或许是时候做些改变。
是时候尝试往另一个方向走吧？
应该早点发现的，好几年前就有点迹象。
好象有点迟，但是迟到总比没到好吧？
该找有关的人谈谈吧。
15 September 2012
08 September 2012
In Bangladesh
Wednesday (5th Sept)
This morning at the hotel's cafe, there was a Bangladeshi father and son sitting at the table next to mine. The father took notice of me and said hi to me. And the first question that popped out is "Are you from China?"... Hahaha that is actually kind of funny, because if I remember correctly, it is very rare for people to ask if I'm from China. I guess I do not look as Chinese (from China anyway) as can be. The other time that I remember someone asking if I'm from China, is a China student. And that was because I emulate how they speak Mandarin, thus he was actually believing that I'm from China.
So anyway, back from the tangent, I told the guy I'm from Malaysia. And so, in a distinctively British slang, he told me that he has migrated to the UK since 30-odd years ago. And this is like his summer holiday trip back to his hometown of Chittagong (2nd largest city of Bangla, after Dhaka) where he will bring the whole family (parents, wife, kids) for a visit every year.
He said he remembered many years back when M'sia and Bangla are quite similar in economic standings (I guess that would probably be like 40 years or so ago). But now, M'sia have moved far ahead while Bangla is still struggling in a downward spiral (in his description). He attributed this to the inefficiencies and ever rampant corruption in the country. Also, the transport system is a mess, and major roads run through city centers causing massive jam (not to mention the reckless driving of the rickshaws and CNGs).
After the short chat, he bid me farewell as he had to leave for the airport early (in the crazy morning traffic) to avoid being late in catching the flight home.
**********************
Thursday (6th Sept)
Today I had lunch with a guy from the local partner here. I was kind of curious after yesterday's chat and wanted to know more about what's the situation like in this country now, so I asked him about what's going on right now.
Apparently they are going into election mode soon (Nov if I recall correctly). The bad thing about this is that everything will be on a standstill. Businesses will cease to expand for at least the next 2-3 months while waiting to see new government being formed, and what will be their directions. At the same time, the current incumbent govt is trying to pass a bill that will allow the incumbent govt to manage the electoral commission (EC) for the upcoming election.
Seems that unlike M'sia, Bangla has experienced many times of govt changing hands, and one of the reason for that is their EC has been pretty independent and transparent, being participated by people from various party. So in that sense they have some sort of check and balance in place to ensure minimal cheating on the voting process.
So from Nov onwards, he anticipated that there will be some demonstrations going on which would cause the whole country to crawl to a halt. Hopefully the project will be done by then. But anyways I should be outta there by 20th Sept.
*************************
Friday (7th Sept)
It was sort of Thursday midnight as I went to airport headed for home. In the MAS queue, there was this Malaysian Chinese senior couple right behind me. I strike up a conversation with them, and was told they have 2 textile factories here in Bangla. They invested on the first factory here since 10 years back, and the 2nd one has just completed and started to go into production.
After checked in, the auntie offered some Heong Peng to me, brought from Malaysia. She said that I could help her lighten her luggage load. Haha. Such nice people they are.
As we sat and chit chatted, they shared their insights of this place with me. I was very surprised that there is a currency control in place where you cannot carry more than 500 takas (local currency, translates to about RM20) out of the country. If found, they will just confiscate the excess money from you. Then he also told me things like there's not much tourism here, other than the Cox Bazar, so-called the longest beach in the world as claimed by the locals. But even that is not much of an interesting place because it was not well run.
This morning at the hotel's cafe, there was a Bangladeshi father and son sitting at the table next to mine. The father took notice of me and said hi to me. And the first question that popped out is "Are you from China?"... Hahaha that is actually kind of funny, because if I remember correctly, it is very rare for people to ask if I'm from China. I guess I do not look as Chinese (from China anyway) as can be. The other time that I remember someone asking if I'm from China, is a China student. And that was because I emulate how they speak Mandarin, thus he was actually believing that I'm from China.
So anyway, back from the tangent, I told the guy I'm from Malaysia. And so, in a distinctively British slang, he told me that he has migrated to the UK since 30-odd years ago. And this is like his summer holiday trip back to his hometown of Chittagong (2nd largest city of Bangla, after Dhaka) where he will bring the whole family (parents, wife, kids) for a visit every year.
He said he remembered many years back when M'sia and Bangla are quite similar in economic standings (I guess that would probably be like 40 years or so ago). But now, M'sia have moved far ahead while Bangla is still struggling in a downward spiral (in his description). He attributed this to the inefficiencies and ever rampant corruption in the country. Also, the transport system is a mess, and major roads run through city centers causing massive jam (not to mention the reckless driving of the rickshaws and CNGs).
After the short chat, he bid me farewell as he had to leave for the airport early (in the crazy morning traffic) to avoid being late in catching the flight home.
**********************
Thursday (6th Sept)
Today I had lunch with a guy from the local partner here. I was kind of curious after yesterday's chat and wanted to know more about what's the situation like in this country now, so I asked him about what's going on right now.
Apparently they are going into election mode soon (Nov if I recall correctly). The bad thing about this is that everything will be on a standstill. Businesses will cease to expand for at least the next 2-3 months while waiting to see new government being formed, and what will be their directions. At the same time, the current incumbent govt is trying to pass a bill that will allow the incumbent govt to manage the electoral commission (EC) for the upcoming election.
Seems that unlike M'sia, Bangla has experienced many times of govt changing hands, and one of the reason for that is their EC has been pretty independent and transparent, being participated by people from various party. So in that sense they have some sort of check and balance in place to ensure minimal cheating on the voting process.
So from Nov onwards, he anticipated that there will be some demonstrations going on which would cause the whole country to crawl to a halt. Hopefully the project will be done by then. But anyways I should be outta there by 20th Sept.
*************************
Friday (7th Sept)
It was sort of Thursday midnight as I went to airport headed for home. In the MAS queue, there was this Malaysian Chinese senior couple right behind me. I strike up a conversation with them, and was told they have 2 textile factories here in Bangla. They invested on the first factory here since 10 years back, and the 2nd one has just completed and started to go into production.
After checked in, the auntie offered some Heong Peng to me, brought from Malaysia. She said that I could help her lighten her luggage load. Haha. Such nice people they are.
As we sat and chit chatted, they shared their insights of this place with me. I was very surprised that there is a currency control in place where you cannot carry more than 500 takas (local currency, translates to about RM20) out of the country. If found, they will just confiscate the excess money from you. Then he also told me things like there's not much tourism here, other than the Cox Bazar, so-called the longest beach in the world as claimed by the locals. But even that is not much of an interesting place because it was not well run.
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