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Fake Taj Mahal May Not Merit A Visit

The Indian embassy in Bangladesh is fuming mad that film director Ahsanullah Moni has built what he calls an exact replica of the Taj Mahal about 20 miles from Dhaka for $56 million. The idea, says the director, is to give Bangladeshis who might not be able to afford a trip to Agra a chance to see the Taj. Entrance to the mocked-up Mahal is 75 cents.

But an Indian official tells Sky News:

You can't just go and copy historical monuments.

From the look of the marble, granite and bronze replica, though, you can. Thousands of tourists have already visited to recreated Taj, though in a suspiciously one-sided article, the Times of India reports many people leave disappointed:

"The whole project is done in a shoddy manner. It is nothing compared to the real Taj," another visitor, Sohana Parvin, told the paper. "There is no sign of the valuable stones, tiles and diamonds the owner has spoken of using."

Related Stories:
· India Angry Over Bangladeshi Plans for Taj Mahal [Sky News]
· Bangladesh Taj Invites Visitors' Criticism [Times of India]
· Tourist Traps coverage [Jaunted]

Lists / Seven Wonders of the World / Beaches / → All Tags

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

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]

Celeb Travel / Shakira / → All Tags

Shakira's Christmas Means Giving

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]

Travel Media / New York Times / Jeff Koyen / Beaches / → All Tags

Bangladesh Is the New Bangladesh

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]

World Cup / Bangladesh / → All Tags

Bangladeshi Students Focus on World Cup

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]