So, I was stressing out about my finals. And a bunch of my friends planned an "Active Holiday Trip" to Bandarban which coincided with a long weekend. I immediately said yes. What better way to unwind, and relax away from Dhaka? Turns out, I should have inquired about the vacation plan.
For the non-initiated, Bandarban (literally meaning forest of monkeys) is in the southeast part of Bangladesh. Because of tribal insurgency in the past, it's a restricted area, non-bangladeshis need permission from the home ministry to go there. Guide Tours - the folks who also handled my sundarban trip has a nice hotel called Milon Chori resort there. I've never been there. I was excited about spending a few days inhaling fresh air, reading a geology book I've been meaning to read for last six years, and taking relaxing walk in the forest. And find my inner calm in a paradise like atmosphere (add your own angels with harps, cute kids with ethnic trinklets) .
For the non-initiated, Bandarban (literally meaning forest of monkeys) is in the southeast part of Bangladesh. Because of tribal insurgency in the past, it's a restricted area, non-bangladeshis need permission from the home ministry to go there. Guide Tours - the folks who also handled my sundarban trip has a nice hotel called Milon Chori resort there. I've never been there. I was excited about spending a few days inhaling fresh air, reading a geology book I've been meaning to read for last six years, and taking relaxing walk in the forest. And find my inner calm in a paradise like atmosphere (add your own angels with harps, cute kids with ethnic trinklets) .Think again.
In reality, this was a vacation in purgatory, just when you thought it was hell, there was another level to fall down to. And I promised myself, I would never ever set foot on another Guide Tour packaged tour.
First, after a ten hour bus ride, one of the two cars taking us to the destination broke down.
Second, Guide Tours didn't inform the proper people it seemed, since we got stopped at every army point and were detained while they cleared it with their command post.
Third, we got to Ruma Bazar, and then I found out that it was a six hours walk to Boga Lake, where we'll be staying. And we had to carry our own bags.
Here's a before picture of me (2pm).
And here's the after picture (6.30pm). Don't I look slimmer?
