The Last Trip to Bandarban?
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I received my early acceptance from WashU medicine on December 12, following a rigorous interview on Dec 5th. So, it was pretty much fixed that I am leaving Bangladesh for my PhD dream. And, so would most of my friends. Thus, we decided to make one last trip to the place closest to our hearts? To Bandarban?
This was completely different from my other trips. This was the first time, we didn’t have a guide. We decided to do it all on our own. Moreover, I always boasted of being a great pathfinder. So, I have my own GPS system in my brain for navigating the mountains.
So, as always the trip began with an around 2 hr boat journey from Thanchi to Remakri. As soon as you get on the boat, you lose any last network signal for the next few days. So, trips like these definitely are a form of digital detox for me. The Sangu river was beautiful as always with the mighty Chimbuk mountain range in distance.
A glimpse of 2 hr boat journey through the Sangu. In the distance, you can see the Dim pahar inviting us.
Our place to stay for the night. You had to sleep on the floor with a very thin blanket. And it is really, really cold!
People built a fire to warm themselves up. I was sitting on the mini-balcony trying to capture the moon.It was shining so brightly that you could clearly see the Mowdok Mual Range on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Yes,that's the border and that's the highest peak in BD, Saka Haphong.
The next day, we went on to stay the night at a village we always passed while going to Amiakhum. Yes, we spent a night at Nicolas Para. I was sitting under a tree, tired and relaxing. Then, two inhibitants of the village came to check out their visitors.
Sunset from Nicolas Para. The colors kept changing from bright yellow to orange to crimson before becoming completely dark.
This view always bring a hHindi chorus to my mind.
Door jo hai khade
Unhe bhi yeh humari zindagi
Yun titliyon si chchoti-chchoti si lage
Hai kitni badi nahi jaante
It means that to whoever is seeing me from those far mountains, I seem as small to them as they seem to me from where I am standing.
The return was an insane hike through a route called Padma Jhiri, and we definitely lost our way at least 5 times, and went into places we had no clue about, but we finally made it back to Thanchi. There was a village where we stopped for snacks. Under the bench I was sitting on, this small guy was sleeping. Didn't want to wake him, but sadly I did. Just like this buddy, I was looking forward to my next journey, to WashU!