Bata shoe stores are everywhere in Dhaka! Most people assume Bata is from "their home" country based on the companies' large International distribution. Desher's told us Bata is their own company, others said it is Canadian. In actuality Bata is based in Switzerland having been founded in 1894 in what is now the Czech Republic. The founder said, "Work collectively, and live individually" We made it safely back and are now in Thailand. What a … [Read more...]
Sundarbans Tour, Bangladesh
The following is a description of a 4 day 3 night guided tour to the Sundarbans in Southern Bangladesh. This trip was taken in January during the winter season (cooler with pleasant at times warm days and cooler nights, but not too cold). The Sundarbans are the world's largest Mangrove swamp with the majority of this swamp within Bangladesh while part of the swamp is in India. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main purpose for most … [Read more...]
Old Quebec: A Tourist Destination par Excellence
Quebec City's magnificent castle-like Le Chateau Frontenac with its medieval stone towers, gables and copper turrets, we surveyed the St. Lawrence River. For a long time, we stood enjoying the enchanting view. From our vantage point, in this symbol of the city, it was easy to dream of the past - the time when Samuel de Champlain, in 1608, established the city, which was to become the cradle of French civilization in the Americas. For … [Read more...]
Gridlock & Road Rage in the Desh
Hanging out in Dhaka now outside on a porch overlooking down on the dark restless city listing to the most peaceful soothing relaxing calming sounds of Enigma which are effectively drowning out the incessant noise of the horns below. A cool exotic breeze is flowing and this is as far from "home" as you can get. Got all our tours setup today for the rest of the trip - heading down deep into the mangrove swamps into the largest Unesco heritage site … [Read more...]
Visiting Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Waterfalls are among the most amazing waterfalls on the planet. Do not underestimate the time you need here - allow at least 1/2 day for the Brazilian side and at minimum a full day for the Argentina side. These falls are spread between the Brazil and Argentina border and extend up the Rio Iguacu several miles. The only similar waterfalls in comparison are Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The massive … [Read more...]
Summer Festivals in London
Britain has its fair share of summer festivals, from the legendary Glastonbury to the crazy dressing up at Bestival on the Isle of Wight. But sometime the festival experience isn't all it's cracked up to be, with unpredictable weather, mud-soaked fields, grubby toilets and overpriced food putting a dampener on camping in the countryside. Luckily there are just as many top festivals in London, from weekend-long dance parties to more relaxed … [Read more...]
Trains and More Chaos
Chaos reigns at the New Delhi airport - pre paid taxis are a joke. Many people in old dirty clothes hanging around. The fog here was TERRIBLE last night. Its the norm in the winter during the nights with merely 5 to 7 feet visibility. We landed around 9pm and arrived at our hotel around midnight just to catch the New Year's festivities. Drive from airport normally takes 25 minutes! Hahaha yea. Driver kept stopping every few seconds while getting … [Read more...]
A Story of Travel and of a Girl
This is a story of a travel and of a girl; of long ago memories. So long ago that I cannot even remember the girl's real name, nor many of the places; only that it inspired love. What better trip is there than that? It started as a mini-trip to San Francisco with a college roommate. He and I were to travel on a budget of zero dollars, excluding a full tank of gas. We wanted to see Haight-Ashbury, the hippy scene of '67. After collecting glass … [Read more...]
Turkey Welcomes You
"Turkish hospitality is impossible to ignore", proclaims the in-flight magazine as I fly to Bodrum. You can't miss it when you set foot in the airport: the welcome visa costs $20. By the exit, the passengers are greeted by a forest of A4 sheets with the names of the people to take to the hotel. It is nice to go to an unknown place, and find somebody waiting for you and calling you by name: in this case, Turkish hospitality will set you back $40. … [Read more...]
The Island of the Eccentrics
You have to be a little eccentric to live here' - said Corinna as she welcomed us to her house. To many in the village she is more than eccentric: she is a witch. Dressed in a long black gown, her hair hidden in a headscarf, she is in no hurry to fight the rumour. When the superstitious villagers saw twenty foreign women getting off the water taxi, armed with an array of lotions and potions to fight mosquitoes and prevent sunburn, they had reason … [Read more...]
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