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Backpacking Through Old Dhaka
Dhaka is Bangladesh’s capital and one of the most densely populated cities in the world. From the moment I left Shahjalal International Airport, I was in shock by the sheer amount of people in the streets. Being in Dhaka felt like being in a city filled with the entire world population, I mean you could barely stretch your arms out without touching someone. In spite of that, the city had its own charm. I asked many locals their recommendation for a tourist and it was unanimous: Visit Old Dhaka. The next day, I woke up early and hopped into a rickshaw and told the driver to take me to Old Dhaka, Buriganga…
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Visiting the Rohingya Refugee Camp
Coming to Bangladesh, I had no intention of visiting the Rohingya Refugee Camp. I was in Cox Bazar, a beach town in the south, when a man asked me my purpose of visiting. He asked, “You come to see the Rohingya”? I knew of the refugee crisis going on, but I didn’t think much of it being in Cox Bazar. The man told me we were about an hour and a half away from the camp, and I didn’t have any plans for the following day, so I figured I would visit to document their stories. Quick History on the Rohingya The Rohingya are a majority Muslim ethnic group who…
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Two Day Srimangal Tour
Srimangal was my favorite place in Bangladesh and one that is often overlooked by the few tourists that do venture out to Bangladesh. Srimangal lies in the Sylhet Division of the country, just four hours east of Dhaka by train. Not only is Sylhet considered the most scenic region in the country, but it is also the wealthiest. In fact, most overseas Bengalis, especially those in the U.K, come from this region. I came here for one reason however, to see the famous tea gardens, which accounts for around 3% of the world’s tea production! How to Plan for Srimangal I went through Pathfriend Tour to set up my two…
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Backpacking Bangladesh: 6 Things to do
Bangladesh isn’t a country most people would associate with tourism. India, its neighbor, overshadows Bangladesh as the number 1 South Asian tourist destination. As a result, many overlook Bangladesh as a place to visit on holiday. Tourism in Bangladesh ranks towards the bottom of most nations; however, I believe it’s a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by backpackers. Not only are locals some of the friendliest people you’ll ever come across, but there are aspects of Bangladesh that make it unique in its own way. Here are 6 things to do if you find yourself backpacking Bangladesh. Note* I excluded the Sundarbans as it is probably one of the…
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What to do in Kathmandu, Nepal
Kathmandu might be one of the cooler capital cities I’ve been to and is great for backpackers with its cheap accommodation, food, and relative ease of getting around. In Kathmandu, you immediately feel like you’re in another world and this is one of the reasons I love this city. While Kathmandu is not the main attraction in Nepal, I’d argue it’s certainly worth your time and has a number of places to see. Below I’ll highlight my favorite things to do in this wonderful city. 1) See Pashupatinath Temple: this sacred Hindu temple on the Bagmati River is an absolute must see! Pashupatinath temple serves as the seat of Nepal’s national deity,…
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Witnessing Animal Sacrifice in Nepal
It was late in the afternoon and I had just finished sightseeing in most of Kathmandu. My last stop was Durbar Square. As I wandered the area I saw a huge crowd of locals inside this temple, which sparked my curiosity. When I entered, I smelled something foul and saw blood all over the floor. I stepped closer and saw they had just finished slaughtering goats! The goats were fully skinned and their organs visible for everyone to see. Two people chopped up the meat and sorted the pieces with their raw hands. Right next to the flesh I saw two men wearing masks performing in what appeared to be…
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Visiting the Taj Mahal
Coming to India, visiting the Taj Mahal was number 1 on my bucket list. I booked a tour from my hotel the previous day for about $70. The next morning I was told to wait at the corner for the bus at 7:00 AM. I arrived at 6:40 and by 7:00 there was no bus. 30 minutes later, there was still no bus. I began to panic thinking I misunderstood the directions, but the bus showed up 5 minutes later. Interestingly enough, the bus didn’t stop for me. It just slowed down and I had to hop on as it moved. When I boarded the bus, I was shocked to…
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Ganges River From Delhi: Garhmukteshwar
I was a bit short on time in India and did not have time to fly to Varanasi to see the Ganges River. I was upset I wasn’t able to see it, but after a little bit of research, I found that it was possible to see the Ganges River from Delhi in the city of Garhmukteshwar, which is two hours away. The staff at my hotel arranged for a taxi to take me to and from Garhmukteshwar in the morning for about $80 round trip. Sure, it was a bit expensive, but seeing how it was two hours both ways, I didn’t mind. When I entered the taxi I…
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Places to Visit in Delhi
New Delhi is one of the world’s oldest cities and a bustling capital with over 20 million residents. Most travelers coming to India will likely fly into Delhi before moving onto other cities. Delhi, while it gets the reputation of being a chaotic, dirty, and unsafe place, is definitely worth visiting and one city you cannot skip over. There is too much history and culture here. Here are a few places to visit in Delhi if you find yourself here. 1) Gurudwara Bangla Sahib This Silk House of worship built in 1783 is beautiful and inspiring. It was fascinating to see all the Sikhs gather here at this beautiful structure covered…
