Victory Day, Eid, Christmas, and New Year's.
All of the above fell in 2.5 weeks. Some were more enjoyable than others!
Victory Day was on December 16th. It was in 1971 that the Pakistan army surrendered ending the war of independence. All around Dhaka there were celebrations and flags everywhere.
The next holiday was Eid. This was is not so enjoyable. Families than can afford it buy cows or goats and sacrifice them. Let's just say we stayed in that day. They divide the meat into 3 sections. 1/3 they keep, 1/3 goes to their poor relatives, and 1/3 to the poor. For at least a week before animals were coming into the city from villages. Watching 3 men struggling with a massive cow was somewhat amusing... until I saw a cow hit by a truck because the men couldn't control it.
So in the car garages and on the streets the butcher comes and does away with your animal. That morning looking up our street was not pretty. Animal carcases and blood running everywhere. After Eid the streets are less than sanitary. The smell and sight of blood was disturbing.
YEAH FOR CHRISTMAS! After several attempts at the travel agent to get out of Dhaka for Christmas (as 99% of the people I know did)... we ended up at the Westin. It would have been pretty pathetic to stay home in our apt with no tree or carols with one, if not the best, hotel in Dhaka and only 2 mins up the road!!!
No gifts for Christmas this year... Sleeping on a pillow-top mattress with a duvet was a Christmas present in itself. Okay so I bought myself one present.. and wrapped it myself.. yeah I know.. how sad is that. Oh well.
New Years. Okay...so I am an old woman. When Bangladeshis say they are going to "dance the night away". They mean it. Literally it was 5 am and breakfast was being served and most people were still getting down on the dance floor. I do not have the energy (or the dance moves) to keep up. And apparently neither could Sean.
FYI... I only have a month and a half left!
4 comments:
The picture with the blood and such....disgusting. I think I would have thrown up everywhere. So glad I was not there to see that. As for the rest, glad to see you had some enjoyable times. Sorry about the x-mas presents, but when you get back we'll go shopping. The next little bit of time will fly by.
Sorry the holidays were not very pleasant, but the "shit" hits the fan sometimes. Didn't want to send over any packages as I didn't know if you would get them all. Looks like you enjoyed some festivities. Time will go by pretty fast now Ashley, so keep your chin up, smile and grin and bear it. Enjoy it while you can!! Hope you get to China for some vacation days. Talk to you later. Love MOM
that blood pic was sooo gross thank goodness you cant send us the smell of it... well i cant believe your almost done if feels like you just left. take care of yourself and see you soon!
where mah updatez?
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