This is Dhaka

by Ryan Cameron (United Kingdom (Great Britain))

A leap into the unknown Bangladesh

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Dhaka, Bangladesh. One of the world's most colourful, crazy and wild metropolis'. As the world's most densely populated city, Dhaka is something that needs to be seen to be believed! Dhaka is home to 20.7 million Bangladeshi within a 300km radius - about 186 miles. That's just over 23,000 people per square kilometer, or half a square mile. It's so busy that there never seems to be enough space for everyone, so it's easy to get lost in the crowd. Driving on the roads you would assume there's no laws, yet looking around there are no accidents. The Bangladeshi people it would seem quite obviously have no fear, be it in a rickshaw (bicycle with passenger seating), CNG (tuk-tuk motorbike), car or dodging traffic by yourself like a game of tag only with heavy, fast moving projectiles coming at you, as long as they get to their destination, they don't care how they get there. So being a passenger myself, I haven't had more anxiety since the moments leading up to my first kiss. Bangladesh and especially Dhaka holds it's charm in being a place where tourism simply doesn't exist. Although it's close neighbour India boasts a large tourism market, Bangladesh has somehow been lost and pushed to the side. While walking through the crowded streets and villages you would be lucky to find another foreigner, but that's the brilliant thing, as you have this untouched cultural wonderland and it's people all to yourself. When touring the city one of the key things you will notice is the manual labour, as it's a huge part of what makes the city tick. Although pay is poor and workers lack basic protections we take for granted in the west, the daily life for the majority of Bangladeshi people in Dhaka is simple. Work from sun up to sun down to provide for your family, starting sometimes from as young as 8 years old, till later in life when tasks like carrying sand or farming cattle is no longer a viable option. In a place where world governments have issued warnings on the dangers of Dhaka and Bangladesh, what I found was nothing but kind friendly people who were genuinely curious about why you were visiting their country, as not too many foreigners come to visit their city. What's great is going down the back streets and discovering what the city itself and the people had to offer. Yes, you do have to keep your wits about you, but what I saw was everyday life played out in a third world setting. No different to home only a little "less appealing" but far more interesting and striking to the eye. One recommendation while you're in the city is to make your way down to the main port and take a trip on a traditional rowboat. For me it was one of the best experiences in my life to be out on the busy river paddling past and avoiding container ships, speedboats and other rowboats. It gave me a sense of what the city was all about and I that I was a part of this wild, non-stop metropolis, something that only a few countries in this world still offer. I felt proud, and fortunate to be on the water that day, something I will never forget. In the world's busiest city nothing is easy, be it as a tourist trying to navigate your own way around the city or as a Dhaka native living your day to day life, but what I can say is that I highly recommend travelling to this amazing country. I do hope to return soon and discover more about the people, and way of life led day to day in Dhaka and the rest of Bangladesh. Till then Bidaya. By Ryan Cameron.