3rd One Day International, Dhaka

Trip Start Aug 23, 1996
1
261
451
Trip End Ongoing


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Friday, April 28, 2006

There were a few things we wanted to see in Old Dhaka, we grabbed a cycle rickshaw and headed of to the Pink Palace. Once we had arrived, we noticed that everything was closed, and then we read the sign, the palace was closed on Thursdays. Then a guy called us over and said we could have a minute taking a photo or two. We wandered over, taking it in and it was covered in scaffold. The colour was also faded, so we took our photos and walked out. We were asked for baksheesh, but we ignored him and went for a walk along the river. It was quite dirty but there was action taking place everywhere. Beggers were out in their droves, and once again, we ignored them and walked on. We came upon a Mosque, and we decided to have a look as we had not seen a Bangladeshi Mosque. In we went, and then a commotion happened. It seemed, for the first time on this trip, we were not welcome. One guy was grabbing my arm, and once I told him that it would be the last thing he would do, he let go, so we left them doing there Islamic thing. Up the road was the Lalbagh fort. It is the only Mughal building in Bangers, so we paid and went in. There are only three buildings inside, a Mosque, a Tomb and a Museum, but what mainly caught the eye, were all of the couples, sitting on the grass, holding each other's hands, or touching legs and faces. The first bit of affection we have seen on the Sub Continent, unlike the normal boy on boy thing !!! Also, for some reason, out on the roads, there were loads of students, protesting about something. Fuck knows what, but they were causing pandemonium. As we still had the Liberation War Museum, we went looking for that instead. Along the way, some kids started throwing rocks at us, I found a guy who could speak Benglish and he yelled abuse at them, so they ran away. Once there, it showed loads of horrifying pictures of the people of Bangladesh during their war with Pakistan. What was more disturbing was that a local had written that it made him want to rape Pakistani women. Fuck me, some people are so stupid.

As Friday is a day off, we lined up with shitloads of people to get a bus to the cricket. Because of this, we arrived late, missed the toss, and also the fall of the first Bangers wicket.They fell pretty steadily through the day, and then they were all out for 124. During the day, a rather fat Aussie had made his debut. Mark Cosgrove. He had had a bowl, and we were all interested in seeing his form with the bat. He opened up with Katich, and started to hit the ball around. He was very impressive. He raced to his 50, and with 4 runs needed, he went for the big one, and was bowled. It was great way to start his One Day career. Hogg came out and the first ball he faced, he put it away for four. Cosgrove won the Man of the Match, most runs to Bashar, most wickets to Hogg, safest hands to Gilchrist, and Hogg won the player of the series.

The two Pommie boys, Rob and Chris, had managed to get us free tickets for the last two ODI's, we needed to pay them back in some way. Over the last couple of nights, we had been going to the Australian High Commission as there is a bar there, and whilst we were there, I heard that they were having a barbie for the players and it was a members only night. I had a quick word with Dougie, the Aussie High Commissioner, and he said he would sign us in. Upon arrival on Friday night, the guards wouldn't let us in, so we asked for Dougie. He was already half cut, and said that he couldn't leave four Aussies outside. Considering three were Poms, and I have a Pommie passport as well, it was a great line. The boys took it as an insult, and in we went, straight to the bar which had been named the Dizzy Two Ton Bar in honour of Jason Gillespie. We ordered, tried to pay, and was told tonight was on the house. Half of the team turned up, we had words with the new boys, Cullen and Cosgrove, we thanked Steve Bernard for the freebies, making sure that we are now in his good books for the future, and also met the press officer, who is another Pom, hopefully, we will see him in the future for the same reason. As the night rolled on, a guitar came out and the pissed drunks started to play and sing, lead by Brett Lee. Dougie, who was shitfaced by this stage, was trying to take over like only a good High Commissioner should !!! The boys were happy, as there was free piss, but it was getting late, and we have to get up early as we have a plane to catch in the morning. Outside, we were mobbed by cycle rickshaw drivers, so Chris and I grabbed one each and had a race. I nearly crashed mine going over a speed hump, and then I nearly ran into a tree, and then nearly hit him as I took him up the left. We might not hold the Ashes at the moment, but I did Australia proud in winning the race. We jumped off, said hello to the ladyboy whores, then jumped into a taxi and bid farewell to this part of Dhaka. It had been a great way to spend our last night in Bangers.

So, that was Bangers. There were loads of things that we did not see, but overall, from what we saw, the country was left behind during the British Raj days. The food isn't the best and the people are highly uneducated. Amazingly, for the first time in all of Asia, there are not many mootorbikes. It was quite amazing having people constantly surrounding us or even following us where ever we went, but you did get sick of them sticking their phones in your face and taking a photo of you.

Would we go back. Most probably not, but stranger things have happened.
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