Bandarban Bike Trip

Trent and I were able to borrow a couple motor bikes and do a really amazing bike trip up through the back roads of the Chittagong Hill Tracts to Lama, Chimbuk, Nilgiri then Bandarban.  We were on the bikes over 6 hours the first day as we did a few extra side trips then back again the next day in an easy 4 hours.  All these hill roads are at best single lane roads with constant tight bends and turns.  The country roads also run mainly on the ridges of the hills to make for fewer landslides with the unstable soil during the rainy season (vs cutting into the side of a hill), which makes for an especially scenic journey. A horn and good breaks are a must on this trip. Trent took his new GoPro video camera on the trip and we got some fun videos he will work on posting to youtube.

Trent on the Honda XL185 just outside of Lama

We encountered a rolled truck on this same hill both days we passed through. The men flipping them back up again seemed to know what they were doing as they had an effective system of winching the trucks back up by hand.

View of the river just past Lama. Tobacco plants seen growing on both sides of the river as a winter cash crop

Nilgiri Military reststop. This is one of the highest points in Bangladesh -which is along the highest road in Bangladesh.  The road runs along the ridge of a chain of mountains (really big hills).

Along the Bandarban - Nilgiri road

Holly and Natasha took the landcruiser and met us at Bandarban town.

Just outside of Bandarban

Hiking down to the river at first light

Natasha making her way down to the river through some banana groves

River boat ride to Bandarban town

Jon

Malumghat River Boating Experience

Last week the group of us (Holly, Trent, Natasha & Jon) went out on the river for a fun afternoon of boating.  Unfortunately we encountered a few issues during our short adventure.  After getting out on the river not even half a kilometer the outboard motor on the boat decided to go for a swim, so we were floating down the river without an engine.  Thankfully a few local fishermen were in the area and able to haul it out of the 8' of water and mud.

Jon motoring along about 30 seconds before the motor pulled off

Some local fishermen fishing out the engine

Trent poling back to the dock. When the tide is going in there is always a bit of a sludge on the water close to the boat launch.

The workshop was able to get a second older engine put on the boat. This engine was able to get out a few kilometers down the river before quitting on us. After attempting to get the engine working again for 15 minutes we basically gave up for the day and walked back along the side of the river and had the workshop tow the boat back for us.

Waiting for engine #2.  A group of curious kids gather to see what's happening

Back on the river again.. at least for a few minutes

Walking back along the riverbank

Natasha taking a photo with a few local girls that chased them along the river

It was still a very beautiful sunny day, just not as relaxing as we had expected....

Jon

Safari Park

Safari Park is always an adventure... It is interesting to see a variety of native species of animals, but it has its annoyances of the native humans in the park.  I am almost certain more photos were taken of us by the Bengalis in the park than any of the animals. We felt like we should have our own enclosure at times the way people stared at us riding by on our bicycles.

 

Our photo next to an Asian Elephant

Bengal Tiger. We were all able to quickly pet this guy through the cage while the trainer was present.

 

Holly and Natasha going for an elephant ride. Looks comfortable.

After some negotiations we were able to get our bicycles into the park.  All the enclosures are very spread out so it is very convenient to be able to cycle from area to area. 

 

We were also able to give this guy a pat on the head. They seemed to like the attention - or they were trying to draw us in for a bite. 

The monkeys running loose around the park looking to steel people's food

Small Asian tree Bear

 

We are still waiting to see this one in the wild. His supper of three live chickens was waiting for him at the front of the pen - unfortunately he was in no rush to feed today.

 

Jon

Visitors to Bangladesh

Holly's dad and cousin Natasha made it successfully to Dhaka on Saturday morning.  We have been trying to give them a whirlwind tour of the city over the past couple days before they make their way down to our home in Malumghat. It's exciting to see some familiar faces and to share our adventures with them.

Trent, Natasha & Holly out eating in Dhaka

The busy streets of downtown Dhaka

The rickshaw driver getting off the main roads to "avoid" the traffic.

  

Ahsan Manzil Palace, Dhaka

Buriganga River through central Dhaka

Lalbagh Fort, Dhaka

Trent crashing as the girls joined up with us at the end of the day for some more shopping

Jon

Bible College - New Male Dorm/Classroom Ribbon Cutting

The new male dorms and classrooms for the Baptist Bible College of Bangladesh (BBCB) has been completed. The official ribbon cutting took place on Tuesday. This is a side project that we have been working on over the past 6 months to replace an existing building that will be demolished for the new hospital building project. This was a great project to quickly learn some of the local building techniques. The complete project consisted of 4 - 10'x20' bedrooms, 2 - 20'x20' classrooms, Dining Room, Kitchen, Storage Room, 2 Shower rooms, 2 Eastern toilets, 1 Western toilet. The design allows for a future wing as additional space is required.

Grand Opening Day

Finished BBCB Male Dorm/Classrooms

Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting

Kitchen and Dinning Area

Harold giving the opening message

The workshop workers and some of the students attending the ceremonies at the new building

  

Some of the students posing for photos in front of the new building

Jon

Basement Slab Casting

The basement slab casting was just completed over the past couple days (Jan 25th & 26th). This is an exciting milestone on the project, the first of a planned 12 major slab castings as we build upward. A lot of men put in long hard days to get this job completed.

Over 300 people on site working on this first casting day

Loading and mixing the concrete batches

Moving the concrete from the mixer to the current casting location

 

Jon seeing how heavy a pan is (only half a load)

Holly watching the mixing to ensure mix design is being followed

Jon moving around site ensuring proper casting

Finishing the final section of concrete on the second day

The workshop using some imported power trowels to give the surface a smoother finish

Jon

Sunset Stroll along Malumghat River

Our house has a beautiful view of a lowland river system. When the hospital was originally built this was one of the primary access points for the transport of goods.  At one time this area was jungle and mangroves but over the years it has been cleared.  It is now used for growing rice, fishing and harvesting salt. We have travelled the river by boat on several occasions but don't often take the time to walk along its banks.  It is particularly beautiful at sunset.

 The embankment on the top right is part of the hospital property.

 Net Fishing

 Green Rice Fields

Holly