Travel in Dhaka City: Where Life Moves on a Roller Coaster

As the twilight sparkles through the magnificent architectural glitz of the city, Dhaka unwraps herself from a tedious day of work to pave way for an evening that has loads to offer. Dhaka- a boring, unadventurous city of the seventies is now a total contrast, it is the half of all happenings, the city that throbs will all possible and imaginable diversity. Infused by a new blood of globalization the cosmopolitan infrastructure is constantly changing. A touch of experimentation can be perceived in all spheres. The city fabric itself under a manic metamorphosing process has lost the prosaic, bland colour that once upon a time made life-absolutely colourless. Be it food, entertainment, shopping or just hanging about, the people of Dhaka have a massive array of option to choose from. Madu’s canteen is now not just the only place.  Life is multifaceted, and Dhaka is hell bent to reap the fun out of life and her spices.

Start with eating, the capital has become a big-frying pan sizzling to the newly found taste buds of the city dwellers. Eat, eat and eat just stuff your stomach to your hearts content. That is the motto of the eating scenario. Bunking classes with mischievous looks on their face, young college kids hang around in the fast food joints. Munching on burgers and sipping sodas is their idea for a break. The latest Boyzone, Aqua lyrics are their driving force. To keep up with the demands of the “Tommy-Hilfiger” obsessed generation burger and fast food joints are springing up. The idle evenings are not spent on the roof philandering with girl next door. Now it’s cuddling in a fast food joint while listening to J.J Cale’s sensitive kind.  Rock lovers usually hang about the Rock Café. As Bruce Springsteen sets the ambience with “I am on Fire” the hips swing in the floors, the tension released through a bit of shakin and rollin. Dance-mania is on and Boogie-Woogie is a hit with the youngsters. American Fried Chicken, Southern Fried Chicken, Sously’s, Coopers and hundreds more caters to the gossiping, flirting young generation. Their identity now intertwined with a culture, that was once just a part of Archies comics. For a real hip and trendy ambience try the Hot Hut. Hot and wild-its got the delicious flavour of Eternity and Poison delicately blended.

The mobile food cart of Sajna and Yummy Yummy offer food in a novel perspective.

Some prefer to hang about the market places. Life and high heels both can be observed without offending anyone. Go near fuller road. In the serenity of the university area pairs sit on the pavement-engrossed in one another, oblivious to the world-love being the most powerful of all things. Gossiping finds loads of adherents near the TSC where all topics from Sharon Stone to Sonali Bendre get brewed up with sips of hot tea. Near Shabag the Boi Para-gives sanctuary to those who claim to be a bit different from the others. Lenin, Che, Polanski are familiar names and Kurtas with jute bags hanging from the shoulders are the patented attire.

The greens of Ramna echo the resonant voice of a would be poet reciting Robert Frost. The theatre buffs hang around Baily road. The evenings there are full of activity. The stages come alive as the actors weave a hypnotic world of cultural perfection. People sit by the road talking about Eugene O’Neil or Tennessee Williams. The air is that of sophistication-trying to make its presence solid within so much mediocrity around. For those who work during the day evenings in Dhaka is a respite from the demands of life. They unwind, relax and let the moments pass by leisurely.

Bibliophiles stroll around the second hand book shops. Who knows they just might stumble upon Jeffrey Archer or a Frederick Forsyth. Rainbow, Soor Bichitra is the regular hang about place for the music-lovers. Waiting for the new released Ritchie Blackmore L.P inspires nostalgic chats that go back to the years of temple of the king and snake charmer. Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss are no longer met with questioning eyes. Brand lovers go about the flashy markets that offer everything from Cravats to Cuff links.

People with a weakness of art can have their aesthetic senses invigorated by dipping into a different world in one of the many art  galleries in Dhanmondi . Those with taste as well as money to spend to go to galleries not only to appreciate art but to acquire them. Gourmands paradise will be the best name for the cosmopolitan and one might want to spend the evening trying the Kimchi or the delectable Spaghetti washed  down with a fine bottle of Baron D’Arignac. Cordon blue food is served in the vast number of restaurants in Gulshan . If your aim is to having a lovely evening  having an agreeable meal with a glass of good wine then money should not be the deterrent. Royal Orchid, Ninfas, Lemongrass, Wakana, Young Bin Kawan, Sky Room, Lazeez, offer variety and class in the eating scenario. A nice evening , a lovely companion and good food –a potent combination that revs up the system to go on.  After work the health conscious end up pumping iron in the gyms. This gym-mania is the latest trend that takes up the time of many people. This is a short of elixir, that freshens the system, releases tension and makes me ready to face life’s fickleness said Ershad a reputed banker. Health centres are coming to the scene and along with Van Dame encouraged figures. A bit of billiard with a few glasses of chilled fosters is some people’s idea of living the life in Dhaka. For those who can not operate without a pleasant libation there are the bars. In the cool darkness, drenched within the melody of Pankaj Udas and an iced whisky many tend to severe all bonds with reality. The crystal glasses create a spectrum of illusion as the night gets synthesized with the Tequila charm.

Those with a liking for the drink but unable to go to the bars settle for bottles bought from the Banani area. Meanwhile some just prefer the local stuff.

As night gets older, the skin of inhibition falls off the night-clubs roar. As the fog lights flash on the dance floors couples get wild in ecstasy –Ricky Martin pierces through the heart as the limbs roll with the bit. Tramps,

Atlantis, the International Club take life to the peak of fulfillment. Clad in Armani skirts and Gap t-shirts, young girls with their curvaceous figures chill out. “Youth passes in the blink of an eye so enjoy it while it lasts” is their motto and they surely are living up to it.  With the clock reaching for the 12 o’clock mark life slows down. Down to the waterline or Sultans of Swing play in the car stereo as many take long drives through the isolated streets of the capital.  The cool night air freshens the lungs. Some just sit around the corners of silent streets and savour the lucidity of silence.

The sun shines again over the capital and announces the beginning of another new day in the city. Life and her variations roll again and one is reminded of that famous saying in a different way. “If one is bored with Dhaka, he is bored with life, cause Dhaka has everything that life has to offer.”