Part 7: Bangladesh with United & Regent DAC-CXB,CGP-DAC

Welcome to the seventh part of my spring trip to Asia!

The entire map:


This report’s map:


Previous flights:
easyJet London Luton-Barcelona (LTN-BCN)
Singapore Airlines Barcelona-Singapore (BCN-SIN), Business Class on the 77W
Valuair/Jetstar Asia Singapore-Medan
Garuda Indonesia Medan-Banda Aceh
Sriwijiaya Airlines B734 Banda Aceh-Medan-Jakarta with a fuel “expulsion”
Lion Air Boeing 737-900ER Jakarta-Singapore
Singapore Airlines A330 Business Class Singapore-Calcutta
SpiceJet B739 Calcutta-Bagdogra
Jet Konnect B738 Bagdogra-Calcutta
Biman Bangladesh DC10 Calcutta-Dhaka

Flights to come:
Biman Bangladesh Dhaka-Kathmandu (DAC-KTM)
Thai Airways Kathmandu-Bangkok (KTM-BKK)
Thai Airways Bangkok-Frankfurt (BKK-FRA)
Lufthansa Frankfurt-Dusseldorf (FRA-DUS)
Sun-Air (British Airways) Dusseldorf-Billund (DUS-BLL)
Sun-Air (British Airways) Billund-Manchester (BLL-MAN)
British Airways Manchester-London Heathrow (MAN-LHR)

So, my last posting left you floating through the mangroves swamp of the Sunderbans in South Western Bangladesh….let’s see a few (actually, a lot) more photos:

Wildlife



Going for a walk, with the support of some armed guards in case a tiger decides to appear. Unfortunately the closest we got to a tiger was seeing some tiger poo






Riverside










Lots of locally made honey here. One guy on the tour bought 10kg!


A viewing tower


A particularly muddy walk to see some tiger mounds (dry hillocks where the tigers chill)









Two photos of the MOON


Just after I took this photo, one of the group managed to take a tumble into the muddy water. Was quite funny, although his SLR also went for a swim



Lovely clouds before the storm


Lots of food on board, which was most Bangladeshi, and mostly excellent



The BBQ


After a few days floating around the deserted swamps, it was time to return to civilisation (although I use that term loosely). Its easy to see how so many people are affected by the annual floods






We docked at Khulna, where we had an hour to visit the local market – five of us hitched a lift on this


Khulna station


Market



This kid was overjoyed when I took this photo! He’s bashing ice in the bag to make drinks


After a final dinner on the boat, it was off on the (delayed) overnight train to Dhaka. Old British rolling stock. That kid saw me focusing, and ran into the photo!


It was very cold, and very bright – I slept with a towel over my head…it was just about bearable




During the cruise I got talking to the guide about travelling (what else). He managed to convince me to extend my time in Bangladesh. I had originally booked 1 week in Bangladesh, and 1 week in Nepal. I thought that I might as well stay longer in Bangladesh and “do” it properly, rather than rush through 2 countries and not see enough. I knew my Biman flight was changeable for free, so with his help, I pushed back my flight to Kathmandu by 5 days. One benefit of doing this (from an a.net perspective) is that my flight would now be operated by an A310, rather than a B737 (was a DC10 when I first booked, but unsurprisingly it was changed…).

As such when I got back to Dhaka, I made a beeline for the domestic terminal to make some new flight bookings.


Thankfully the train from Khulna actually stopped at the Airport station, so it was an easy connection. Having had a look at the schedules are fares, I booked a one way flight to Cox’s Bazar on United Airways, then a return from Chittagong to Dhaka on Regent Airways. I also took the opportunity to reconfirm my Biman flights for later in the week to Kathmandu. Thankfully the A310 was still shown as operating.

With my tickets in hand, I proceeded through security. Unfortunately as it was only 8am, and my flight wasn’t until 1pm. Thankfully I found some wifi from somewhere, so could pass the time reasonably easily. I also managed to get access to the airside café to get some rather unappetising food for the wait




At 11am I was able to check in. I asked for a window at the front and got 4A, which was a far forward as anyone was assigned for some reason. Assuming we’d be on a Dash, I was surprised to hear that it was an ATR – nice to have a bit of variation.


Security was very quickly and I was soon in the departures lounge. The domestic terminal is built behind the VIP area, so there are no tarmac views to be had.

My boarding pass


Airside


Due to the bad weather earlier in the day, things seemed to be running rate. We were eventually called to board at around 1330, half an hour behind schedule.

April 2012
Dhaka (DAC) – Cox’s Bazar
United Airways 4H 511
Scheduled: 1300-1400 (1h00m)
Actual: 1358-1447 (0h49m)
ATR-72 S2-AFN
Economy



At the door I was offered a choice of sweets – after reading Abrelosojos report, I went with the Shahi Deluxe, which was just a mix of local mouth freshener spices, quite tasty.


Cabin



Legroom


Defunct GMG neighbours



Prop


TG leaving


Heading to the active





Off we go nearly an hour late



I’m guessing that’s Tahitian?


It was pretty choppy up above – the two cabin crew walked up and down a few times, although there was no inflight service.



Coming in to land








Awful logo, and terrible tagline


Not in best shape



My seat pocket was empty, but some did have some magazines



Thankfully no one seemed bothered about my photo taking. As we disembarked, I was surprised to see one attendant standing at the door with a basket of drinks (fruit juice cartons and water) and some packaged cakes. Rather odd to only have service on the ground, but this seems to be the Bangladeshi way!


Tarmac





As I was one of the last off, I just waiting in the sunshine for the luggage to be wheeled over. Rather than waiting indoors. With my bag in hand, I walked out the gate (yes, straight from the tarmac to car park!) and onto a tuktuk.


I’d only researched accommodation that morning on my phone waiting to check in. I’d found the Mermaid Eco Resort, which looked very nice, although it was a bit far from town. Driving down the World’s longest beach:



Whilst the pictures make the place look very nice, there were plenty of niggling issues which very quite annoying. For example, electivity was only on from 1800-2300. Not such a problem, BUT there was just one switch in the cottage. So turn it on, and you can have electricity (room and bathroom lights, and fan and plug sockets). Turn it off, and no lights, no fan, no electricity. It’s either all or nothing, so no charging stuff whilst the lights are off, no sleeping with the fan on. Grrrr.

“Banana Pistol”


Day room



Bedroom



Bathroom


Hammock


Without doubt, the best thing about the place was the food. YUM.





I saw this little new-born mousey thing – so sweet. Parents nowhere to be seen


Common Areas







When it’s dry, they show films here


My first two nights were accompanied by some terrific thunderstorms. This was the best photo I got though. Truly amazing to watch


The resort is on the coast, but you have to get a boat to the beach.





It was long and very empty



My sandcastle



There were thousands of these little red crabs – man, they can run fast!





I hired a bike (not easy) for a few hours – lovely experience, and very far removed from the roads of the city












The other side of “Banana Pistol”


On my third and final night I was informed about the approaching tsunami. “I beg your pardon? The WHAT?!?!” Having just left Indonesia’s recovering Banda Aceh, I was not really looking forward to experiencing a tsunami first hand. I was told everyone would be meeting in the lobby at 2230. I duly packed an emergency bag, and then left my big bag in the bathroom on top of the toilet (I figured that as the only room with brick walls, it might be a bit more secure there….)


I was extremely relieved (although still a bit cautious) to find out at 2230 that there was no tsunami. Phew. I went back to “Banana Pistol”, but stayed up on the porch for a few hours just in case I needed to run.

The next morning, I checked out (with everything looking exactly like it had yesterday, sans tsunami), and got a bus up to Chittagong. Keeping it brief, the journey

The next morning, I checked out (with everything looking exactly like it had yesterday, sans tsunami), and got a bus up to Chittagong. Keeping it brief, the journey was awful. Very fast, very long, very noisy, and with some nice monsoon weather to accompany it.


I eventually made it to Chittagong., where I got a very acceptable hotel room – clean, cold, and with wifi.


The next morning another monsoon/cyclone thing had blown into town. Quite scary to watch. I saw an electricity pylon being blown over in a shower of sparks.


It dried up (thankfully), and I went exploring


Setting up for tomorrow New Year celebrations



Everyone loves a game of cricket!




View from the top of the “posh” hotel


I managed to track some a beer in the nearby posh hotel. £5 for a can of Heineken!


My tasty Indian dinner at Hanoi (I think their geography could do with a spruce up)



After 2 nights in Chittagong, it was time for my Regent Airways flight back to Dhaka. The approach to the airport:


An observation deck! Of course it was too good to be true as it was padlocked shut


I arrived about 15 minutes before check in opened. When it did open, I was checked in quickly, and given a window seat near the front.




Biman desks



Security


FIDS


From the departures lounge



Boarding


Thankfully, there was no bus, just a nice walk along the tarmac













April 2012
Dhaka (DAC) – Cox’s Bazar
Regent Airways RX 714
Scheduled: 1120-1210 (0h50m)
Actual: 1120-1209 (0h49m)
Dash 8 S2-AHA
Economy



The flight wasn’t too full, and I got a pair to seats to myself.





Safety card


Unlike on the previous flight, the Regent staff were pretty good. their uniforms were more Westernised, and the service more comprehensive.

Biman F28 also going to Dhaka (late)


This is an ex-Augsburg Airlines plane


Off we go





It was a beautiful day for flying – a wold removed from yesterdays mini-cyclone




Definitely used to be German!


A sandwich, peanuts, a sweet and a mango thing. Very nice! Soft drinks were also offered.




Cruising


Boarding pass


Approaching Dhaka







I’d have loved a ride on this 744 – looks like it has engine trouble. I read somewhere that it’s operated by Air Atlanta Icelandic, and costs $5,000/hour to operate.



Goodbye!



Tarmac scenes






Baggage reclaim



Well, I’ll leave this part here, and pick up next time with some new year celebrations, Bangladesh style!

What did I think? Well, Regent were very nice. Good service, with friendly staff. United – I’m not sure if their odd “not in the air” service was due to the weather or not. Cox’s Bazar, a nice break from Bangladesh. Chittagong, not the most interesting of cities.

All comments and questions welcome!

Some of my other TRs:

Part 6: Biman Bangladesh DC10 Calcutta-Dhaka
Part 5: SpiceJet B739 & Jet Konnect B738 Calcutta-Bagdogra rtn, with Darjeeling
Part 4: Singapore Airlines A330 Business Class Singapore-Calcutta
Part 3: Sriwijiaya Airlines & Lion Air Boeing 737-900ER Banda Aceh-Medan-Jakarta-Singapore
Part 2: Valuair/Jetstar Asia SIN-MES and Garuda MES-BTJ
Part 1: U2 LTN-BCN, SQ BCN-SIN 77W Business
Africa Part 7: British Airways Club Europe B767, LCA-LHR
Africa Part 6: LX ZRH-ATH, A3 ATH-LCA. A Greek Tragedy
Africa Part 5: Dar es Salaam – Nairobi – Zurich with Swiss First
Africa Part 4: Fly 540 DAR-ZNZ in Y, and Zanzibar photos
Africa Part 3: ET KGL-EBB-ADD-DAR-ZNZ, A to Z with Ethiopian Airlines in C
Africa Part 2: SN BRU-BJM, SA BJM-KGL, Business to Burundi and Rwanda
Africa Part 1: BD LHR-CMN, TP CMN-LIS, SN LIS-BRU in Y and C
A.net meeting in snowy Tallinn. U2/FR STN-TLL-LTN
easyJet and bmi up to Aberdeen, LTN-ABZ-LHR
The Costa del Sol with British Airways. LGW-AGP-LCY
Mysterious Moldova (and Transnistria). Lufthansa LHR-MUC-KIV
BA to the Austrian Alps. LHR-MUC, INN-LGW
I can't get no Jetisfaction: LH LGW-FRA inaugural
Colombia Part 4: Colombia to London via FRA/MUC/HEL on LH & BA
Colombia Part 3: Colombia with Avianca (AV). SMR-BOG-MDE-BOG
Colombia Part 2: Colombia with Avianca (AV). BOG-MDE-CTG
Colombia Part 1: London to Colombia via ARN/MUC/FRA on BA & LH
USA and Mexico Part 4, British Airways Mexico City – London, World Traveller Plus
USA and Mexico Part 3: Around Mexico with Aereo Calafia Cessna 208B & Viva Aerobus B733
USA and Mexico Part 2: Sightseeing tour of San Diego Airport, and American Airlines San Diego - LA – Dallas - San Jose Cabo
USA and Mexico Part 1: easyJet Luton to Paris, and BA Paris to San Diego via LHR in World Traveller Plus
British Airways to Scandinavia (LHR-CPH,GOT-LHR)
Where’s my bag? British Airways, Milan to London
What airline am I flying again? Bmi/Lufthansa Italia LHR-MXP
Albania and Macedonia: Austrian LHR-VIE-TIA, Macedonian Airlines SKP-ZRH, Swiss ZRH-LCY
Part 1, Lufthansa London-Munich-Frankfurt-Nanjing, Economy Class A321 and A343
Part 2, Cathay Pacific Shanghai to Tokyo via Hong Kong, Business Class A330 and B747-400
Part 3, ANA Boeing B767 Tokyo to Shanghai, & Air China Airbus A340 Shanghai to Beijing, Business Class
Part 4: Chinese domestics, inc. Joy Air Xi’an MA60, Tianjin Airlines ERJ, and China Express Airways CRJ
Part 5: Lufthansa Beijing-Frankfurt-London City, Economy Class A388 and E90
5 Countries, 5 Flights, 5 Days, with Ryanair (FR)
bmiFriday: Welcome to Sunny Norway, London to Bergen, A319)
Royal Jordanian, London to Aqaba via Amman. A330 and A320
Royal Jordanian, Amman to London, A330
London City to Antwerp with Cityjet and the Fokker 50
Croatian Airlines, LHR-ZAG,PUY-ZAD-ZAG-LHR, A319 and Dash 8
British Airways, Iberia & Binter to Tenerife and Gran Canaria, LHR-MAD-TFN-LPA-MAD-LHR, A320,ATR, A321
British Airways, London To Amsterdam, LGW-AMS-LHR, B737 & A321
British Airways up to a snowy Glasgow, with a change of flights and delay, LHR-GLA-LCY A321 and E90
Turkish Airlines Business Class from London to Istanbul. From Terrible To Fantastic
Turkish Airlines Business Class from Istanbul to Batumi (Georgia). Not again!
bmi Business Class, Tbilisi to London via Azerbaijan
Tallinn to London, with Estonian Air and BA, via ARN
Cuba! BA/IB London-Madrid-Havana, Business Class
Aerocarribean, Baracoa to Havana
Asia Trip, Pt 1: Qatar Airways Business Class (LHR-DOH-ICN)
Asia Trip, Pt 2: China Southern and Hainan Airlines (A321/A346)
Asia Trip, Pt 3: Malaysia Airlines, Hong Kong to Penang
Asia Trip, Pt 4: Qatar Airways Economy (HKG-DOH-LHR)
A weekend in Transylvania with Blue Air (LTN-SBZ)
Helsinki for the weekend on BA and KF
Easter in Ukraine with Austrian
UAE and Oman with BA and Air Arabia. Y & Y+
HKG-LHR-HKG Air New Zealand, Premium Economy and Economy
US Airways LGW-DCA-MSP-LGA-LGW
London Heathrow - Zurich - Venice on Swiss Business for the weekend
Chasing the Eclipse on China Eastern
Taiwan: EVA Air (HKG-TPE rtn), UNI Airways (TSA-HCN), Daily Air (TTT-KYD rtn)
UA HKG-SIN-HKG Y Class, SQ KUL-SIN C Class
Bangkok to Beijing, Egyptair Business Class
Air China Beijing to Harbin, B777 Economy outbound, A330 First Class return
Tiger Airways, Singapore to Darwin return
A selection of Chinese Domestics; China Eastern, Air China and Shenzhen Airlines
Hong Kong to London on Singapore Airlines (744/380/77W)
Qatar Airways Beijing-Doha-London Heathrow (A330/A340)
Air China First Class. Beijing-Guilin via Xi’an
Round Asia Trip. URC-HTN,OSS-FRU,ALA-URC-LHW-KMG-JHG-KMG-SYX,HAK-NKG-PEK-NRT-LHR,
Hainan Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Lucky Air, ANA, Economy and Business Class.
SAS and Lufthansa Business Class, LHR-OSL-FRA-FRA, B73G and B744

Hi Gabriel,

Nice reports as usual! What a great trip you've had in Bangladesh! Your accommodation in Cox's Bazar looks nice!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): On my third and final night I was informed about the approaching tsunami. “I beg your pardon? The WHAT?!?!” Having just left Indonesia’s recovering Banda Aceh, I was not really looking forward to experiencing a tsunami first hand. I was told everyone would be meeting in the lobby at 2230. I duly packed an emergency bag, and then left my big bag in the bathroom on top of the toilet (I figured that as the only room with brick walls, it might be a bit more secure there….)

 

Some nice photos as well, great to see pictures of the hard-to-reach places!

Looking foward to more,

Yap

Quoting yapple (Reply 2): Nice reports as usual! What a great trip you've had in Bangladesh! Your accommodation in Cox's Bazar looks nice!

Thanks Yapple! Yeah, I had a good time in Bangladesh, one on my more interesting holidays!

Really great trip report...I have to admit Bangladesh has been probably dead last on my list of places I want to visit, but this trip report moves it up a couple notches 

Hi Gabriel,

once again a nice report with many good pictures!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Dash 8 S2-AHA

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): This is an ex-Augsburg Airlines plane

Yes, it was operated by Augsburg Airways as D-BLEJ. I flew HOQ-FRA-HOQ on that frame in 2007.


PH

WoW .. Impressive report!

You really showed us a different side to Bangladesh, one which i would assume no one would imagine. Tropical perhaps, but serene i definitely did not think it would be! And those red crabs! WoW!  

Out of your flights, what caught my attention the most was the Tahitian safety label on the seats! Definitely from French Polynesia, but the aircraft wear and tear probably isn't! haha

Glad you dodged the tsunami, and an electric pylon flying around in a wet storm is not the best of things! But all turned for the better in the end  

Many thanks for sharing this with us!

Cheers,
Roni

Thanks for all the comments!

Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 4): Really great trip report

Thanks!

Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 4): I have to admit Bangladesh has been probably dead last on my list of places I want to visit, but this trip report moves it up a couple notches

Well, the fewer the tourists, the more "authentic" and cheap the place will stay, which suits me fine! Bangladesh definately isn't for everyone

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 5): once again a nice report with many good pictures!

Thanks Udo

Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 5): Yes, it was operated by Augsburg Airways as D-BLEJ. I flew HOQ-FRA-HOQ on that frame in 2007.

Nice to know you knew this bird in a her previous life!

Quoting ronerone (Reply 6): WoW .. Impressive report!

Thanks Roni

Quoting ronerone (Reply 6): You really showed us a different side to Bangladesh, one which i would assume no one would imagine. Tropical perhaps, but serene i definitely did not think it would be! And those red crabs! WoW!

Yeah, it's quite the country

Quoting ronerone (Reply 6): Out of your flights, what caught my attention the most was the Tahitian safety label on the seats! Definitely from French Polynesia, but the aircraft wear and tear probably isn't! haha

I imagine flying domesitcs in Bangladesh is about as tough as shuttling between those gorgeous islands!

Quoting ronerone (Reply 6): Many thanks for sharing this with us!

No problem

Hey, Gabriel,

great stuff and pictures, Bangladesh is for sure not the frequent covered country here.
Also sure an interesting set of airlines and flights.
Well done and Greetings,
Markus(FLIEGER67)

Hi Gabriel !

Very nice report and interesting to see the sights of Bangladesh.

Love the picture of the three 777s in a row at DAC !

How come you didn't try the BG F28 on the return to DAC ? Perhaps you have flown enough F28s already ?

Looking forward to your reports from Nepal!

The777Man

Hi Gabriel

Excellent report! I've found you destination reports, and pictures, really fascinating. Bangladesh has always been off the radar for me, except maybe when around Brick Lane   It does look intriguing, shabby chic. Or just shabby. Still, the food looks delicious!

United looks, well, like the rest of the country... Still, it's an experiance! Shame about the tsunami warning - for such a low lying country, without the Dutch technology for retaining water, it could be dangerous. At least it passed, and good that there are at least warning systems in place.

As always, looking forward to the next leg!

signol

Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 8): great stuff and pictures

Thanks Markus

Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 8): Also sure an interesting set of airlines and flights.

Yeah, and the first report about Regent?

Quoting The777Man (Reply 9): Very nice report and interesting to see the sights of Bangladesh.

Thanks

Quoting The777Man (Reply 9): Love the picture of the three 777s in a row at DAC !

Yeah, was lucky to get that one

Quoting The777Man (Reply 9): How come you didn't try the BG F28 on the return to DAC ? Perhaps you have flown enough F28s already ?

No, I probably should have gone for that, but didn't know the equipment at tyhe time (and of course, BG change eqipment every half hour)

Quoting signol (Reply 10): Excellent report! I've found you destination reports, and pictures, really fascinating.

Thanks!

Quoting signol (Reply 10): Bangladesh has always been off the radar for me, except maybe when around Brick Lane It does look intriguing, shabby chic. Or just shabby. Still, the food looks delicious!

MM, I need to pay a visit to Brick Lane now I'm back! Still don't fancy eating with my hands though.

Quoting signol (Reply 10): Shame about the tsunami warning - for such a low lying country, without the Dutch technology for retaining water, it could be dangerous. At least it passed, and good that there are at least warning systems in place.

Well, the warning systems is one bit of good to come out of the 2004 disaster

Woww, this reminds me that I should visit this section more often ! Thank you for sharing this amazing TR, I really had a good time reading/viewing it  

Hi Gabriel

Great report, thanks for sharing!
It was very interesting to follow up your Bangladesh story!
Great too see a report on the less famous United as well, just the service at the end while disembarking was a bit odd indeed.

Greetings
Marc

Hi Gab - another great instalment. These must be the first if not only reports on these two Bangladeshi airlines. I've not found any others. Interesting to see how those flights went. Nice to read especially about your Dash 8 flight too!  

The destination pics, were as always, fascinating. I don't think Bangladesh is a country I have a burning desire to visit but I really enjoyed reading about your travels there. Good thing there was no tsunami.

Hope that guy's camera was working again (after he took a fall)? That would be perhaps my worst nightmare while travelling.

Cheers - Palmjet

Hello Gabriel(a)  

Nice exotic report once again: from the region visited through the flights taken. A really off the beaten path journey. You will be in for a surprise once you get back to the more Westernized world  

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): The BBQ

Wasn’t your meat black iso nicely BBQ-ed?

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Its easy to see how so many people are affected by the annual floods

And how poor that region is as well. These people have nothing and when it floods, they even have less... But I guess they have a different attitude than us...

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Assuming we’d be on a Dash, I was surprised to hear that it was an ATR, nice to have a bit of variation.

Yes, variation, but still a prop right.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Awful logo, and terrible tagline

At least those covers seem to have been made by hand  

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): When its dry, they show films here

An open air theater, great!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Rather odd to only have service on the ground, but this seems to be the Bangladeshi way!

Yes indeed. And quite exotic catering as well. Was it any good?

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): My sandcastle

The kid in you coming out. Tried to copy the Sagrade Familia seemingly?

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): My tasty Indian dinner at Hanoi

Shouldn’t that be Vietnamese dinner or dinner at Delhi 

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Biman desks

Fantastic, all these old school airports. How strict is security there?

Sultanils

Thanks for the comments guys!

Quoting airtrainer (Reply 12): Woww, this reminds me that I should visit this section more often ! Thank you for sharing this amazing TR, I really had a good time reading/viewing it

Yes, you should visit more often! THanks for the comments!

Quoting MSS658 (Reply 13): Great report, thanks for sharing!

No problem

Quoting MSS658 (Reply 13): Great too see a report on the less famous United as well, just the service at the end while disembarking was a bit odd indeed.

Yes, was a bit odd, but everything is a bit strange down here!

Quoting palmjet (Reply 14): another great instalment.

Thanks

Quoting palmjet (Reply 14): The destination pics, were as always, fascinating. I don't think Bangladesh is a country I have a burning desire to visit but I really enjoyed reading about your travels there. Good thing there was no tsunami.

Yes, lucky about the tsunami.

Quoting palmjet (Reply 14): Hope that guy's camera was working again (after he took a fall)? That would be perhaps my worst nightmare while travelling.

Um, I think it was kaputt

Quoting Sultanils (Reply 15): Hello Gabriel(a)

Huh?

Quoting Sultanils (Reply 15): Nice exotic report once again: from the region visited through the flights taken. A really off the beaten path journey. You will be in for a surprise once you get back to the more Westernized world

THe biggest shock was the weather!

Quoting Sultanils (Reply 15): Wasn’t your meat black iso nicely BBQ-ed?

It was a really goiod BBQ

Quoting Sultanils (Reply 15): Yes, variation, but still a prop right.

Yes, still a prop

Quoting Sultanils (Reply 15): The kid in you coming out. Tried to copy the Sagrade Familia seemingly?

I love building sandcastles....I should have been an architect!

Quoting Sultanils (Reply 15): Fantastic, all these old school airports. How strict is security there?

Not very strict, and thankfully no liquids rules

Hey Gabriel,

Great to read about your off the beaten path adventures! Keep it up  

Quoting roberts87 (Reply 17): Great to read about your off the beaten path adventures! Keep it up

Thanks Robert - next report out soon, with some more of Bangladesh, and Nepal!

Hi Gab,

Good to see you moving along your journey. Now something off the beaten path, a couple of obscure airlines offering interesting looking domestic Bangladeshi flights plus great shots from the bushes. Very much liked this episode!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): So, my last posting left you floating through the mangroves swamp of the Sunderbans in South Western Bangladesh….let’s see a few (actually, a lot) more photos:

Great photos, thanks mate!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Unfortunately the closest we got to a tiger was seeing some tiger poo

Now there's an anticlimax!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): The BBQ

Nice photo, looks a bit dangerous though.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Thankfully the train from Khulna actually stopped at the Airport station, so it was an easy connection.

I'll be damned! First of all I had no idea Bangladesh had any operational trains but they even have a stop serving the main airport in the country! Every day is a school day! That carriage looks kinda weird - better than the pictures I've seen from Indian trains but still quite third world...

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Cabin

Those seats are almost the same Finncomm slash flyBE Nordic has on their ATRs!! Man I'e flown over hundred flights on those seats.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Awful logo, and terrible tagline

.

I tend to agree with you on this one!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Thankfully no one seemed bothered about my photo taking. As we disembarked, I was surprised to see one attendant standing at the door with a basket of drinks (fruit juice cartons and water) and some packaged cakes. Rather odd to only have service on the ground, but this seems to be the Bangladeshi way!

Hmm, that's interesting. Since the main point of inflight meals and service is to keep the passengers from getting bored and make the time go faster why couldn't they then hand these before the flight?

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): With my bag in hand, I walked out the gate (yes, straight from the tarmac to car park!) and onto a tuktuk.

Hah, reminds me of Odessa airport in Ukraine. Or pretty much all the regional airports there actually!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Without doubt, the best thing about the place was the food. YUM.

Looks very tasty to me!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I saw this little new-born mousey thing – so sweet. Parents nowhere to be seen

What did you do with this disgusting vermin offspring? You know it will grow up to be a nuisance!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): The resort is on the coast, but you have to get a boat to the beach.

That resort looks really nice. Kinda basic, but I guess that's the "eco" thingy. Certainly a good place to wind down and just do nothing for a while.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): There were thousands of these little red crabs – man, they can run fast!

Hah, looks hilarious. Reminds me of a certain computer game though!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I managed to track some a beer in the nearby posh hotel. £5 for a can of Heineken!

Finnish prices, shocked! I bet you can get a couple of nice meals for that amount of money in Bangla?

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): My tasty Indian dinner at Hanoi (I think their geography could do with a spruce up)

Love the logo! Was Indian food all they served or maybe they had a single dish of Pho or something to justify the name? Come to think of it there is a Turkish pizza/kebab joint in Helsinki called "Barbarossa", no idea where the hell they got that name from... 

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Thankfully, there was no bus, just a nice walk along the tarmac

Very nice to see that FlyDubai 738 there. They certainly fly to some very interesting destinations.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): This is an ex-Augsburg Airlines plane

And you know what? It is ex-D-BLEJ which I actually flew once, MUC-WRO back in 2006! A very interesting coincidence for you to catch a ride with her six years later on a completely different setting!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): A sandwich, peanuts, a sweet and a mango thing. Very nice! Soft drinks were also offered.

And these were actually offered *during* the flight?

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I’d have loved a ride on this 744 – looks like it has engine trouble. I read somewhere that it’s operated by Air Atlanta Icelandic, and costs $5,000/hour to operate.

Hajj flights?

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): April 2012 Dhaka (DAC) – Cox’s Bazar Regent Airways RX 714 Scheduled: 1120-1210 (0h50m) Actual: 1120-1209 (0h49m) Dash 8 S2-AHA Economy

Great TR with pictures, I am reading all your parts. Looking forward to the next bit. BTW for the CGP-DAC you got a mix up of the flight details from the previous leg I guess. Some places like you have visited, I will never get to.

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): Good to see you moving along your journey. Now something off the beaten path, a couple of obscure airlines offering interesting looking domestic Bangladeshi flights plus great shots from the bushes. Very much liked this episode!

Thanks Petteri

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): Great photos, thanks mate!

No problem

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): Now there's an anticlimax!

Tell me about it

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): Nice photo, looks a bit dangerous though.

Well, this is Bangladesh. No 'elf and safety here

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): I'll be damned! First of all I had no idea Bangladesh had any operational trains but they even have a stop serving the main airport in the country! Every day is a school day! That carriage looks kinda weird - better than the pictures I've seen from Indian trains but still quite third world...

Well it's not like there is a regular/reliable shuttle from the airport to the city, but yes, some trains do stop at the airport

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): Looks very tasty to me!

It was

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): What did you do with this disgusting vermin offspring? You know it will grow up to be a nuisance!

Awhh, so cold hearted P! I left it there to chillax before the tsunami. Was gone in the morning

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): Finnish prices, shocked! I bet you can get a couple of nice meals for that amount of money in Bangla?

The steak was cheaper in there than the beer!

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): Very nice to see that FlyDubai 738 there. They certainly fly to some very interesting destinations.

Yup, was nice to see - lovely livery

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): And you know what? It is ex-D-BLEJ which I actually flew once, MUC-WRO back in 2006! A very interesting coincidence for you to catch a ride with her six years later on a completely different setting!

Udo flew the same plane too (see above)

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): And these were actually offered *during* the flight?

Yes, someone had a brainwave!

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): Hajj flights?

Most DAC-KUL actually

Quoting alespesl (Reply 20): Great TR with pictures, I am reading all your parts.

Thanks, glad you like them!

Hi Gabriel,
Nice to see part 7 online, and once again a great report! Fantastic and amazing pictures of Bangladesh!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Lots of locally made honey here. One guy on the tour bought 10kg!

That's a lot of honey!

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): There were thousands of these little red crabs

that's a lot of them

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): On my third and final night I was informed about the approaching tsunami. “I beg your pardon? The WHAT?!?!”

Wow, that sure has got to be scary to hear that, nice to hear nothing serious happened  

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): £5 for a can of Heineken!

that's expensive!

Like always, looking forward to your next report

cheers,
adamspotter // Brendan

Hi Gabriel,

once again a great and enjoyable read about your adventures. Really nice to see the pictures of Bangladesh, not exactly a tourist hotspot, must have been very exciting to explore. That bungalows at the beach in Cox Bazar look like a great place to relax, basic, quiet, but with everything you need and delicious looking food. And these small problems definitely adds to the experience. No problems with mosquitoes though?

Interesting to read about the 'United' experience, never heard of having the catering after the landing. And their tagline is indeed strange, I kind of like their colorful logo though. The other flight with Regent seemed to be quite decent with food offered actually during the flight  

Greetings
CaptainRed

Quoting adamspotter (Reply 22): Nice to see part 7 online, and once again a great report! Fantastic and amazing pictures of Bangladesh!

Thanks, glad you liked it

Quoting adamspotter (Reply 22): That's a lot of honey!

Yup

Quoting adamspotter (Reply 22): Wow, that sure has got to be scary to hear that, nice to hear nothing serious happened

yeah, what a relief

Quoting adamspotter (Reply 22): Like always, looking forward to your next report

It's online now!

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 23): once again a great and enjoyable read about your adventures

Thanks

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 23): That bungalows at the beach in Cox Bazar look like a great place to relax, basic, quiet, but with everything you need and delicious looking food. And these small problems definitely adds to the experience. No problems with mosquitoes though?

No mossie probems. It was a nice place to chill out

Quoting CaptainRed (Reply 23): The other flight with Regent seemed to be quite decent with food offered actually during the flight

Yeah, how strange they did the in flight meal in flight!

Nice little report!

I think you need to "spruce" up your knowledge about cultures, names of things prior to heading out on a journey to an unknown place. The name is not Hanoi....it's "Handi" a cooking utensil, hence the cooking utensil symbol shown in the name which due to your cultural ignorance, your read as an O.

(Perhaps consult Suryo/Lukeboy to get better educated before your next far off journey, as you can see what a fine job they do educating themselves about cultures, what to expect as seen in their reports be it India, Africa or any other far off place! Just saying)

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): My tasty Indian dinner at Hanoi (I think their geography could do with a spruce up)

Quoting Sultanils (Reply 15): Shouldn’t that be Vietnamese dinner or dinner at Delhi

Quoting FlyingFinn76 (Reply 19): Love the logo! Was Indian food all they served or maybe they had a single dish of Pho or something to justify the name?

Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 25): Nice little report!

Um, thanks

Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 25): I think you need to "spruce" up your knowledge about cultures, names of things prior to heading out on a journey to an unknown place. The name is not Hanoi....it's "Handi" a cooking utensil, hence the cooking utensil symbol shown in the name which due to your cultural ignorance, your read as an O.

OK, thanks for the cultural insight. Do you, by any chance, learn the language of every country you go to (including ALL cooking implements) before you go? If you don't please don't be so rude as to imply I'm some ignorant tourist that just tottered off the tour bus. I'm fluent in 4 languages, but unfortunately, none of them are Indian. I imagine if you could only travel to countries where you knew the ins and the outs of the language, there wouldn't be much travel.

I'm off to Germany in a few weeks time. I guess I'd better find the dictionary and get learning. Only 9,000,000 odd words to learn in the next few weeks - sounds like a good task for my 1 night stay......I don't want to caught short showing my "cultural ignorance" if some asks me I'm an English "hasenhirn".

I would appreciate if you stopped commenting on my reports if you don't mind as I don't appreciate your comments. And you were saying I was big headed.

Thank you.

[Edited 2012-05-01 15:41:17]

[Edited 2012-05-01 15:42:20]

"I think their geography could do with a spruce up"........IT was this "sarcastic" remark that made me ask you to spruce your own knowledge. Nothing else.


I won't comment going further, as you have suggested. I'll even save myself the bother of reading them. Make more productive use of my time here on A.net.

"Mud, mud, glorious mud,
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood.
So follow me, follow,
Down to the hollow,
And there let us wallow in glorious mud."

Flanders and Swann's Hippopotamus Song is the first thing that came to mind as I read your report. I wonder if it crossed yours as you waded through it?

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): which was most Bangladeshi,

Great to see. I never understood why people want to travel and stick to eating what they eat at home. Discovering new foods is part of the experience.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): stay longer in Bangladesh and “do” it properly, rather than rush through 2 countries and not see enough

Good idea as you gain so much more from it.

Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Awful logo, and terrible tagline

I don't know: the "hands united" is colourful, cheerful and reflects the name. The aircraft interior appears to be in better condition than the previous one too.

Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): From the departures lounge

At last, you can see some of the activity on the ground.

A very interesting continuation of your travels, showing something very different to what we normally see. Nice also to see the various aircraft types and how they contrast with one another.

"Mud, mud, glorious mud,
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood.
So follow me, follow,
Down to the hollow,
And there let us wallow in glorious mud."

Roy /Quokka

Quoting Quokkas (Reply 28): Flanders and Swann's Hippopotamus Song is the first thing that came to mind as I read your report. I wonder if it crossed yours as you waded through it?

Well, that particular song wasn't floating around my head, but it does sound approriate!

Quoting Quokkas (Reply 28): Great to see. I never understood why people want to travel and stick to eating what they eat at home. Discovering new foods is part of the experience.

Quite, you need to eat the local stuff

Quoting Quokkas (Reply 28): I don't know: the "hands united" is colourful, cheerful and reflects the name. The aircraft interior appears to be in better condition than the previous one too.

I guess it is pretty cheeful, and definately beats Biman

Quoting flightsimboy (Reply 27): I won't comment going further, as you have suggested. I'll even save myself the bother of reading them. Make more productive use of my time here on A.net.

You do that

i really like this TR and your adventurous spirit, first time i see how Bangladesh looks like, apart from a media view.

how surprising there is no backward facing seats at the front of this ATR...

your sandcastle is awesome dude...well seen from far J/k  

thank you for this insight on these domestic travels

Quoting eastafspot (Reply 30): i really like this TR and your adventurous spirit,

Thanks Léonard!

Quoting eastafspot (Reply 30): how surprising there is no backward facing seats at the front of this ATR...

Yeah, I;ve not been on many ATR so not sure how standard those backward seats are

Quoting eastafspot (Reply 30): your sandcastle is awesome dude...well seen from far J/k

Thanks! I family friend said I should give myself a prize for it!  

Hi Gabriel!

A nice report as usual! I'm trying to catch up with you, will read the next parts soon!  
Cool to see some different parts of Bangladesh, looks very different from what one is used to.
The service on Regent does indeed look quite nice.
Nice to see some F-28's too, it was my mothers favourite aircraft when she worked as a FA for Linjeflyg and SAS. I was also lucky enough to fly a roundtrip on the F-28 when KF had them in the early 00's.

Martin

Quoting deltamartin (Reply 32): A nice report as usual!

Thanks Martin

Quoting deltamartin (Reply 32): I'm trying to catch up with you, will read the next parts soon!

Please keep reading!

Quoting deltamartin (Reply 32): Cool to see some different parts of Bangladesh, looks very different from what one is used to.

Yeah, it's a diverse country

Quoting deltamartin (Reply 32): Nice to see some F-28's too, it was my mothers favourite aircraft when she worked as a FA for Linjeflyg and SAS. I was also lucky enough to fly a roundtrip on the F-28 when KF had them in the early 00's.

Shame I didn't go for BG really on that route

Hello gabrielchew

Fantastic report and pictures from a country mostly unknown to me until now. Thanks for enlightening us readers.

Aviation wise, I loved the F-28 pictures! Great to see this type still in use.

Cheers, LXM83

Quoting LXM83 (Reply 34): Fantastic report and pictures from a country mostly unknown to me until now. Thanks for enlightening us readers.

Thanks!

Quoting LXM83 (Reply 34): Aviation wise, I loved the F-28 pictures! Great to see this type still in use.

Yeah, it's a pretty rare type now