TRAVEL
The Journey is the Destination
On my way to everywhere
Dhaka is all busy traffic, congestion, air pollution, noisy, everything in action, Nolchor island becomes such a contrast to it all, it feels as if, you're in a complete other world... Because it's an offshore island away from the mainland where Dhaka is. you need to board a boat that'll take you slowly and gently along the Meghna where you'll find yourself encountering many merchant boats carrying all kinds of goods across the River Meghna to other areas. It sure feels like this river has seen the same scenes for millenia. The village has pure dirt roads with various paths winding through the island, connecting different houses with each other. It could feel like a maze there, but once you familiarise with it, you'll probably be like the locals knowing exactly where to go to get to the family you need to see. The houses are gorgeous despite their simplicity, with beautiful colorful patterns on the windows, just metal barriers with pretty frames, you can just shut the wall behind the frames to close the windows. The houses all seem to be elevated on half-a-metre-height concrete, i presume this area experience rising tide frequently, and potentially minor flooding with the river flowing into the village hence this is a necessary and reassuring measure. The houses can come across as very private, but the frameless windows have no glass panes, the houses have no "doors", just doorways that are generally left open, like the windows. The shipping and transportation business certainly made some families wealthier than the rest. So there are some mansions on the island! Around 9 or 11 of them. Very fancy-schmancy! The mainland sure seems so far away... It's lovely. You can't hear any noise whatsoever. Just the sounds of insects in the heat, the idyllic sounds of ducks and geese, distant motors of the shipping boats, and children working together helping out dinner preparation. It's a self-sufficient island, essentially.
There's everything they need here. Of course, teens may long for the big city life, for growth, for opportunities, for new experiences, but you know life's real meaning and it's all about, practically you can have all that you need here. The island seems to stay relatively "isolated" by its own measures. I don't think children even need to go to school unless they want to go off to the main land. Nolchor people apparently boast to have the best health status in the whole country. I mean... It's technically an oasis in a desert full of crazy chaos, everything is as organic and pure as it can be. It's a simple village life if you want to romanticise it, it's perfect as it is. Why else wouldn't you stay here? Which would you choose? Chaotic big city life, or chill village living? @EmmaRyokouFind me on: Archives
October 2023
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