Departing from Dhaka and leaving Carol and Rachael behind, we are now flying to Delhi, a 2.5 hour journey. Here are some impressions and experiences we had in Bangladesh.
Transport is chaotic, to say the least, but somehow it works, most of the time. Best not to travel anywhere in Dhaka between 9 am and 5 pm as you will most likely move 2-3 km per hour. Early morning, before 7, the traffic flows easily, no worse than Auckland, and perhaps a little better. 15 million people have to get around somehow, so the transportation is wide and varied and few road laws are followed. Riding a rickshaw or bicycle the wrong way down a four lane road is common. Lights at intersections mean nothing. Red means slow down a bit, green means the same. The best way to drive seems to be use your horn lots and don't look as if you are looking because any accident will be your fault if you could have avoided it. If there is a slight gap, go for it. The most interesting vehicles are the rickshaws in their various forms. We even came across some electric rickshaws and it would be great to see more of these used. Rickshaws may be piled high with goods and a passenger, or they might have a family of four. We could only manage to get two of us on, or one with a suitcase. Big Westerners. Sometimes you feel like swapping places with the cyclist to give him a break. Flat bed rickshaws, some with bamboo frames, are used to transport goods and sometimes people.
The next step up is the auto rickshaw, a three wheeled vehicle, many of which run on CNG. In Chandpur there were even a number of electric ones. They consist of a cab at the back for the family, motorbike handle at the front, windscreen and soft top. Dhaka ones have a cage to keep people in. No seatbelts.
In one part of Dhaka there are horse drawn carriages, elaborately decorated. The poor little horses have to work hard in smog filled, noisy and crowded streets.
Then of course there are cars, taxis and trucks. The buses must be seen to be believed. All of the older buses look as if they have been in a battle with the Hulk. Sides battered, no door. It was not uncommon to see people, often children, sitting on top of the bus.
Intersections are something else. A roundabout was usually the location of some elaborate sculpture or fountain. One in particular caught our eye. It was a rooster made completely of cogs and chains painted gold.
Transport is chaotic, to say the least, but somehow it works, most of the time. Best not to travel anywhere in Dhaka between 9 am and 5 pm as you will most likely move 2-3 km per hour. Early morning, before 7, the traffic flows easily, no worse than Auckland, and perhaps a little better. 15 million people have to get around somehow, so the transportation is wide and varied and few road laws are followed. Riding a rickshaw or bicycle the wrong way down a four lane road is common. Lights at intersections mean nothing. Red means slow down a bit, green means the same. The best way to drive seems to be use your horn lots and don't look as if you are looking because any accident will be your fault if you could have avoided it. If there is a slight gap, go for it. The most interesting vehicles are the rickshaws in their various forms. We even came across some electric rickshaws and it would be great to see more of these used. Rickshaws may be piled high with goods and a passenger, or they might have a family of four. We could only manage to get two of us on, or one with a suitcase. Big Westerners. Sometimes you feel like swapping places with the cyclist to give him a break. Flat bed rickshaws, some with bamboo frames, are used to transport goods and sometimes people.
The next step up is the auto rickshaw, a three wheeled vehicle, many of which run on CNG. In Chandpur there were even a number of electric ones. They consist of a cab at the back for the family, motorbike handle at the front, windscreen and soft top. Dhaka ones have a cage to keep people in. No seatbelts.
In one part of Dhaka there are horse drawn carriages, elaborately decorated. The poor little horses have to work hard in smog filled, noisy and crowded streets.
Then of course there are cars, taxis and trucks. The buses must be seen to be believed. All of the older buses look as if they have been in a battle with the Hulk. Sides battered, no door. It was not uncommon to see people, often children, sitting on top of the bus.
Intersections are something else. A roundabout was usually the location of some elaborate sculpture or fountain. One in particular caught our eye. It was a rooster made completely of cogs and chains painted gold.
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