TravelStream™ news feed for member naseem on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/naseem en-us Copyright ©2010 TravelPod.com Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:49:56 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/7/1228904220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/7/1228904220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/7/1228904220/tpod.html Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:49:56 -0500 Barcelona December 2008

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and Canary Islands

During our three day stay in Barcelona, we have done the following things:

For photos, pls click http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11734&l=bb8e1&id=1099220433

1. Visited Sagrada Familia - which is the most famous landmark of Barcelona. The construction started in the early 19th century and still going on. The forecast is that it will take another 50 years to be completed
2. Montjiuc : We have visited the Montjuic palace, and enjoyed the wonderful view for barca from its tarrace. In the evening the musical fountain started at 7:00 PM. This was wonderful.
3. We have taken a cable car ride from Montjuic to Barceloneta beach. Simply wonderful
4. Visited the aquirium of barcelona at the old port
5. Visited the Tower Agbar : Suparb new architechture with lights. This building turns vivid with its Blue, Red and white light combinations
6. Spent a lot of time on La Rambla and done most fo the shoppings from here
7. Visited the Zoo. This zoo is not big is size but really suparb in planning and display of the wildlife and of-course the dolfin show. Whoever visits barcelona, I request you do not miss it.
8. Visited the Gothic Quarter and Picasso Musium
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/7/1228473360/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/7/1228473360/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/7/1228473360/tpod.html Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:57:57 -0500 Barcelona December 2008

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and Canary Islands

We were trying to make best of the holidays of 6-8th December and Tasfin came up with a low fare trip to Barcelona. I joined the bandwagon and eventually found myself on board of the Ryanair plane in the evening of 5th December. When we left Rome, it was raining, but we found a pleasent weather in Barcelona. Although it was mostly gloomy and cold, but at-least there was no rain which allowed us to move a lot. We arrived at Girona, which is around 100KM from barcelona at around 9:30 PM. I was expecting some immigration checking at the airport, but to my surprise, there was none and I entered Spain without been asked for my passport or any other thing. Since I am from Bangladesh, I am used to such things all around the globe. We figured out that since its a trip inside EU, so my Italian immigration is good enough for the whole EU region.

We took the bus service from Giroa to Barcelona , which cost €12 one way. The bus took us to Nord bus station. We had booked a hotel near Paral.lel , Hotel Coronado. A metro took us to the Paral.lel station. Here is a tip for tourists going to Barcelona. This city has a wonderful system of Metro which connects you to almost all the points of the city. The transport ticket also affordable .. we preferred the ticket of €7.2 which was good for 10 trips. The city also have trams and well developed buse system. And as tourist maps are available at any point of the city, so there is vertually no chance to get lost in the city.

We arrived the hotel at 11:30 PM and after settling in, ventured out to have dinner. Fortunately, we found a resturant which is run by a Bangladeshi Migrant just besides the Paral.lel station. It was a great relief for me as I have reservation about food and try to eat Halal. Later we found that the city is full of people from the subcontinent. People from india runs the souvenir shops and Pakistani people runs the internet, cyber cafe and resturants
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/6/1227284700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/6/1227284700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/6/1227284700/tpod.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:34:46 -0500 Rome for 4 months

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Rome, Lazio, Italy

I arrived at Rome on 18th November 2008 noon. The flight was wonderful and the immigration went flawlessly. It took hardly 2 minute at the immigration counter and I officially entered Italy. In the Airport, I saw lots of Alitalia planes, covered with oil and rust and I was wondering why the national airline of a country like Italy is in such a shape. Later in the night I saw in the news that it became bankruppt and sold to a businessman. I wish our Biman gets a lesson from this.

Anyway, as a benificiary of priority customers of Emirates, I got my bags quite quickly and started for the exit. A driver from our local office should pick me up. On the way to the exit, I was challanged by the authority twice.. once for the Dubai Duty free bag I was carrying (it had 10 packs of ciggarates for one of my colleague) and again at the exit point, where I met the driver. This time a police, asked me where I am to and if I have any money?? Well, I shrugged as I am holding a green passport of Bangladesh.Some people from so called developed world holds a negetive view about us irrespective of our status.

I arrived at parco de medici in the afternnon. Its pretty cold here less then 9 degree .
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/6/1227284400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/6/1227284400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/6/1227284400/tpod.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:24:38 -0500 Rome for 4 months

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

On my way to Rome, I had 9 hours stopover at Dubai. I spent the night in a nice suit at Al Sandos by Le meridian. thanks to the hospitability of Emirates, the whole journey was nice. In my opinion, Emirates is the best airline in the whole world, and they are at their best when the traveller is in one of their Boeing 777-300 ERs.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/6/1226938680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/6/1226938680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/6/1226938680/tpod.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:19:59 -0500 Rome for 4 months

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Dhaka City, Dhaka, Bangladesh

I was looking forward to visit Rome, and I flew to rome on 17th november 2008. I tried to take my gfamity with me, but failed due to visa issues.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/5/1219403460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/5/1219403460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/5/1219403460/tpod.html Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:06:31 -0500 Doha : 12 hours at airport lounge

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Doha, Qatar

It was a long experience.. I spent 12 hours at Doha airport during my travel to Dhaka. I expected this journey to be a nice one from my previous experience with Qatar airways, but ultimately it became a nightmare. First, as I got urgent SOS call from Bangladesh Office, I ran to change my ticket. It turned out that Qatar Airways has changed their office location from Sofitel hotel and nobody knows the new address. Finally with the help of another driver from our Algerian office, we could locate the new premises. The next thing was about the money. I had USD in mu wallet, but had to pay 4000 DZD for the ticket change. Strange thing is Algeria is that they do not use credit cards, I could not change the USD notes in a nearby bank. So we drove some kilometers to get a black market and got the changes. On the way to the Airport, there are many check-posts, only god knows why. I never seen the police searches any body in these check posts. The check posts only create huge traffic jam and its particularly painful when you are running to catch a plane. At the airport, I had another problem with my luggage. I had around 65 KGs of belongings and my allowed limit was 40 KG. So I had to do some adjustments in the airport, including taking out around 15 KGs, put them in three shopping bags and take them as accompanied luggage. The Airport security in Algiers is also a horrible thing. I had to pass at least three security screening before getting on-board of the plane. The funniest thing is that the last checkpoint was inside the boarding gate.

I was traveling in First Class in Algiers-Doha Leg and the flight went smoothly. Once I arrived in Doha, they took us to the new First & Business Class lounge. The transit was for 12 hours, so I tried to get a hotel reservation for the time. But as I am a Bangladeshi Citizen, I was not allowed for an on arrival visa in Qatar. I was traveling in Business class in Doha-Dhaka leg, so I was sent to the lounge. The lounge was nicely furnished but it was full of people, so lot of noise. I tried to get a nap on the chairs, but was unsuccessful in doing so. The next to hours I tried to get asleep, but at one point I gave up. In the morning, the bus came for us and I was finally on board of the Dhaka bound plane. Fortunately for me, the seat was a flat bed, so I felt asleep as soon as the plane took off and finally wake-up after four hours.

Home Sweet Home..
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/4/1215596400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/4/1215596400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/4/1215596400/tpod.html Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:04:07 -0400 In Algiers, Algeria

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Algiers, Algeria

Well, there are not many developments since my last posting here. We are here on an assignment which allows us to enjoy a lot of free time. The major changes happened during this time that some other colleagues of us joined us here from Cairo and among them two of my Bangladeshi colleagues. So after a long time I could speak Bangla here :). Now a days we three go out every night and search restaurants for Rice cooked in traditional Bangla style. We even taught a cook at a local restaurant to prepare omelet in Bangladeshi style. Here the Algerian food is damn good. However, Bangla food is best for our Bangladeshi tongs..

We miss the food that two of our colleagues regularly cooked voluntarily during our Cairo stay.

The other change that happened is our residence. We have moved to Mercure Hotel, which is very near to our office. This is a very good hotel with all the modern facilities. When we moved in, I was initially allotted a room on the 3rd floor. The room was very good but it had one flaw..The roof of the hotel lobby is up to 2nd floor and my room was just on it. So all I could view from my window is a huge grey roof in front of me. However, upon my request, the room is now changed to 11th floor so I have a better view now.

From the official sources we learned that, it may not be possible for them to extend my visa from inside Algeria. I have to extend my visa before our planned vacation in Mid August. So it seem that I need to fly to Cairo once more before going to Bangladesh, Get the visa and then go to Dhaka from Cairo. It would not be a problem for me but I am not feeling easy due to a possible delay in the leave. My son in Dhaka (he is 7 yrs now) declared that he will not let me enter the home if I make further late here. Also I miss my daughter (she is 3 month old now and born after I came to Cairo).. I need to see her and hold her in my arms..
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/4/1212926280/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/4/1212926280/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/4/1212926280/tpod.html Sun, 08 Jun 2008 08:27:46 -0400 In Algiers, Algeria

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Algiers, Algeria

So after arriving here, we did not find much to do. Specially, the hotel where we are living, is almost 30 KM away from downtown and Taxi is something that you will not find easily here, so we are almost confined here in the evening. We usually go to the office and after return, have nothing to do except a short stroll on the cournice. The area as called some thing like "Flor-Du-Lu" and just by the sea. People says that this area is live till midnight in the summer, but the summer has not yet started. So, after the sunset (which is around 8:00 PM) all the shops closes by 9:00, and the resturants closes by 10:00.

We try to taste different types of food that we can find around. Once we tried Pizza, the other day we tried the grilled chicken, than Fried chicken and one night we tried a "Posh" restrant called "The Pokar das". The resturant is relatively better than the others (although we found that one of the Napkin has hole in it due to old age). The food staff are good but in my opinion they are not value for money.

Yesterday we went to the downtown. Our office has provided us with a car to take us there. The driver parked the car at one end of the city and we visited the city on foot as much as we could in four hours. The city center is nice and full of people and activity. Algiers is a hilly city .. at one side it has the sea and on the other it has hills so the roads are elevated to different levels accordingly.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/4/1212346680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/4/1212346680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/4/1212346680/tpod.html Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:23:00 -0400 In Algiers, Algeria

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Algiers, Algeria

The first part of our Egypt assignment is finished and now we are in Algeria. We arrived here via a Egyptair plane (Airbus A-320) and the flight took four hours. The plane journey was boring as there is almost no inflight entertainment for me.. ( I do not understand Arabic or French) and my seat was an isle one, so I had nothing to do.

The check out and immegration at Algiers airport also went fine. We finally got in the car at 12:30 PM local time

The road from Airport to the hotel is beautiful. We noticed one particular thing of Algerian Driving.. The drivers are really careful and always eady to give way to other cars and padestrians. After staying at Cairo for three months, it's a strange thing for us.. (The drivers of Cairo are Crazy.. and do not care to give way to anybody and always are at speed more then 100KM) .

The hotel is a small one just by the mediterrain sea. We got a nice little appartment facing the sea. However, two of my colleagues (Vittorio & Amir) found themselves at the other side of the building so missing the wonderful view.

Our local colleague, Amar came to visit us and took us to launch. Then we returned to hotel.

We also had dinner with Amar (This guy is wonderful) who took us to the Grill district of Algiers . Amar told us that in Algiers they have separate districts for different type of food one for Grilled staff, one for sea food etc
We went for the grills and the food war faboulous. After the dinnr, we went for a mini city trip in Amars' Fiat. We then went to the Icecream district to have some icecream. On the way to hotel Amar screamed "Look out" and we saw a Big wild boar run accross the road . By the way, Algiers is a hilly city with lots of Woods and Girdens and wild animals thrive there.

We returned to the hotel at 12:00 AM and I slept instantly..


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/3/1206293460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/3/1206293460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/naseem/3/1206293460/tpod.html Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:34:37 -0400 Egypt Again.. This time for three months

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt


]]>