uiro



Harder than expected!  (7tk)



It tastes as it looks, good. (7tk)

pancake, not much sweet (7tk)

A big Cookie (4tk)
Edge turned black......with ink from paper, no wonder! 

My favorite! (7tk)

I can't tell because ants ate during the night.....





People chat at Cha Dokan in the morning, daytime, evening.....and at night.
Join them?
For about 1$, you and 3 of your friends can have tea and a snack!

 

Chicken

I bought a chi ken at bazaar.
Chi ken was alive.
So....how to buy and cook chicken here??

A man picked up a chicken, put it in the basket to measure weight.
"It is 220tk, OK?"
As I nodded....
He killed the chicken, put into the machine to skin it.

Basket to measure weight of chicken

I paid, took it.
The bag touched my arm, surprised me.
Of course, of course, it was warm because was alive a minute ago!

So......put it on the cutting board.
and now??

Head dropped when I took out from bag

I cut legs.
And......just turned and turned the checkin.....
I finally called my friend who works as a chef, and got instruction.



Chicken became meat....

After an hour, it became "meat" though my appetite was gone by then.

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
The chicken became Japanese food called "niku jaga".



Lunch box

Next day, I shared it with Bengali co-workers.
My counterpart said
"delicious"But another said
"too sweet, I could have eaten if you use less sugar"
Oh, never imagined to be said "too sweet" by Bengali!

Anyway, I could cook chicken, I think.

Sweets

People bring sweets when they are invited to friend's house.

Store for sweets......

A lot of kinds. 180-350tk/kg

Sweets will be packed in a box with ribbon.

They also have yogurt (in a jug).

1kg/200tk

I bought "medium" from ''sweet'''medium''sour'.

It was taaaaasty, I like it.

But again of course, it was still too sweet for me,

so I mixed with plain yogurt. 
(1:2=sweet:sour was the best for me.)

 

 Colors are quite different!

You can try at restaurant, too.
(If you are afraid of buying a lot, or a tourist)



30tk

I can't live without yogurt, so I am really happy that Bangladesh has :)
Try Bangladeshi yougurt! 

Intellectuals Martyr Monument

I walked around in Dhaka to give suggestion for new city map.
25 places are suggested as tourist sight.....so how are they like?

I visited Intellectuals Martyr Monument.
It is a monument to commemorate intellectuals who were massacred by Pakistani soldiers during independence war.

But what I found is house, cha dokan (tea store), house.....
And people......under the bus.


Everyone stared at me, again.

Suddenly, it appeared.
Oh, not bad!

Then, a boy ran to me, asking
"Are you a reporter??"
I answered
"Something like that"
Then he took off his shirt, and
"Take a picture!" 

It is a memorial place, but seems a play area for kids.

 

Kids talked to me, gave me a snack.
I ate it together, took picture, chatted.
It is sightseeing place where no tourist is.
But anyway, I enjoyed.