Parental visit part 1; Karwan Bazar market and Hijra Pride

Lon's parents honoured us with a visit. This means we organized a variety of outings, and I (modestly) think we succeeded to showing most sides of Bangladesh.

After a day of rest my parents were up for an outing. In the morning Karwan bazar, the market.

Washing with lemons

In the evening after experiencing the heavy traffic we arrived at the Hijra pride location. Hijras are the third sex, since one year officially recognised as third sex. Hijra pride was a parade and we went to the closing ceremony the talent show; song, dance etc.

 

A very famous actress on the jury

Anniversary in Cox's Bazar

We decided to celebrate our anniversary this year by going to the seaside in Bangladesh.

Cox's Bazar has as it's claim to fame that it is considered by many as the world's longest natural sandy sea beach.  We didn't really get a chance to visit the sea when we were in the area on a field trip in February and said that we'd be back.

The Mermaid Beach Resort is as fancy and destination-y as Bangladesh gets, so we went there, a would-be Thai type laid back place, with quirky touches, but somehow all a bit Bangladeshi round the edges and missing the mark

Giant Turtle

 

inside

a giant sandbag which lines the shore - the sea was a long way off though

beach artists

wide open skies - no-one about - bliss

very very quick crabs

hanging round

It was unseasonably hot during the day, so most of our beach walking was in the later afternoon, wonderful sea air, open spaces and open sky, just the opposite of Dhaka. Just what we needed.