Bike-Ride To Australia 4th-January 2012

Bike-Ride To Australia Wednesday 4th-January 2012 Dhaka. I was talking to the man on reception last night. Telling him that I ate most of my meals across the road in the little café. Usually, I have chicken curry with roti or rice. It’s a friendly place, and somebody always joins me to chat. Disappointingly though, if there are no seats available, they get somebody to move and make way for me! Before entering, I now look in to make sure there is a table available. I don’t feel comfortable asking somebody else to make way for me!

People in room
At my local restaurant

Anyway back to the conversation with the receptionist. I got the usual response that I seem to get from any hotel worker! I got the same from the barman in Calcutta. These places are un-hygienic, and they or their family wouldn’t eat there, whatever! While sitting at breakfast drinking my coffee this morning. A giant rat ran across the floor and up the curtains! And that’s hygienic!

After breakfast, I went back to the Chinese embassy. Once again, I joined the small queue, all of whom were Asians. I was hoping some Westerners would be there, so I could see what experience they’d had at getting a visa. I arrived at the post office style counter and nervously handed over my documents! Please be right this time, please, please, please. I kept thinking in my head! Yay, it seems to have worked. They’ve accepted my documents, and I can pick my visa up tomorrow! At last, although I’m not going to get too carried away until I’ve got it, physically, in my hand!

Watch Out

I saw my first rickshaw accident today! I’m surprised I’ve not seen a lot more, considering how many rickshaws there are. All the rickshaws have these wicked bolts that stick out from the rear wheel hubs. They look a bit like something from queen Boudicca’s chariot! I was very wary of them when I cycled into Dhaka the other day. They would have ripped through my panniers if I’d have come anywhere near them! Anyway, the bolts on one of the rickshaws had come into contact with the other one’s spokes, causing the wheel to collapse! Nobody was hurt, but the two rickshaw drivers were having a right go at each other!

I’ve also managed to source some bubble wrap and a bag for my panniers today. Ready for my flight to China or home if I don’t get that visa! Quite a good productive day, really, especially if my visa comes through!

I went in search of wifi tonight and ended up in a KFC! Which is so wrong, but it was so nice! The chicken is a lot spicier than at home, but the chips were lovely! That’s the first time I’ve had chips for weeks. And I’m not even that I’m a big lover of them! It’s just when you can’t get them; you crave them even more!

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Bike-Ride To Australia 31st-December 2011

Bike-Ride To Australia Saturday 31st-December 2011 Dhaka. I went out with the manager from the hotel last night to get some beer! Because the shop wasn’t that near, we went in a Tuc Tuc. What an experience that was! But great fun. When you get in, they lock you inside a cage. The manager said it would protect us from being mugged! Perhaps the warnings from the people on the ferry were right! When I left the ferry yesterday, I was told to watch out for “Ali Barbers!” Robbers!

I spent this morning in a mixture of taxis, Tuc Tucs and rickshaws looking for a box to pack my bike away in. I eventually found one in Farhan’s Cycle Shop, run by a Mr Babo. He didn’t have a box in his shop but sent one of the boys out to find one while we drank tea!

Man women and girl
The Barrs minus Becky

The Barrs had just arrived when I got back to the hotel, which was good. It was nice to see some familiar faces. After they had taken their bags up to their room, we went out for something to eat. Over supper, we caught up with each other’s stories. They’d been cycling across Bangladesh over Christmas on some bikes they bought locally. Then when they’d finished their ride, they donated them to a project that reintegrates street children back into village life.

It’s New Year’ eve, and they’ve closed the bars and alcohol shops! And the riot police are out on the street! Apparently, Bangladeshis aren’t very good at handling alcohol! And as a precautionary thing, they closed them all at midday! What’s the world coming to! It looks like it’ll be a bottle of coke to see the New Year in!

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Bike-Ride To Australia 30th-December 2011

Bike-Ride To Australia Friday 30th-December 2011 Faridpur to Dhaka. 58 miles. So much for taking my time getting to Dhaka! It wasn’t as far away as I’d thought! I blame my maps! The map I’d been using to cross India was on a scale of 1:3,000,000. But when I crossed into Bangladesh, I had to change maps, and my new map was on a scale of 1:750,000. I’d got so used to judging distances by just looking, hence why I thought Dhaka was a lot further. I must admit that I did wonder yesterday how I’d come so far!

Last night in the restaurant, I got talking to a group of medical students who were at the table next to mine. They helped me with the menu, as they spoke really good English. I chatted with them on and off throughout the evening as I was busy writing yesterday’s update. Then when it was time for me to leave, I happened to mention that I was going back to my room so I could have a beer. I wish I hadn’t had! They then proceeded to tell me how bad alcohol was! What do doctors know!? Although they are possibly more anti-alcohol because of their religion!

Tough Start

I was worn out before I started today! After carrying my bike back down from the fourth floor! Apparently, there are two ways to Dhaka, but my map only showed one! The one that nobody uses! But as I didn’t have this other road on my map, I decided to stick with the one I could see. It’s hard enough to navigate here at the best of times. None of the signs are in English, which is no surprise, but they also have a completely different script to ours! I can’t make head nor tail of it. It doesn’t match anything on my map! I tend to use my compass as much as anything!

Whether I was on the right road or not, it doesn’t matter. My road today was lovely and quiet! I only saw a handful of trucks and a few cars. I think the other road must be a new one, as it’s not on my map and all traffic must be on that now.

Water bus people
Leaving for Dhaka

I had to get a ferry today, which came as a bit of a surprise! I knew I had to get a ferry, but I just thought it was to cross the Padma River. It wasn’t. The ferry I caught took me on a two-hour journey to Dhaka! Once in Dhaka, it was a short ride from the ferry terminal to my hotel.

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