A good day

Even though the Aussie Club is presently closed so I couldn't go there last night, I have had a good day today.
1. Off to golf at 8 am but had trouble seeing the drives as there was thick smog/fog, so bad that the lanes taking off overhead were not visible. Managed 18 holes for the second time today and managed to play better mostly. Off course, it was helped by the fact that we played at the course with the smaller amount of water. But still managed to loose 3 balls. Ended up sunny and was a pleasant stroll especially since a caddy carries the clubs and the ball markers tend to shift the balls out of the rough!!!
2. Straight afterwards, well once the van got back to the gold club after dodging the traffic jams caused by the prime minister flying out from the airport to Bhuatan, it was off to the American club for a couple of drinks and lunch. Sat in the outdoor area near the swimming pool and tennis courts, which was very comfortable. Plus the carrot cake was yummy.
3. On the way home stopped off at the H & M sale. For those that don't know H & M is a European clothing shop chain and many of their products are made in Bangladesh. So twice a year the factory that makes them has a sale of the "left overs". Everything is only 150 Taka or $2 each. Thank goodness I hadn't bothered to go home and have a show and was still hot and sweaty after golf, as it was like a mini sauna inside with masses of people swarming around the tables piled high with clothes. Even paying was a saga so I sort of jumped the line to speed up the process as the line seemed to be going nowhere. I got a couple of things but the stuff was dominated by black, especially black t-shirts.

So now back home relaxing after a cleansing shower. But have quite a few jobs I need to get done tomorrow.

Outside Dhaka

Last weekend when we went to visit the ceramics factory, we stopped at an Italian restaurant on the way back for a late lunch. The pizza I had was nice with a thin crust which I like. Plus the creme caramel is one of the best I have had for ages!!
It was right on a main road - here is a picture of the road with vehicles of all descriptions as we tend to get on roads everywhere here. Unusually though the pedestrian is walking on the side of the road rather then on the road and expecting all the vehicles to go around!!!As in Nepal and India, the big haulage trucks are decorates with quite ornate and detailed paintings on them. Although these trucks are banned from most of Dhaka during the day, only being allowed in at night when the traffic isn't quite as bad!!!

While going there and back, again I saw lot of evidence for where all Dhaka's pollution comes from - the brickworks.

They are everywhere with thick, black smoke pouring into the air (and our lungs). There is a lack of gravel here in Bangladesh so bricks are made, then broken up into small pieces for use instead of gravel or stones.