Simple Lifestyle!!!!!

This week I have been experiencing some lifestyle which i think is very valuable to me. I have been traveling from BTS to BTS(Base Transmission Station) in Bangladesh outskirt. Most of them took around 2 hours drive. When we arrived at the small village, everyone will look at us because we are traveling in a big group of cars and just storm in their village.

This is the car i am using.


Normally you will only see the BTS there and nothing much around you. While having a rest and smoke, i felt so relax by appreciating the peaceful scenery and i can imagine how simple they lived. Eventually i think back the days and life that i lived in Malaysia.

This guy just showered himself with the public water pump.






Kids playing along the paddy field and they look so happy although the place they were born is so isolated but they live simple = live happy.



"Country road takes me home, to the place i belong"


These are the only nearest stores i can get some drink and food.


These kids were staring at me for so long and once i bring out my camera they knew how to stand and post for a pic. Luckily they still have small school to go but they need to travel around 10KM to school. (At the back is one of the BTS. This village is call GAZIPUR)




Of course, been traveling outskirt, i won't enjoy food that i usually have in the city. So i just walk in to their local small food shop for some local food. It's also very traditional and local for my Bangladeshi colleagues as they normally eat the food i ate in the city.





I have taken their local curry chicken rice. Well there is only 3 choice; curry lamb, curry beef and curry chicken rice. (the chicken is hidden under the rice)



Then, later in the noon, i took some break and go to the tea house ( they called it tea house here in Bangladesh) it is actually like the street stall pic i took last two weeks. Here they sell cigarettes, some breads and of course their famous tea (is actually teh tarik in Malaysia but with goat's milk). The yellow shirt guy is the tea house boss and he knew how to speak bahasa Malaysia because he had been working in Ipoh for the past 9 years.




Below is the Fiber Optic equipment OSN 6800 that i need to configure, commission and troubleshoot. (This is located in those BTS)

Rainy Days in Dhaka

Hi to all my friends. There is nothing much to post this week as i did not go out much on weekend due to rainy days. Dhaka has been raining for four days. Once it rained, the city will be flooded and muddy as there is not many drains in the city. On the other hand, i am just staying in part of Dhaka as Bangladesh is so big that some tourist attraction is located few hours journey by car.

Of course i need to eat so i have a short walk around my hotel and i found this chinese restaurant. Without any doubt, i walked in and tried it with my china colleague.

The food that we ate. It is delicious but it cost me around RM 150 for three dishes.

Then i feel that i need to do my laundry. So i called up the hotel and the maid came and took my dirty clothes away. The next day when i came back from office i saw that my laundry is done. When i opened up the laundry bag, i was shocked to see how they tidy my clothes. They wrapped all my garments in new plastics and even put a cardboard and clips inside my shirts. It was like brand new from the shop. It cost me around RM 20 and i am so happy and gave the maid 20 TAKA for tips. (it is actually RM 1 for 20 TAKA.. hahahaha)

Bowling !!!

Alright too bored in the hotel. Me and my colleagues think of playing bowling as well knew there is a bowling alley in Dhaka. I think entertainment here is less so bowling is the only choice after all. the bowling alley consist only 6 lanes in total and of course u don't expect much here as the lanes are not polished, they are as rough as pure wood. You can run till middle of the lane but you won't slip as it is not slippery.




You don't need a bowling shoe as well, just pay and play. Luckily it did not force to wear bowling shoes like Malaysia as i wouldn't wanna wear it too.




After a few throws, you hand will change colour!!!

Streets in Gulshan Town, DHAKA

October 13, 2008 - Reached Dhaka, Bangladesh for company's project with their local Telecummunication company GrameenPhone. After checked in hotel, i need to report to Hua Wei Bangladesh office. Took some pics of the streets around my hotel.

This the Rishaw-Wallah. It will cost you around RM 2.50 to travel within the big city. But it might cost your life as well. The traffic in Bangladesh is extremely dangerous. No lane lines and no direction. You may drive where or which direction you wish. Eevery keep sounding their honks while driving. Fortunately our company do provide cars and drivers for us. The driver keep pressing on the honk almost every 1 minute.....

This is the hotel (Rafflesia Hotel) that i am staying temporary until the company's hostel has vacancy.

I was surprised when i saw how their electricity cables pull all over the city. It is so messy that the technician must be a pro to deal with it. No wonder they keep having power outage at least twice a day. It happens in my company, GrameenPhone building, hotel and etc.....everyone seems used to it with blackout all of sudden.

This their roadside stall where local people have their refreshments and snacks. Probably the last day before i leave Dhaka i might give a try!!!

October 17,2008 - Today is friday but it is consider weekend in Bangladesh as their weekend falls on friday and saturday so as weekday is sunday to thursday. Luckily, i managed to know and get together with some of the managers in Hua Wei Bangladesh branch office.....thanks to Mild 7 as it helps me to get closer with them. I was then invited to have dinner in a chinese restaurant as i have mentioned our company canteen is not open on weekend. This dinner cost us 9000 Taka which is RM 450 but it was paid by the managers.

October 18,2008 - It is saturday and of course not working today. The company's canteen is closed during weekend. So i need to find my own food.....after hiding in the hotel till noon, my stomach is so hungry that i need to get some food urgently. So i just dressed myself as simple as i can to not look like and attractive foreigner on the streets and head on to the streets. At first i am a bit nervous as every bangladeshi keep staring at me. Later i just don't give a damn and walk as if it is in Malaysia.

After walk through small streets, i ended up on the big street. This is their consider large shopping centre.

After wondering in the shopping centre, i really can't find anything that is suitable to me to buy for my friends as souvenior (scratching head). It is so hard to even get a fridge magnet for you my housemate Jane. I even can't find a suitable things for myself and surprised that their things is the same price with Malaysia after converted the currency.

Their streets are always busy and noisy as there is no traffic rules and people keep using honk.

People "fight" to catch the public bus and i wonder how the ticket operator collect money.

After wondering on the street for few hours, i manage to find a small supermarket. I just grabbed some cup noodles and head back to Hotel.