The first in your face experience in Dhaka is getting around. The roads and traffic are horrendous and scary. Initially one is too scared to cross the road but now we run between the traffic holding out our hand like a seasoned local which encourages the vehicles to stop - although they rarely do.
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| A well used bus |
The buses are amazing! All the buses look as though they have been in a demolition derby. With dents and damage all over them. They slow down, but often don't stop to let people on and off. They don't pull over and will often stop in the middle of the round creating chaos all around them as people run through the cars to board them.
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| Let's jump now |
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| A 'CNG' |
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| Bus chaos |
The roads are crowded with a menagerie of vehicles and people. Humans push incredible loads of supplies on the deck of wheeled carts through speeding buses and trucks. As well there are small green 'tuk-tuks' ducking between cars. They are called CNGs here. They look like death traps because you are caged in.
When one wishes to enter a stream of traffic you just turn into it depending on the courage of the driver. The stream is supposed to let you in.
As well there are rickshaws everywhere. They can be quite quick because they go up narrow alleys and can avoid traffic congestion. But in places they add to the chaos by going the wrong way along main roads, crossing across streams of traffic and basically being completely devoid of road rules.
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| Rickshaw Alley |
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| Which way do I go? |
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| Lets just hang out! |
The roads are also a congregating place for people especially rickshaws. They all hang out at street corners filling up half the road.
They streets are filled with a constant sound of horns being blasted. Drivers use their horn in place of the their brake. It means 'I'm coming get out of the way'
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| Our street |
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| Our apartment |
Our suburb while only a few minutes from a main road is very peaceful. One end of the suburb is blocked off so there is no through traffic. The roads are quiet and the streets full of greenery. Our apartment building is an oasis of calm.
Every day in the car to and from school (about 15 minutes in the morning and 25 minutes coming home) is an adventure. There are very few crashes which is due to the fact the traffic hardly moves at times and the amazing skill of the drivers.
