ALICE WITH HALIM’S MOTHER after we had Iftar (meal right after day of fasting) with Halim’s family who live in Mohammadia housing.
Archive for September, 2009
ADOPTION DAY – This little orphan is adopted by a young couple who has been wanting children for five years. It was a very happy day for them and our friend Donna who did a lot to arrange for this adoption. The new Father’s Mother, and the new Mother’s Father were present for the event. We had met the Mother’s Father in Joypara, so I knew the family. I was honored to be a part of this special time as photographer.
Father’s Mother (l), Mother (c) and Father (r) with their new son.
ALICE’S KITCHEN where many kinds of food are prepared. Mashed potatoes and gravy. Chicken, beef and fish curries. Chapatis, bread, muffins, french pizzas, kitchuri, and cheese omeletes. Typically our helper cooks on Monday and Alice or I cook the rest of the days. My specialty would be the breakfast omelets, or bringing in dahl, baji, and nan-ruti from a local hotel (restaurant) for breakfast. I forgot to mention that this is the hottest room in the house. In many climates, this is where people would huddle to get warm, but those days would be rare here!!
OUR DINING ROOM with part of the entry room showing on the left. The left is where we put our outside sandals and switch to our apt. sandals or go bare-footed. There is also where guests put their sandals. Without this procedure there would be a lot of sand or dirt to walk through. Alice was doing the bargaining for the dining room table at Towne Hall Bazaar. You should have seen her bargaining in Bangla. Of course she had drawn a crowd, who all wanted to see what she was going to pay for the table. She had fun, they had fun, and when the owner agreed to the price, and Alice agreed and then I agreed and forked out the taka!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Aleta my beti (dau.)!! May you have a very special day, and a great year. Aleta was five days old on that special day when Alice and I met in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, all of us oblivious that someday we would be good friends in the georgeous city of Dhaka!!
Aleta is a good friend who, Alice and I have “adopted.” This year she is also Jensen’s (our oldest grandson) school teacher.
OUR APARTMENT as seen upon entering the door. This is especially for Cindy and Charles. The dining room on the left. The window of dining room is to the vent that runs the full heighth of our 9 floor apartment building. Down the hallway on the right you see my computer desk, etc. On the right you see a plant just at the end of the living room, and then the door to the kitchen next on the right. At the end of the hallway there is a bedroom to the left and the right.
JATIO SANGSHAD BHABAN the Parliament House of Bangladesh is one of the twentieth century’s utmost architectural structures. This stunning building was designed by famous architect Louis Kahn. It was made of mostly concrete and marble showing a rich blend of ancient and modern architecture. Use of different geometrical shape and floating outlook are some unique attractions of this glorious creation
Today September 11 brings back some sad memories for the world. I’m glad for the good relations between Bangladesh and the U.S.A.
BABY of Street-worker who is getting help. Hopefully the cycle will be broken and he will have a brighter future.
STREET SWEEPER in action on street beside the Parliament building. Years ago some Hindus were brought into the city to sweep the streets because they were of the caste of street-sweepers. Since this job pays better than some and there are so many jobless, others are applying for these jobs. This basically takes away some of the job security they used to have because no one else wanted to do this menial job. Each morning the whole city gets swept. They do a great job, which must be done again day after day!
FAKIR at Mirpur 1 Mazar. A fakir or faqir is a Sufi, especially one who performs feats of endurance or apparent magic. Another fakir who seemed more friendly invited me to come back at 7:30 pm for the “iftar” (breaking the fast). The mazar is a place where a Muslim saint was buried and a shrine has been built. Many people come here making wishes and then give alms to the poor, including the fakirs. It also has turned into a place where young street workers hang out.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE for this young Bengali boy? What is he thinking. Somehow, somewhere, sometime someone can give him hope for a future. Is this hope in “Digital Bangladesh?” He is holding a cellphone. Hopefully when he calls out for help, someone will help.
TERESA and Matthias the Miller cousins, cruising on Mazar Road near Mirpur 1 in Dhaka. I took this photo standing up in the rickshaw in front of them, and with the 50 mm lens, this is the best view I could get.
The Camerist's Collection 