Dhaka
Early September 2011
Bangladesh luckily lies on the road around the Euroasian Peninsula giving it an obligatory engagement unavoidable!
While India tends to be the touristic hot-spot for South Asia, I was more drawn to this formal Pakistani nation which
gained its independence 1971. While the world can mainly just relate to the devastating natural disasters which
flooded thousand of Bengali souls and left million homeless, the country as small as Iowa containing 158 million
ended up being one of the most welcoming, scrutinizing, chaotic and stupendous places that I have visited in Asia.
While India tends to be the touristic hot-spot for South Asia, I was more drawn to this formal Pakistani nation which
gained its independence 1971. While the world can mainly just relate to the devastating natural disasters which
flooded thousand of Bengali souls and left million homeless, the country as small as Iowa containing 158 million
ended up being one of the most welcoming, scrutinizing, chaotic and stupendous places that I have visited in Asia.
Literally the second photo that I shot (the first one being Tarzan) in Bangladeshis capital city Dhaka, on our day of
arrival happened to be a public beating. While Walker and Laurence and I were walking through the streets of
Uttara looking for spots, we were dragged by several kids to take a peak at this already half beaten man, who must
have broken the law in some sort of way and had to pay for the consequences which can equal to wooden stick
beatings in country of Bengal. We felt pretty awkward witnessing this way of punishment a couple hours after
arriving, leaving us a bit sketched out what we'll have to deal with for the next eight days we would be spending here.
arrival happened to be a public beating. While Walker and Laurence and I were walking through the streets of
Uttara looking for spots, we were dragged by several kids to take a peak at this already half beaten man, who must
have broken the law in some sort of way and had to pay for the consequences which can equal to wooden stick
beatings in country of Bengal. We felt pretty awkward witnessing this way of punishment a couple hours after
arriving, leaving us a bit sketched out what we'll have to deal with for the next eight days we would be spending here.
This photo is quite unique because there is no person on top of the train! We arrived in Bangladesh for Eid ul-Fitr,
which marks the end of Ramadan. We expected this packed & condensed city, but when we set foot around Dhaka
on the first of September, we were quite surprised to see that half the population left the capital to go back to their
home towns or villages. Stores were closed, streets were empty, an ideal time to cruise around the city and film
some skateboarding.
which marks the end of Ramadan. We expected this packed & condensed city, but when we set foot around Dhaka
on the first of September, we were quite surprised to see that half the population left the capital to go back to their
home towns or villages. Stores were closed, streets were empty, an ideal time to cruise around the city and film
some skateboarding.
Kenny Reed as expected joined the curry fest!
Laurence Keefe
Walker Ryan had to interrupt his last minutes of filming for his going professional video part, to watch Argentina beat
Nigeria and film some lines on pipes.
Nigeria and film some lines on pipes.
Michael Mackrodt had once again the urge to fish for some lines.
Most frequent asked question in Bangladesh 'What's your country?'.
While Macao, Monaco, Singapore, Maldives, Bahrain and other small island surpass the human population density
index of Bangladesh by a small margin. Bangladesh inhabits two percent of the world with 158 million people in
143,000 square kilometers which is pretty much the same size as Greece, Tajikistan, Suriname, Nepal or North
Korea but holds significantly more people than it should in a land that is currently going underwater.
index of Bangladesh by a small margin. Bangladesh inhabits two percent of the world with 158 million people in
143,000 square kilometers which is pretty much the same size as Greece, Tajikistan, Suriname, Nepal or North
Korea but holds significantly more people than it should in a land that is currently going underwater.
1842, 1856, 1871, 1875, 1885, 1892... all the way to fairly recently, 1987, 1988,1998, 2004, 2010 all mark years
where most of the country was under water and homes turned into modern day Atlantis. The flood of 1998 left 75%
of the country flooded. The Floods are caused by the Monsoon climate, cyclones, spring snow from Tibet which
results in soil erosion and a rapid increase in river discharge as well as diversion of the Ganges for irrigation. Also
Eighty percent of the country lies on a huge floodplain and delta, most of which is only one meter above sea level.
Bangladesh is probably one of the first countries to go if water levels rise & ice-melting such as in the Himalayas
countries.
where most of the country was under water and homes turned into modern day Atlantis. The flood of 1998 left 75%
of the country flooded. The Floods are caused by the Monsoon climate, cyclones, spring snow from Tibet which
results in soil erosion and a rapid increase in river discharge as well as diversion of the Ganges for irrigation. Also
Eighty percent of the country lies on a huge floodplain and delta, most of which is only one meter above sea level.
Bangladesh is probably one of the first countries to go if water levels rise & ice-melting such as in the Himalayas
countries.
Per Capita income in Bangladesh averages around 1,585 USD per year. Meaning a bit over one hundred thirty
dollars earned per month. No wonder this lady changed her mind regarding a portrait once I proposed I would give
her some Takas (their local currency) which would be more than a daily salary of labor.
dollars earned per month. No wonder this lady changed her mind regarding a portrait once I proposed I would give
her some Takas (their local currency) which would be more than a daily salary of labor.
Children are generally curious all around the world, but kids over here in Bangladesh could stare at one for an
hour (no exaggeration) without getting bored. Observing someone or staring is not of impoliteness in South Asia.
hour (no exaggeration) without getting bored. Observing someone or staring is not of impoliteness in South Asia.
When looking at a map of Asia, it looks quite convenient and seems like one could rapidly hop from country to
country with ease. Unfortunately that is not the case when 280km train ride can take up to nine hours and exiting a
country by train can take some preparation like applying for a 'leaving by land' permit. We started this trip from
Moscow by train, and I want to finish this long journey via trains, but having to go to Immigration twice & having to
wait for hours, can be such a waist of time when you only have a week to experiance a country, find spots & film.
country with ease. Unfortunately that is not the case when 280km train ride can take up to nine hours and exiting a
country by train can take some preparation like applying for a 'leaving by land' permit. We started this trip from
Moscow by train, and I want to finish this long journey via trains, but having to go to Immigration twice & having to
wait for hours, can be such a waist of time when you only have a week to experiance a country, find spots & film.
It always feels good to see people being able to protest and marching down the street while chanting their opinions.
In many places you either go to prison or get killed for doing so.
In many places you either go to prison or get killed for doing so.
Welcome to Bangladesh!
