The Pop Culture Travel Guide

Bangladesh Travel Guide

Cox's Bazar Is #1: Isn't That Bizarre?

Where: Bangladesh

2/21/2008 at 9:15 AM
Tags: , , (all tags)

Yes, we've already expressed our skepticism about the Seven Wonders of Nature contest, but this follow-up to the Seven New Wonders of the World project is getting so much attention we simply can't ignore it.

With more than ten months of voting left until the shortlist for the Seven Wonders of Nature is made, the leading contenders at the moment are Cox's Bazar Beach (pictured) and the Sundarbans Forest, both in Bangladesh. More recognizably, Vietnam's Halong Bay is sitting in the number three spot, while better known landmarks like Mount Fuji, Niagara Falls and the Great Barrier Reef languish outside the top ten.

Not that there's anything wrong with Bangladeshi beaches, but perhaps the voting system might still be a bit out of whack?

Related Stories:
· Bangladesh Beach, Forest Top Natural Wonders List [Reuters]
· Ha Long Bay Makes Top Three [VietnamNet]
· Seven Wonders Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: unicorns547]

0 Comments - Add Yours by amandak

Shakira's Christmas Means Giving

Where: Bangladesh

12/21/2007 at 9:00 AM
Tags: , (all tags)

Shakira comforted victims of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh this week. As a UNICEF ambassador, the Colombian-Lebanese singer is helping to raise the money to rebuild the estimated 3,000 schools damaged by the worst cyclone season in history. "I'm sorry for what happened to you, but things will get better again," she told the families and children at one stop on her three-day tour.

Shakira just got nominated for a Golden Globe for a song she wrote for the movie version of "Love in the Time of Cholera," proving that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association didn't see the trailer for the movie and its giggle-inducing title card. We like Shakira's body of work, there's just something inherently ridiculous about her as a soundtrack artist--or so we used to think.

Related Stories:
· Brugge Hearts Shakira [Jaunted]
· Showtime for Bill Clinton at the Apollo [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Faded Youth Blog]

0 Comments - Add Yours by egw

Bangladesh Is the New Bangladesh

Where: Bangladesh

12/26/2006 at 10:31 AM
Tags: , , , (all tags)


The New York Times really outdid itself this weekend. Amid the sighs over St. Lucia's proclaimed hotness, Jeff Koyen has piped in from Bangladesh, and finally we can't tease the Times for hyping the over-hyped. He tells of an emerging tourist industry in the troubled but friendly country. Bangladesh--and it pains us to have to admit it--is not over, though Lonely Planet did publish a guidebook for the country way back in '04.

Provided you're flying into the country, you'll probably stop in Dhaka, and there Koyen found an unsavory odor but also a friendly guesthouse to soothe his nerves. Rooms at the charming Jame Prestige Abode are just $26 a night.

The real beach kicks are in Cox's Bazaar, and even there, relatively "deluxe" digs go for $60 a night at the Seagull Hotel. Cox's Bazaar bills its beach as the world's longest, and it's shark-free. You won't run into too many westerners there, but for even more seclusion, you can check out Inani beach.

Dhaka also isn't as hard to get to as you'd think. It's only one stop away from some major cities. You can even fly there in ironic luxury aboard Emirates' famous first class.

[Photo: Hossain/NYT]

Related Stories:
· Lured by the Beach Side of a Beleaguered Land in Bangladesh [NYT]

0 Comments - Add Yours by djk

Bangladeshi Students Focus on World Cup

Where: Bangladesh

6/14/2006 at 9:20 AM
Tags: , (all tags)


Did you hear that Bangladesh is a big chance for the World Cup? No, neither did we--they've never even qualified. But that didn't stop 2000 Bangladeshi university students striking to demand a four week break from classes during the FIFA tournament.

It seems a bit tough, doesn't it, that while we're carefully managing our flexible working hours to fit in a game, calling in sick or just staying up all night, depending on our timezone, the students of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology--plus another ten copycat institutions--are on holidays. Because, as poor, sleep-deprived graduate student Anisul Hug said,

After watching late night televised matches, it would be impossible to concentrate on studies the following morning

Perhaps we could learn a lot from Bangladesh. Or is this kind of slacking off the real reason the country's GDP ranks at 121 in the world? Whatever the lesson, at least for the unlucky ones of us who have to go to work and school during the World Cup, we'll just keep on cheering and yawning and waving our flag of choice.

[Image via S1NCLA1R/Flickr]

Related stories:
World Cup Sickies [Jaunted]
Bangladesh Uni Suspends Exams [INQ7]

0 Comments - Add Yours by amandak




Stories For This Destination

Advertisements

ADVERTISE ON JAUNTED


Find Travel Stories Worldwide

9649 Travel Stories Inside!

Login

Username:

Password:


Become A Member


Get Alerts!
Travel Stories Straight To Your Inbox.