Clean Feet!

That is what we have for the first time in 4 weeks!  Our last two days here in Dhaka have been a welcome back to civilization for us both.  First things first, upon our arrival to the Pan Pacific Hotel we dropped off our bags and parked ourselves at the poolside bar, where we sipped on Heinekens and snacked on french fries.  Next, hot showers.  It's amazing how many more parts you're willing to clean when the water is warm and you no longer have to worry about a urinal claiming your soap.  After two restful nights sleep sans mosquito nets we are preparing to leave Bangladesh.  Although we have been invited back, we have yet to plan our retrun trip.  It's been an experience we won't soon forget.  Thanks for coming along for the ride! 

Signing off, Tom and Courtney.

Strike!...And We're Out

Surprise!  We are back in Dhaka.  Given our track record in all things transportation, we decided not to fill you all in until we actually had our feet on the ground in the city.  Thanks to an impending nation-wide strike that will supposedly take place tomorrow (our original departure date) we decided to push our return up a day.  Jasim claims that the strike has been organized by an unpopular group and therefore will only be 'minor' and 'probably over by lunch'.  Never-the-less, it was not a day to travel, and the prospect of being stranded on the boat and/or missing our flight was altogether unappealing.  So, here we are.

Our bus ride back to Dhaka was, to our pleasant surprise, somewhat less harrowing than our first trip.  Only 11 hours (as opposed to 12), significantly less swerving, and only minimal honking by Bengali standards.  And, after lunch, Jasim treated us to a delicious Bengali dessert that they call 'yogurt' but is much more likened to caramel custard.  How did it take us 4 weeks to learn this existed?  We will most certainly be getting some more tomorrow. 

We revisited an old haunt for dinner-the Italian restaurant where we had our 'welcome to Bangladesh' meal.  Pizza and chicken parmiagiana, hold the rice!  Clean plates all around.  Tomorrow Jasim has informed us he will be back early to pick us up.  We believe him, he blew into our room at 530 this morning like a tornado.  Tom reminded him that we were not leaving for another hour to which he frantically responded 'oh yes yes, I know, relax'.  What a guy.  We will miss him. And, what do you know?  He loves NY!

We're Off to See the Village

With our time here closing in we decided to make an excursion into the village with our translator, Jasim.  We went under the guise of going to see the local clinic here.  A short walk across an expansive field where farmers were busy plowing in anticipation of the upcoming rainy season, and past a few cows having breakfast, we made it to the clinic.  It is only staffed one day per month by paramedics who also visit clinics on the many other local Chars.  Today's agenda, a lesson on diarrhea and how to manage it at home.  We think this may not have been a coincidence.  We sat and listened to the teaching session where the assistant described how to make the rehydration liquids to the locals who had gathered. 

Pretty soon, as seems to always be the case, a critical mass of children had accumulated.  The lesson deteriorated into games of Simon Says and plenty of picture taking.  Seemingly out of nowhere the children produced a puppy for Courtney to play with.  It didn't take long for the children to mimic Courtney whenever she said 'puppy' a chorus of 'puppy, puppy, puppy' came back in reply.  Meanwhile Tom was busy outwitting a few 8 year olds in a complex game of 'Simon says' involving those now famous red plastic chairs.  When it was time to leave we were marched out of the village led by a mass of children waving long pink 'balloons.'  Clearly an effective use of family planning, no wonder there are so many kids in this village!