Deb in Dhaka

Kicking back in a cafe in Jaisalmer having lunch I decided to flip through my notebook while Sarah was washing her hands. Suddenly I had that heartstopping feeling as my eyes skimmed over the date of our flight to Bangkok... Oh dear, one day earlier than we'd thought. The flight was suddenly day after tomorrow and we were still two full days of driving away from Delhi. So we swung into action, found old Sewage and slapped him out of his stupor and explained that the poor bastard would have to leave immediately and drive us back to Delhi, posthaste!

In fact apart from having the most harrowing drive ever and spending way too long in that tiny car over two days we made it back in time and jumped on the plane to Thailand, stopping in Bangladesh.

Apparently we were quite lucky that our flight was only two hours late in boarding - for Biman Airlines that's something like a world speed record. The flight was curiously set up to give us almost 48 hours stopover in Dhaka, the airline providing us with two nights in a "Five star hotel". I guess that means those were gold-plated bedbugs that ravaged our bodies that night.

Anyway the whole purpose was to hang out with our lovely friend Deb who's living in Dhaka for a year as an Australian Youth Ambassador, working as a Human Rights Expert. I just love that job title.



We had such a great time hanging out with Deb and later her lovely flatmate Louise. Once we managed to talk the hotel into releasing us that is. You see we were technically "in transit" and our passports were being held at the airport - we never passed customs or immigration so I guess were never officially in the country. But two days is a long time to be kicking around a crap hotel so after brekky I went down to ask the manager if we could bugger off into the city to hang out with Deb.

"No sir. How is this possible? Do you have your passport?"
"Well, no. It's at the airport"
"Do you have a visa for Bangladesh?"
"Uh no..."
"Then how can you leave?"
"Well we walk out the door then jump in a cab. It's just for a few hours..."
"Dhaka is dangerous sir. There was another bombing this morning in the city. Very very dangerous. We are responsible for you. You cannot go anywhere. It is not possible. There is no chance. You must stay here. See, you ask him."

Our man then indicated a bloke who had just walked in, I assume it was the day manager just starting his shift.

"Excuse me, can we leave the hotel today?"
"Of course! Why not?"



Good luck over there Deb!