SubscribeDhaka Construction
Building site watching is a hobby for some of the expats here in Dhaka. So many strange and interesting ways to get things done. Rarely do they use machines to do any of the actual building because there is such an abundance of cheap man power. Although, here they are riding up and down on the machine that lays the concrete pylons. There used to be a three story building across the street but the entire structure was dismantled by hand and sledge hammer. Now we have the rare noisy treat of watching the new building go up. We figure it is a private residence because they did not dig out enough space for an apartment, (this is good). What they did dig out filled quickly with the muddy soil that they are building on. The machine in the video is set up multiple times. It might suck out the mud first as it smashes the metal cylinder into the ground but not likely. After the cylinder is buried they fill it with concrete. Next comes all the rebar that is bent and laid by hand.
More to come . . .
Eid al-Adha
8"The Festival of Sacrifice" Eid ... Eid Mubarak! For the first time in 7 years we stayed in our host country during the Eid al-Adha festivities and sacrifices. We'd always heard about the sheep in Syria and blood running red in the streets but always fled in order to get our vacation time. Not this time. In Bangladesh the families that can afford sacrifice cows (100USD) ... and boy there were a lot. 5 million slaughtered ... I'm sure there are crazy numbers like that all over the world but here it's all on in the streets. I've been told that in other more developed countries this is all done by the butcher behind closed doors but here the butcher travels down the street visiting the houses. In all it's a very festive and giving time. The actual slaughtering of the cows had a very serious and religious tone and is done quickly, humanely, and cleanly. It was interesting to see the animals paraded around, some even decorated mildly. Since Indian Hindu's revere cows, we often joke that they should have run for the border but apparently there used to be big trade in cows during this time and since ties have suffered between the two countries there was a ban on Indian cows ... These are supposedly all Bangladeshi cows ... from where I do not know.
The sacrifice is to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmal as an act of obedience to God. At the time of sacrifice, God's name is recited along with the offering statement and a supplication as Muhammad said. According to the Quran, the meat is divided into three shares, one share for the poor, one share for the relatives and neighbors and the last to keep to oneself. A large portion of the meat must be given towards the poor and hungry people so they can all join in the feast which is held on Eid al-Adha. The remainder is cooked for the family celebration meal in which relatives and friends are invited to share. There are strict rules on the animal, which must meet age and quality standards. The sacrifice is conducted on the day after the pilgrims on the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca) descend from Mount Arafat. Please check wikipedia.com for all facts and figures.
The sacrifice is to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmal as an act of obedience to God. At the time of sacrifice, God's name is recited along with the offering statement and a supplication as Muhammad said. According to the Quran, the meat is divided into three shares, one share for the poor, one share for the relatives and neighbors and the last to keep to oneself. A large portion of the meat must be given towards the poor and hungry people so they can all join in the feast which is held on Eid al-Adha. The remainder is cooked for the family celebration meal in which relatives and friends are invited to share. There are strict rules on the animal, which must meet age and quality standards. The sacrifice is conducted on the day after the pilgrims on the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca) descend from Mount Arafat. Please check wikipedia.com for all facts and figures.
Thanksgiving Traffic
So Thanksgiving was a while day affair here in Dhaka. I got to play flag football in the "turkey bowl" (yeah me and flag football??! and I was a lineman for the most part). There were 4 teams playing and I got a cool jersey with my name on it. And I was blocking a 400 pound Samoan man.
Also that Thursday ,one of the two main political parties (the BNP) was selecting their MPs candidates which made traffic horrendous. People were being bused in, streets were closed, and it was general chaos in the small diplomatic zone we live in. The mentality of Bangli drivers, rickwash wallas, people on bikes, walkers, cow carts, and what ever else is fit to roam the streets is this: if there is a gap then fill it regardless of the fact it's the other lane or that it might causes gridlock. Get there ... and get there fast and before the guy in front of you. It took hours to travel a couple kilometers. At one point I found my van on a street with barracades blocking the way (bamboo poles and lots of armed gaurds) cars were still streaming in behind and the guards were telling people to turn around. Within seconds there were cars pointed in every direction and no one was going anywhere. I rolled down my window and gestured the international sign for "what the hell do i do?" the gaurd smacked a car in front of my and made him back up and waved me through the barricade. I was the only car driving down road 86 where the BNP headquarters are and went through 3 more barricades. TV crews, mobs of people, lots of guns and gaurds and rapid action battalion (RAB) troops. Luckily there was more traffic on the other side and I made it to the first game just a little late.
The holidays!!
Since we are resigned to and accepted that we are spending the first Christmas at home (in Dhaka) in seven years of being overseas. We are actually looking at it as a blessing. Plane tickets are still outrageous (750 to fly to Bangkok ... 2 hours away), packing, airports, hotels, beaches, blue water, fancy cocktails with little umbrellas, rest and relaxation....wait ... shake it off! We are staying put and are excited about it. We think E's first X-mas should be home affair and we are doing something we have not done in 7 years ... getting a Christmas tree! So we went to nursery road and strolled the mosquito infested lanes to look for a suitable replacement for the traditional tree. 
Here we decide on a what we are calling a Charlie Brown tree which they 'cleaned and washed' for us for no extra charge. The tree cost 1200 taka (about 17 bucks ).
We thought that we'd be able to jump out and pick one up quickly but we nevertheless walked from nursery to nursery asking them to pull out their trees and spin them so we could get a better look. We completely baffled them sellers: " this is a good tree" , "nice tree nice tree" and "what price you pay". We tried to explain what the tree was for but that was completely lost in translation. After as much shuffling from tree to tree we decided on the one pictured. So it's Christmas in Dhaka for the new McEwen family trio. We are decorating it and enjoying beginning family traditions. We looking forward to almost 4 weeks of baby time, video editing, recording music, quilting, lounging, not working, catching up on DVDs, sleeping in, and Bangladeshi elections. Merry holidays .. more to come.
Here we decide on a what we are calling a Charlie Brown tree which they 'cleaned and washed' for us for no extra charge. The tree cost 1200 taka (about 17 bucks ).
We thought that we'd be able to jump out and pick one up quickly but we nevertheless walked from nursery to nursery asking them to pull out their trees and spin them so we could get a better look. We completely baffled them sellers: " this is a good tree" , "nice tree nice tree" and "what price you pay". We tried to explain what the tree was for but that was completely lost in translation. After as much shuffling from tree to tree we decided on the one pictured. So it's Christmas in Dhaka for the new McEwen family trio. We are decorating it and enjoying beginning family traditions. We looking forward to almost 4 weeks of baby time, video editing, recording music, quilting, lounging, not working, catching up on DVDs, sleeping in, and Bangladeshi elections. Merry holidays .. more to come.
Breakies in Dhaka
I thought for future reference it would be interesting to look back a typical Saturday morning breakfast at the American Club. Sometime after taking the picture I realized how stupid it sounded but thought I'd share any ways. As you can see we are partial to the 'home fries' and a Gilbert's is a kick ass version of an egg McMuffin. Not bad for prices for a leisurely Saturday morning breakfast.
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