Life is Flimsy, Bow to Whimsy (Bangladesh)

Dec 16th, 2009 - I'm nothing if not whimsical. Tomorrow I will find myself in Bangladesh for two months of doing whatever the hell it is I will be doing there. For this sojourn I have a playmate, a Brit named Alex. Together we will explore the magic that is the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove swamp in the world and a World Heritage Site. Its most famous inhabitant? The Royal Bengal Tiger. We are hoping to cross paths with one of the beasts without becoming a part of its diet. Apparently, that is a frequent occurrence. I've read that Joe Villager is attacked every three days or so on average. We are dedicated and pretty much willing to do whatever it takes to see one of these beautiful animals in the wild, short of donning a deer costume and hanging raw meat around our necks. I've tried before but came up short (To see a tiger, not the costume and meat thing). Hopefully, I will have better luck this time around. Fortune favors the bold......or the quixotically idiotic.

The cost of Bangladesh visa? $131. Why not just make it an even $131.48? When I called the embassy I was told it would take 15 days. After I dropped off my passport I was informed that my visa would be ready that afternoon, five hours later. Okey dokey. They have posters hanging in the embassy that read Bangladesh: Come Before The Tourists Do. Gotta love it. [Author's Note: Turns out the $131 price tag is a sort of reciprocal 'F**k You!'. Apparently, that is the US visa fee for Bangladeshis wanting to visit America. As far as Nepal goes I plan on returning after B'desh. I feel I would be remiss without at least laying eyes on the tallest mountain in the world. Then again, who knows? I hear North Korea is lovely in the springtime.