Sundarbans

New Year's. Felt like just another day while traveling, I didn't feel much of a celebratory vibe in Khulna, nor did I hear any fireworks that night which was a good thing cuz I wanted some sleep anyway.

Whilst I ate my breakfast, I finally got to meet the man behind the WhatsApp chat: Russel. The owner of Beautiful Bangladesh Tours and whom I was going with to visit the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest.

It was an interesting affair, to say the least. He picked me up at my hotel and we sped off on his motorbike toward Sonadanga bus terminal again where we got on a bus heading to Mongla. From there, we took a boat to the other side and then a tuk-tuk to a beautiful eco-cottage at Bonobibi Forest Resort. This was such a surprise for me as I had no idea something like this was in store in our itinerary. I had initially thought it was just going to be visiting the Mangrove Forest, but such an amazing treat was highly welcome especially since I was still recovering from a cough I got from Dhaka.

While relaxing at the main cottage, I got a chance to see a traditional game of Carrom and tried out the swings overlooking the main river. I was at peace here. I had a long rest in my cabin, which was pretty much the most exquisite place I had the chance to stay in Bangladesh. Spacious, ambient, and natural.

The food was also fantastic, a bit spicy as is with Bangladeshi cuisine but delicious nonetheless. After much more rest, we finally got to set out.

The place was a vibe on its own as if we were entering another world. The boatman rowed towards the river channel and we were brought deeper into the mangrove forest. There were plenty of birds, the collared kingfisher is one that I remember, and there was also an orange one that was very rare. Russel was enthusiastic about this one.

We also got the chance to get off the boat and explore the inland a bit. The almost spiky roots protruding from the ground made it a bit hard to navigate but it truly felt like we were in the midst of a deep jungle.

After the expedition, the sun started to set and we basked in its golden light all the way back to the resort where I got the chance to try out a four-player Carrom game while waiting for dinner.Read more