My hobbies are cooking, writing, reading, the Internet in general, playing computer games, and vario...
My hobbies are cooking, writing, reading, the Internet in general, playing computer games, and various other stuff. I travel quite a lot too. Some of my reviews are also on my website: http://www.britishexpat.com and adapted for Ciao, or vice versa.
Member since:20.01.2001
Reviews:40
Members who trust:45
They say the best way to get to know a place is to live there. I lived in New Dhaka for three years so I know a wee bit about what it's like. Although I didn't personally count the inhabitants of Dhaka, I believe there were about 8 million a couple of years ago. Your guess is as good as mine how many there are now.
Like many of the cities which were part of the old British India, (of which Dhaka was one until 1947) this huge sprawling city has its old and new districts. The old, typically, is a mass of narrow alleys, bustling with rickshaws, tuk-tuks, bicycles and all modes of transport. But the whole city is too big for just one op, so I'll just tell you about New Dhaka for now.
The new area consists mainly of the diplomatic enclaves, aid projects and some newer markets. It's clearly divided into three distinct areas.
Baridhara is the modern diplomatic enclave, where most of the Embassies and High Commissions are situated, alongside grand bunglows, all enclosed behind high walls. Unless you work there or are a member of the British High Commission Club, there is nothing for you here.
Gulshan Lake, which is so long and narrow a newcomer would be forgiven for thinking it's a river, separates Baridhara from Gulshan, a slightly newer area. Again, you'll find some rather swish bungalows here but the rate of new building has meant that many, if not most, have been pulled down and replaced with high rise flats. Many of the aid offices are in this area, as are most of the international clubs. If you're a member or have friends who are members, you can eat pizza in the American Club, play darts in the BAGHA, or drink in the Aussie Club etc. Otherwise, forget it. Dhaka is not Asia's nightlife capital.
At the north and south extremes of Gulshan, there are markets which are good for fabrics, vegetables, meat, and stationery. But, you'd hardly to go Dhaka just to buy those. There are also a few restaurants here - things change rapidly so I'm reluctant to give names, but you can generally find good Indian, Thai, Korean and Chinese eating places. The price, relatively speaking, is usually very cheap. There are also a couple of western-style, oft frequented by some foreigners, but I personally didn't like the food there.
Finally, in New Dhaka, there's Banani. There are houses, shops and a couple of restaurants there. That's it. There's nothing else to say about Banani - oh yes there's a bank there.
It would take much more time to describe Bangladesh, or even Dhaka, properly but here are a few more words before I go. Whilst Old Dhaka would be interesting for the intrepid tourist(Bangladesh's slogan is "See Bangladesh before the tourist comes")unless you know people there, New Dhaka is not for tourists. There are some guest houses but they cater mainly to expats on contract work and they're not cheap (£30 per night in some cases).
There is really nothing here for the casual visitor. Sure, there are slums on the edge of the lake if you want to voyeuristically experience poverty, sure there are beggars in the grand streets, women and children breaking bricks, ugly muts of dogs roaming around, beautiful palm trees, people gawping at you when you go out, and all the other things typical of Bangladesh. But if you want to see Bangladesh, then give New Dhaka a miss.
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Thanks for the op. A bit brief though! Pleae come back and visit dhaka it has changed heaps in the last 8 years, dining and food is soo good, and the nightlife actually exists now! lol.. i live in baridhara and agree nothing much to do but by far the safest place to stay/live. in dhaka.
Connoisseur_Haggler 13.03.2001 10:18
interesting op...sounds like you didnt choose to go there as a different holiday/experience..? Sadly it is many parts that are poverty stricken or had many natural disasters... not the place for the average tourist! interesting opinion, thanks
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