Bangladesh: Cox's Bazar (Part 1)
FROM HOTEL BALCONY
Excitedly I woke up early to sneak a peek at the beach from my room's balcony. It was drizzling with grey skies. Got a little worried that the beach day might be a dud.
Immediately across the hotel is a little plaza (garden). It's still underdeveloped, but if you see on the right side, there is construction going on, another hotel I feel, next to the beach. The colorful roofs on the left are shops and restaurants.
Rainwater accumulated on the streets and this resourceful CNG (for compressed natural gas, which this baby taxi uses) driver uses it to wash the mud off his vehicle.
I spotted a fish all the way from my balcony.
Pleasant surprise to find wild horses (yap there was more than one) were seen walking down to the beach. I don't know what they do at the beach in the morning (and at twilight - photos coming soon).
Meeting at the beach
ON THE BEACH
Wide sandy beach, with only rental chairs, not developed yet. Although we are sure that the next time (if and when) I come here, I would not recognize this place. We have seen many constructions going on while there.
THE HAWKERS
Aside from the water itself it's the hawkers that kept me entertained and gave my camera a work out.
Bananas anyone?
Selling jalmuri - a local snack made of puffed rice and chili and other components.
Selling accessories made of shell.
What about coconuts, fancy some today?
A personable kid selling shell jewelry.
By the look on her face, the boy could be making a sale.
And now for a new kind of selling technique that the Bangledeshi kids have perfected and in fact used on me (and everyone else later). It's like a scam, but a funny kind of scam. May be a scam is not the right word, a trick perhaps, but for the sake of this post let's call it SELLING TECHNIQUE, but here goes......
There are hawkers selling tea and coffee. They walk around lugging thermos. Following them are kids 10 years and above carrying mugs.
Their modus operandi goes like this. They would observe who belongs to what group. They would wait until the group disperses to do his/her own thing. Then they "attack".
Two of them approached a lady offering a mug of tea or coffee.
When the potential customer rebuffed them, they would point to the member of the group/family saying it was from him/her.
Naturally the person would take the offered beverage. I did. The kids would wait until all the beverage is consumed before they ask for payment. I was taken, big time!!!!!
It was more amusing than anything. It was like being punked!
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Gosh so many peddlers on that beach, that can't be relaxing at all.
ReplyDeletenice but lots of people. if i were there i would have lots of people photos too just doing their daily routine :P
ReplyDeleteI never heard of that "selling technique" before LOL.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good reportage with beautiful photos! Sounds just great to visit so many exotics places in the world.
ReplyDeleteI am curious, where is the beach the longest at 254 km in Brazil?
PS: Yes, I had great time with my daughter. Thank you!
Wonderful shots. I can't get over your spotting a fish from the balcony.
ReplyDeleteAnother great look at Bangladesh!! Wonderful captures and so interesting! Hope you have a great weekend!!
ReplyDeleteLovely interesting post.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful series of shots. Happy sky watching.
ReplyDeleteMy sky.
Terrific captures of the busy activities on the beach and the lonely horse in the street! How could you see the fish...amazing! I´m fascinated!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely to see your photos.
ReplyDeleteHappy SWF to you!
Fantastic collection of wondrous images!
ReplyDeleteHappy Sky Watch,
Merisi
Very beautiful photos and interesting post for SWF!Thank you for it and have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteWonderful set of images from the city.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos from your trip! I love the views of the beach, the city and the people. The guy with the bananas is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteLove these images. Great to see another part of the world.
ReplyDeleteLovely pics of Bangladesh!
ReplyDeletefascinating photos of Bangladesh. thanks for sharing these.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome beach, but I think the kids would annoy me after a while.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place. I hope the beauty isn't spoiled totally by "progress".
ReplyDeleteAn interesting look at this far away place and its people. I wonder, though, about the beach after the horses have been there. I think they would make it less inviting. I know I don't care to follow in their wake on a mountain trail.
ReplyDeleteThe marketing techniques the kids come up with. Great captures of life from there.
ReplyDeleteInteresting collection of vendors along the beach!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful glimpse into your world.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. Thanks for your visit!
ReplyDeleteThe girl selling shell necklaces is so beautiful! The photo of the man carrying bananas is my favourite.
ReplyDeleteA fine series of the action on the beach. Wild horses are a surprise. Nice, detailed shots with fine color.
ReplyDeleteInteresting how the kids get you to buy tea or coffee! Now I feel like I have been fore-warned, if I should ever be lucky enough to visit Bangladesh.
ReplyDeletenice post. very interesting selling technique ;) there are similar techniques in sinai, egypt also on the beach.
ReplyDeleteIt still boggles my mind that Bangladesh is a tourist mecca now, as it does not seem like the place I've read about in past years...you are bringing me up-to-date! I would want to buy the coffee from every kid I saw even after I knew the trick. So it's a good thing for my pocketbook that I won't ever go there ;>)!
ReplyDeleteThe park although you said its under developed, it still looks for green. Maybe a touch of colored flowers would brighten it up!
ReplyDeleteI'd probably just chalk it up to experience if that modus operandi happens to me - at least the price of a beverage shouldn't be costing you and arm and a leg.
ReplyDeleteI think Bangladesh tourist spot
ReplyDeleteis extremely nice. I think in the lakes web site include a lot of nice info. I think tourist spot of I love Bangladesh turist spots.