Happy New Year and all the best for 2013. After surviving Malaysia on holiday Madam and I (the TS) arrived back in Dhaka to be confronted with noise, dust, traffic, and general Dhakaness coupled with a severe lack of temperature. Now being a hardy Scot, this wasn't too much of an issue. I mean the temperature was probably a dry Scottish summer - I emphasize dry by the way. However after 30C+ temperatures in Kuala Lumpur, it was a bit of shock.
Since getting back, the TS has had to don his jumper. Yep it is cold - allegedly the coldest temperature in 45 years Not bad since Bangladesh has been only in existence since December 1971. No ice yet and it hasn't stopped me from going in the pool (not heated - why would you) which is akin to the cold plunge at the Western Baths, I hasten to add, but it is a bit nippy.
The big problem is the current accommodation which is still transit. That is when they don't know where to put you and they stick you in a holding 'cell' before they have identified the 'right' place or more realistically what they can afford whether it is 'right' or not. Apart from the lack of sun this current place gets (stuck in between 3 construction sites on 3 sides and pointing in the wrong direction on the vacant side), stone floors, myriads of air conditioning units, the flat is colder inside than outside. Last night, Madam and I were on the sofa under a blanket to watch tv - it is not as romantic as it sounds I can assure you. The things a TS has to dutifully do! Even our cleaner was saying it was cold, no matter how hard she dusted! Maybe not hard enough then - anyhow.
When you wonder around, the Dhaka residents have taken to ingenious ways of wearing clothing to keep warm. If they have them they wear their wooly hat under any official hat they have to wear - definitely not one for the fashionistas amongst you. If not, then rather than tying their scarf around their neck, it is tied around their head to keep their ears warm. All that is missing is a tartan shopping trolley, and they wouldn't look out of place with the old dears walking down the street in the UK.
Thankfully Bangladesh has not been hit as hard with the cold weather unlike India where people are dying, but I am not sure how long that will be before it happens here. This part of the world, they are just not geared up for it, even when it is in the low teens. So when normally you would scoff at such temperatures, here when they say it is cold, then it is life threatening. Fingers crossed it warms up and I don't have to keep warming up Madam!
Since getting back, the TS has had to don his jumper. Yep it is cold - allegedly the coldest temperature in 45 years Not bad since Bangladesh has been only in existence since December 1971. No ice yet and it hasn't stopped me from going in the pool (not heated - why would you) which is akin to the cold plunge at the Western Baths, I hasten to add, but it is a bit nippy.
The big problem is the current accommodation which is still transit. That is when they don't know where to put you and they stick you in a holding 'cell' before they have identified the 'right' place or more realistically what they can afford whether it is 'right' or not. Apart from the lack of sun this current place gets (stuck in between 3 construction sites on 3 sides and pointing in the wrong direction on the vacant side), stone floors, myriads of air conditioning units, the flat is colder inside than outside. Last night, Madam and I were on the sofa under a blanket to watch tv - it is not as romantic as it sounds I can assure you. The things a TS has to dutifully do! Even our cleaner was saying it was cold, no matter how hard she dusted! Maybe not hard enough then - anyhow.
When you wonder around, the Dhaka residents have taken to ingenious ways of wearing clothing to keep warm. If they have them they wear their wooly hat under any official hat they have to wear - definitely not one for the fashionistas amongst you. If not, then rather than tying their scarf around their neck, it is tied around their head to keep their ears warm. All that is missing is a tartan shopping trolley, and they wouldn't look out of place with the old dears walking down the street in the UK.
Thankfully Bangladesh has not been hit as hard with the cold weather unlike India where people are dying, but I am not sure how long that will be before it happens here. This part of the world, they are just not geared up for it, even when it is in the low teens. So when normally you would scoff at such temperatures, here when they say it is cold, then it is life threatening. Fingers crossed it warms up and I don't have to keep warming up Madam!