Archive for November, 2010


Day 322

HERE I AM ON MOHAMMADIA HOUSING’S MAIN ROAD adjusting my lungi before I started helping to skin this cow.  I didn’t want the lungi to fall off!

Day 321

TODAY IN BANGLADESH IT WAS EID-ul-Ajha, which is the Eid in which they sacrifice an animal to in recognition of when  Abraham took his son to Mt. Moriah to be sacrificed.  Each family decides whether to sacrifice a camel (rarely in Bangladesh), a cow, or a goat.  We had 13 cows and 9 goats in our parking garage this morning in prep for this event.  We live in an apartment with 32 apartments.  Here in a nearby field there are many Bengalis participating in the special prayers before the sacrifices happen.

Day 320

EID MUBARAK TO all my Muslim friends.  Tomorrow is Korbani Eid (Eid of Sacrifice).  This is the cow that our neighbor-friend bought for his Eid Sacrifice. This morning on our walk we saw many cows being led down Mirpur Avenue (a main street in Dhaka), either for sale, or already sold and being delivered.  The main topic of conversation on the streets these days is, “How much did you pay for that cow, or how much do you want for it.  The same goes for goats.  Across from us is a playing field, around which at least 100-200 goats were bedded down for the night, last night.  I’m quite sure by tonight we will have 12 cows and 5-6 goats in the parking area beneath our apartments.  They are tied up like this cow out by the playing field on the sidewalk during the day.  After morning prayers, then the sacrifices will begin.

BENGALI LADY PICKING TEA on a Tea Estate near Moulovibazar.

BENGALI WORKER IN TEA GARDEN near Moulovibazar in Northeastern Bangladesh.  These workers are paid per kg of tea leaves they pick.

Day 317

SHARMIN STARTED LAUGHING BECAUSE it took me so long to take this photo.  I bumped the shutter mode button by mistake and it was on the timer mode!  Therefore when I pressed the button it took 10 seconds before the shutter opened.  Of course, I think this even made a better shot.  Sharmin was a part of the 18 photographers of the TTL club that went to Northeastern Bangladesh to take photos last weekend.

Day 316

RUBEL, ONE OF MY GOOD FRIENDS, whom I play football with five days per week.

Day 315

TEA ESTATE WORKER, near Moulovibazar, washing the cow.

Day 314

FAISAL (TTLer) SEARCHING FOR another nice photo-op in the tea garden near Moulovibazar, Bangladesh.

Day 313

BENGALI WORKER IN TEA GARDENS near Moulovibazar, Bangladesh.

Day 312

TTLers, KHALUJAAN, ASHRAF, AND ?, waiting for everyone to arrive, so we can leave for the day.  Please give me comments, if the names are wrong, and what the missing name, so I can make corrections or additions.  My deepest apologies, for not remembering all the names!

Day 311

TTL (Through the Lens) Safari at Hakaluki Haor, Moulovibazar was a great two days.  With the rainy season over we cancelled the visit to Madhabkunda Falls, but we visited two beautiful tea gardens.  It was also too early in the season to see many birds at the Hakaluki Haor.  Even though these things were a little disappointing, it was a splendid two days spent with some great photographers and now who are also friends.  This was my first trip out of town with this group, and they were very friendly and helpful.  They even helped me get back into the boat after our swim in the river!  I did lay my glasses down and forgot to pick them up, so I’m waiting to edit and sort the 1274 photos I took until I get new glasses.  I thank Jeremy, who loaned me his 350D camera, since mine is being repaired.  This is one photo I thought would be a good one to start off my series of this trip.  Thanks to all my TTL friends who did so much to make me feel welcome on this trip!

YOUNG BENGALI LADS in the tea estate having fun in the water.