So...I am finally getting around to writing my blog post after three weeks of being in Dhaka. It took at bit to get to the point that I could admit that I was so far away from my loved ones and in a totally shocking place that yes, last time I checked is still on Earth.
Our trip here was very interesting and I should probably start there and maybe I will not feel like I have written to much after that tale to say what we have experienced in the last three weeks. Three weeks, really? That's all. It seems like months since I have left the U.S. Call it culture shock or jetlag or suvivalism, but I feel like I have been here for much much longer than three weeks.
We had issues getting out of country. Mainly they involved visas and people that are not really knowledgeable of travelling to or through certain countries, namely India. Noone could tell us if we needed a visa and when it became apparent in the final hour that there was a chance we could get stuck in India without visas that would take at least 2 weeks to get, we went into survival mode. No, we are not going that route and if you didn't tell us we needed visas when that was a possibility, we will fly a different route. We had no home and were not staying in a hotel for 2 weeks to wait. The eventual plan was not to go through Dehli, but go from D.C. to Japan (13 hours) for a quick switch, then to Bangkok (6 hours), sleep for 5 hours and fly to Dhaka (2.5 hours).
We did it. I got over my flying thing b/c security and making sure your bags weigh right and having children to keep happy kind of took precedence. Dying in a plane crash was not on the radar.
The kids were amazing flyers and did great. Only Isobel melted down on the Japan to Bangkok trip because she was overtired and could not get comfortable. This was about 8 am U.S. time and she had maybe had an hour nap the whole night.
The flight included a drunk guy that had cussed at the flight attendant because she would not serve anymore because he was waayyyy drunk. She came back with other flight attendants and who I presume was an air marshall. He got handcuffed for a bit and passed out. Then later I noticed him stumbling around. He had to have brought his own hooch on because I am pretty sure I only was offered two drinks the first flight. Then, of course he showed up on our flight to Japan, still stumbling but happy to pass out and sitting right behind me. I then commented to Andy, "Wow, there sure have been a lot of single dudes on the plane to Bangkok." He said, "Duh." Oh yeah, that is something I hadn't really thought of...yuck!
We arrived in Bangkok safely and went to the closest possible hotel, the Novotel that had a shuttle. We were spoiled for sure, which was perfect because I couldn't have done anything for myself at that point, let alone my kids. The carried our bags, got us to the room and showed up at 1am local time with room service. All we could do was shower, eat and pass out.
Then we woke up early to catch our flight to Dhaka.....oh the supense.
Our trip here was very interesting and I should probably start there and maybe I will not feel like I have written to much after that tale to say what we have experienced in the last three weeks. Three weeks, really? That's all. It seems like months since I have left the U.S. Call it culture shock or jetlag or suvivalism, but I feel like I have been here for much much longer than three weeks.
We had issues getting out of country. Mainly they involved visas and people that are not really knowledgeable of travelling to or through certain countries, namely India. Noone could tell us if we needed a visa and when it became apparent in the final hour that there was a chance we could get stuck in India without visas that would take at least 2 weeks to get, we went into survival mode. No, we are not going that route and if you didn't tell us we needed visas when that was a possibility, we will fly a different route. We had no home and were not staying in a hotel for 2 weeks to wait. The eventual plan was not to go through Dehli, but go from D.C. to Japan (13 hours) for a quick switch, then to Bangkok (6 hours), sleep for 5 hours and fly to Dhaka (2.5 hours).
We did it. I got over my flying thing b/c security and making sure your bags weigh right and having children to keep happy kind of took precedence. Dying in a plane crash was not on the radar.
The kids were amazing flyers and did great. Only Isobel melted down on the Japan to Bangkok trip because she was overtired and could not get comfortable. This was about 8 am U.S. time and she had maybe had an hour nap the whole night.
The flight included a drunk guy that had cussed at the flight attendant because she would not serve anymore because he was waayyyy drunk. She came back with other flight attendants and who I presume was an air marshall. He got handcuffed for a bit and passed out. Then later I noticed him stumbling around. He had to have brought his own hooch on because I am pretty sure I only was offered two drinks the first flight. Then, of course he showed up on our flight to Japan, still stumbling but happy to pass out and sitting right behind me. I then commented to Andy, "Wow, there sure have been a lot of single dudes on the plane to Bangkok." He said, "Duh." Oh yeah, that is something I hadn't really thought of...yuck!
We arrived in Bangkok safely and went to the closest possible hotel, the Novotel that had a shuttle. We were spoiled for sure, which was perfect because I couldn't have done anything for myself at that point, let alone my kids. The carried our bags, got us to the room and showed up at 1am local time with room service. All we could do was shower, eat and pass out.
This is our only photo of Japan. Yes, were were there, really~
Happy to hear you all made it safely. Merry Christmas to your family!
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