Three Little Weirdo

Finally I saw foreigners on my way to Azad Products. They were two Chinese – S and Q who were happily savoring pomelo on the street. It had been awhile since I see foreigners in the airport. In fact it was just less than a week but it felt so long. I bet they also think the same and it turned out to be true. Apparently they also ran into each other and decided to travel together. I asked them why they would come to Bangladesh. Their answer is unsurprising - they have been to many countries except Bangladesh. They claimed that whoever comes to Bangladesh must be a weirdo. I smiled.

I was told that there are more and more Chinese backpackers travelling around the world nowadays. While the Chinese usually call backpacking as ‘having fun’, their way of travelling is actually quite multi-dimensional to me. Two of them have been couchsurfing and their encounters with the local are more interesting. I had been couchsurfing during On the Road 1.0 too. While it is the easiest way to mingle with the local and learn about their custom and culture, one usually needs to compromise his/her freedom. Well, for a day or two. This always makes me hesitant and reluctant. Anyway, I think this serves as a timely eye-opener for me especially to my way of travel which is generally dull, monotonous and unsurprising. I need to be more open and flexible.

Three little weirdo, Dhaka, Jul'19

It was really a fulfilling meet, if not too short, with the two Chinese. Otherwise, I couldn’t imagine how to kill the time for the two days being stranded in Dhaka because of the Rocket Steamer.