Ramblings from another corner of the world...: Things to do in "dry" Bangladesh

Well, that’s only partially true. Even though Bangladesh is a Muslim country, alcohol is available in expat bars and certain elite hotels. And of course there always is the option of cruising along the completely dark industrial docks on the outskirts of town looking for a warm $5 can of Heineken that “conveniently” fell off a cargoship and washed onto shore and came into possession of an unsavory smuggler named “Taliban”… err… not that I would know from personally experience or anything.

So yes, there ways to entertain yourself without drinking. For instance you can partake in such fun activities as:

(1) Sit on a stool in the middle of the marketplace at night, buy 2kg (about 4 pounds) of mangos and eat them. Of course they tasted really good and it seemed like a really good idea at the time, but as always the next morning gives you a reality check.

(2) Feed the mango peels to the street sheep. Yes, as far as I can tell, these sheep were homeless. You see, unlike the fluffy snow white sheep that everyone in the western world count jumping over fences, Bangladesh sheep are not quite the same. If you can imagine a big woolen sponge wandering around in a humid tropical environment soaking up all the ‘flavors” of a Bangladesh street… well, you get the idea. They actually come running in a pack when someone starts eating mangos, it’s awfully fun to feed them the skins for some reason. It’s kind of a variation on the feeding banana peels to cows game in India. I liked to toss the peels under peoples chairs. Cheap thrills in Bangladesh, what can I say.

(3) Watch Bangladesh dogs round up goats and sheep on the rice fields. I guess they get bored and try entertain themselves somehow too.

(4) Chew beetlenut. It's a spicy plant that has a bit of a slightly narcotic kick to it. I tried some, and I ended up feeling like a goat chewing cud.