stockthewarehouse.org

Bright Lights, Big City - Big Noise, Big Smog & Big Mess
{the clamour of dhaka}

Scarce resources, shrinking land and a lack of job opportunities have transformed Bangladesh into what some describe as single-city state. The prospect of steady work in textile factories or driving a bicycle rickshaw in Dhaka attracts people from outlying rural regions to the capital city every day, which has resulted in a four-fold increase in Dhaka’s population over the past 25 years and made it the fastest growing city in the world. While officially, Dhaka is said to have a population of 13 million, in actual fact the number is said to be much higher, somewhere between 15 to 20 million and growing every day; in a span of merely 15 years, the city’s population has managed to double. Locals lament the growing traffic problem, which in many cases has transformed a daily 10-kilometer commute into a horrendous 5-hour back-and-forth ordeal.

CHAPEAU
La fumée me brûle les yeux, mais j’essaie de bien conserver mon sourire: c'est ma seule clé pour obtenir ce que je souhaite, des billets de train. Assise, cette bête mâche lentement et agressivement son cigare birman. Sa chemise complètement déboutonnée et impose à mon regard un ventre nu et poilu qui déborde par dessus la ceinture. Une cicatrice démontre un conflit jadis avec une ethnie frontalière et ses tatouages en bamar le protègent de tout mal. Son pantalon brun foncé remplace le longyi traditionnel, cette étoffe de coton que tous birmans portent autour de la taille. Sa carabine américaine M16 repose par terre à ses pieds. Tout employé de la dictature doit porter le costume officiel, pantalon brun, chemise verte foncée avec le sigle officiel du militaire: deux fusils rouges croisé sur chaque épaule.

Have you ever found yourself lost while wandering the corridors of a strange city? I mean really lost, intentionally lost, with no real care to find your way or any intention of making it anywhere on your travel list? If you’ve never sauntered down a road fully prepared to lose your way, then I highly recommend you give it a try.

On a recent trip to Spain, my travel buddy and I decided to do away with our carefully composed itinerary, determined instead to get a little lost. We knew there was a lot to see in this vibrant Iberian peninsula, but for once weren’t stressed about fitting it all in. What a liberating way to travel!

The signs of Usain Bolt mania were still visible as I travelled along Jamaica’s north coast last December, although it had been over four months since the then 22 year old  runner won gold, setting new Olympic records for the 100 and 200 metre races, and again with the island’s 400 metre relay team.  Jamaican flags flew from taxi radio antennas and the Olympian’s name adorned the walls of many roadside shops. Despite the celebrations, there were other signs that did not speak of good times ahead. These signs pointed to a global financial crisis that threatened to adversely affect tourism, the island’s primary foreign exchange earner.

It’s nighttime at Anse La Ray, a fishing village on St Lucia’s south coast where locals and tourists jostle, anxious to taste the day’s catch.  Fried king fish in an herbed batter, steamed spiced red snapper, served with bake, indigenous fried bread; roast corns and stuffed crabs lay invitingly on madras cloth covered tables.  The April moon, dim lights, pulsating island music and the constant flow of people exchanging money for food, local arts and crafts, give the night a carnival feel.