The World's Largest Alpona in Bangladesh

Oh, this looks so cool! I had no idea about this until tonight! May be I should check this out...

Cakes in Dhaka!

Just so you know, how the cakes in Dhaka look....some of these are pretty good, some not quite so...my favorite bakery in town is, King's Bakery..and majority of these cakes are from there!

Enjoy looking...as I did enjoy eating... ;)

                              

 

Chittagong Trip : Foy's Lake, Sea World & Resort, and a Happy First Birthday!

Our trip to Chittagong was wonderful! We'd so much fun! I knew I would go there while being here this time around and then, one day, heard from younger SIL that Older SIL's baby boy's first birthday was in March (which I was confused about...Feb or March). Anyway, since then I really wanted to go there around his birthday time so I could kill two birds with one stone. Visit Chittagong and enjoy his first birthday with the family. But there were lots of ummm...may be we will go or may be we won't go moments. And then, at the last minute it was-yeap, we will go and that's what we did.

Last time and my only other time I went to Chittagong was by train. It was a wonderful experience overall. And, something I would do again BUT not with a baby in tow... it took us about 9 hours to go to Chittagong from Dhaka by train. And I knew this can't be happening this time around. I'm not crazy enough to go through this lengthy journey with my little miss sunshine. Not.Happening. So, the other option was bus, which was again muy lengthy just as long as a train ride would be. So, on to the next option, a plane ride! woo hoo! Needless to say, it cost two times...mmm...scratch that 5 times more than it would cost going either by bus or train. And I was OK with that. Really. Because the trip would be only 40 minutes and not 9 hours! It was worth every single penny.

I would have given a pretty decent review of this airline, GMG, but dang thing just went out as in out of business! hooray! Still, let me say this that on 40 min flight they gave us FOOD, and we reached Chittagong and back to Dhaka SAFELY (despite bad weather induced heavy turbulence on way in to Dhaka), both flights were on time! Hooray for that, boo hoo for going out of business...well, hooray again for going out of business AFTER we took the trip! ;)

 

Our one day full of fun was at the Sea World Water park and resort! Here are some pics: Picture tell a thousand words, so, I will let the pictures speak millions! ;) 

 

 

This is where we got on a boat trip to reach Sea World

And, the views from the boat 

 

Hey, look, a Monkey! Actually, there were a few!

Look, a castle! LOL

 

And, the cake for the birthday boy! It's a sea themed cake... and, oh, how fitting!

 

 

Well, at the end of the day, we had tons of fun and, were all tired! It was really a nice day in all fronts! I need to mention this important facts that my brother in law actually got a room for us at the resort. Since we didn't mean to stay there overnight, we got away with having one room for about 9 adults and 2 babies. We were there to take rest, change, refresh etc. It seems like the management there had this as a spacial circumstance/exception...otherwise, they don't recommend this renting room for all these people to use during day time. It didn't matter though, they still charged the same price they would have had we stayed overnight.

In prep for Bangla New Year-Pohela Boishak

So, very soon as in exactly a week from now, Bangla New Year is arriving. And, in anticipation of that, malls, stores are all dressed up in Boishakhi (first month of Bangla New Year) look. Today, I did my shopping for the Pohela Boishakh (1st of Boishak) and it was so much fun!!!

Some pics from today...

 

Military Museum :Bangladesh Independence Day Outing

Yesterday was Bangladesh's Independence day. And, for the first time in my life, I decided to celebrate it by well, dressing up in Flag color codes sari. That was all fine, but a tad bit ironic since now, I'm a US citizen! huh! LOL

These days, I think, everyone celebrates everything just to be able to use the excuse either for dressing up, eating out, taking pics, posting nonstop nonsenses on FB pages etc etc etc and very rarely, I think, people these days celebrate because well, they genuinely care about the actual "event" or "cause" and so on.

Unfortunately, I went on a outing yesterday using the excuse to wear Green and Red color combo sari and have Eliana wear the same color combo dress and take some pics. So sad, but true!

Funny thing was, after all that prep (like choosing the sari to wear weeks ago...deciding the spot we would go to) when we actually went to visit the Military Museum (something that I noticed ever since I arrived in this city, but never got a chance to go...and I think, yesterday was a good timing) we were done within 30 minutes! What! All that shindig for 30 minutes of outing? Sadly that was the case, as it was bit hot and all we did was walk toward the museum (there were some tanks and canons set up along the way) and came back up and took tons of pics. We didn't enter the museum since hubs didn't feel like it as he thought there won't be much to see, and it won't be worth to get into that crowd. And, of course, miss E was acting little careless (she hardly smiled as sun was right on her)....

Nonetheless, a good decision to go out since we didn't venture outside after coming back from our little family vacation, which was almost a week ago!!

p.s: It took me almost whole day to finish up this post. Why? Cause there were power outage at least 3 times while I was posting...and each time it goes out for 1 hour! OMG...life in beyond at this moment sucks!

 

 

March Madness

Yeap! That's what I'm going through....pure madness! But but but in a good way. I haven't posted my March Photo A Day since what, day 3 or 4? whoa! Time does fly really fast!! OMG. Right after my last post, I went to live in a cave for about 5 nights...just kidding. Well, it certainly felt like I was in a cave, but actually I was at my inlaw's ;) hehehehehehe Then, came to my current residence and on a whirlwind decision went on a whirlwind trip, which was btw, AH-mazing! I It was Eli baby's first "family" trip. We went to a city South of Bangladesh, and spent good time with little miss E's older aunt (her dad's older sis) and her family.Couple of other family member's of miss Eli baby also joined us a day later and we all came back at the same time. Also, got to celebrate 1st birthday of her cousin (main purpose of that trip, actually)!

I have so many posts to write...I need to start journal about Eli baby's 7 months (the things that she did, her milestones from the day she turned 6 months till she was 7 months) before she turns 8 months, which is soon and, before I forget important details! Also, have to finish up my posts on pregnancy and get to the birth story, really, positively before I forget important ini mini tiny details!!! Will definitely write about the recent trip and last, but not least need to start posting March Photo A Day pics!! These all sounds fine and dandy, but I am also dealing with a "developing" country's major problem- power outage! There are semi planned (as in, we know there will be power outage everyday, just don't know what time this will happen and how many times within 24 hours period) power outages everyday....! Not fun! But that's my life in beyond........!!!

Dumiok Restaurant: Korean Food in Dhaka

So, on the 28th to celebrate my lil miss E's 7 months b-day we went to Dumiok Restaurant in Banani area. I went there for a very important "errand", but also had this in mind that I would visit this restaurant at the same shot. Sort of killing two birds with one stone kind of scenario. Banani area is not close to where I am staying currently. So, it's a no brainer to do these two things on a same outing all the way there.

My actual task, which was to change our return flight to New York was a major fail. I kind of knew it.That. It would happen. So, wasn't majorly disappointed there. Anyway, now, off to talk about food at the Dumiok.

Dumiok is a Korean restaurant. It seems like Dhaka, now has pretty significant Korean expats. This restaurant is adjacent to its bakery, of which products I tried few weeks ago. It was nothing earth shattering tasty, but pretty decent. And then I had the opportunity of trying their food the other day.

Menu is overwhelmingly Korean. I'm surprised nothing was Bengalized over there. And, while we were there however number of patrons we saw, were also overwhelmingly all Koreans. So, it's pretty authentic in that sense. I mean, I would think it was since Koreans were eating at a Korean restaurant! LOL I LOVE few Korean dishes, and among those is Bibimbap! I knew, I would try that. They had their usual flare of beef bar-b-q stuffs, octopus etc. We probably would have tried the beef bbq had we not had little miss E with us. She was quite a handful to deal with. Anyway, we had bibimbap, which was vegetarian (no meat) with an egg poached on top. So, we needed some meaty stuffs, and we ordered a dish called "chicken with garlic sauce", which didn't sound much Korean-y, but when we saw it, it did seem a bit different than the usual ones I would see in a Chinese restaurant. Food was good. I didn't care for the taste of chicken. Bibimba was mmmmmm!!!! And then came the bill, with two bibimbap dishes, one chicken dish, two sprites the total came about 2400something BDT, approximately $30.00. hmmmm...can't say it was expensive, but considering we were in Dhaka, can't say it was cheap either. But we had to try. I'm glad I did. At least if for nothing else, I can recommend it to someone who likes Korean food!

And here are the pics!

Assorted vege appetizers that come beforehand, which includes Kimchee...

Bibimbap

 Chicken dish

And bibimbap after mixing it all together..mmmmm

Where a bag of Tostitos cost more than I care for

Finally went to Gulshan couple of weeks ago to check out the Korean grocery. I intended to buy Kimchee, I knew I would find Kimchee there if nothing else. But when I found Tostitos, along with Salsa I was overwhelmed with joy and the price tag of each items. That freaking bag of tostitos cost around $6.00 USD!!!!! Oh my lord!!! But I bought it anyway. It's not that I'm a big fan of that, but the fact that I "could" get it here made it seem very exciting and worth paying for. Well, I enjoyed it. So did my sis, and has asked for a second bag already! eeshhh....I'm not paying that much for this crap!

Ekushay February or International Mother Language Day

Yesterday was Ekushay February or  in simple English 21st of February. It's a bitter sweet day for the Bengalis. Ekushay February or 21st February has been declared International Mother Language Day by the UNESCO in 1999. If you click on the link, you can read through the wiki article to learn the history and background of this day. Every year very early morning, politicians and common people alike go to Shaheed Minar or Martyrs' Monument and take flowers to commemorate the loss of students. And of course through out the day people continue to go there. When I was little, we never went to Shaheed Minar. But on Ekushay February we would cut a pic of the Martyr' monument from the newspaper and then put it against the wall (keeping it on the floor, the picture) and put some flower in front of it. It was a sweet memory.

This year, I decided to check out Shahid Minar finally. Unfortunately, the roads were all blocked and no car could enter that area and we would have to walk to get there. I decided against it as I had little miss E with us. Instead, decided to roam around Dhaka University area where it was buzzing with people, old, middle aged and kids...full of them. It was starting to get bit hot as well.  We checked out Fine Art Center and took some pics. On the street it had a festive feeling all around. Lots of hawkers selling Bangladeshi flag, bangles (loads of it, those bangles were made of glass and very colorful), cloths, bags, books, street stalled food etc etc etc. We happened to check out the grave of a famous Poet as well, Kazi Nozrul Islam.I really enjoyed the day and afterwards we went to Nando's to get something to eat. And unfortunately, little miss E already had enough of the day and by then was in full fussy mood. So, I only got to have brownie and ice cream and miss E's dad had burger...mmmm...I am bit pissed that I couldn't eat burger LOL I tried the fries and it was delish! Really good quality.

Here are pictures from our Ekushay February outing: