Calling all shutterbugs: new photo book launch by Mahmud
Posted on 24. Jan, 2010 by Mikey Leung in Events, Photography
As we’ve stated on this blog before, Mahmud is one of the most established photographers that Bangladesh has to offer, and with a long trail of successful publications behind him, supported by a dozen of international development agencies, his work is one you want to know and watch.
Yoga Workshop by Art of Living, 10-15 Jan in Dhaka
Posted on 05. Jan, 2010 by Mikey Leung in Events
We always heard about this mysterious, but hard to find yoga workshops held in Dhaka — we might have even joined some if I’d heard about it ahead of time. But finally we’re able to offer some information a little bit ahead of time here to you, the Joybangla.info readers.
"Mosque Today" photography exhibition at Goethe-Insititute
Posted on 04. Jan, 2010 by Mikey Leung in Events
The most famous mosques of Dhaka are the ones from the Mughal and pre-Mughal period but who takes attention on the beautiful new sacral buildings influenced by the architecture of the 50s, 60s and later modern architectural trends.
Spend a Friday on the Sundown River Cruise, hosted by Big Blue
Posted on 09. Dec, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Events, Free Travel Tips
Join us on Friday 18 December for the Sundown River Cruise. We will leave from the BAGHA Club on road 44 in Gulshan at 11:00 in private transport and enjoy an hour’s drive through Dhaka to Demra. There, we will board the boat and begin a relaxing journey down the Shitalakhaya River. After that: food, drink, sunset and the company of good people
Get out of Dhaka on "The Gazipur Retreat", hosted by Big Blue
Posted on 18. Nov, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Events, Free Travel Tips
Are you one of those poor souls who has yet to see and breathe the clean air of the countryside just outside of Dhaka??? Then this Friday daytrip is for you.
Hosted by Big Blue Entertainment, this is one of those rare opportunities to get you out of the city and relaxing with some road pops [...]
New photography book on Sundarbans on sale now
Posted on 13. Nov, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Best of Bangladesh, Responsible Travel, Sundarbans
Elisabeth Fahrni Mansur & Rubaiyat Mansur are normally a modest pair. But if you ask them anything about the Sundarbans, that quickly changes. When it comes to promoting cetacean conservation, under the banner of the Bangladesh Cetacean Diversity Project, you’ll quickly find they are staunch advocates of the whales and dolphins of Bangladesh.
Sailing and Trekking – two of Bangladesh's best bets
Posted on 14. Sep, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Events
Fancy a relaxing day out of Dhaka on a restored Bangladeshi sailing boat? Then join us for an unforgettable day cruise on the B613, a luxurious sailing boat created and maintained by Contic Tours.
Dhaka Book Launch & Photography Exhibition, 1 Oct, Aussie club
Posted on 30. Aug, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Events, Website News
After many months of research, photography, writing and editing, Bangladesh: The Bradt Travel Guide is finally ready to be released!
Want to enjoy a FREE weekend getaway at Nazimgarh in Sylhet?
Posted on 07. May, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Events
Nazimgarh Resort and Joybangla.info are happy to present a very special opportunity for two (or maybe three) lucky couples or a small group of friends — a free weekend stay from May 14-16th at what is currently Bangladesh’s best luxury resort.
We are looking for two bideshi couples (or a group of four friends) whose job [...]
Celebrate Earth Day 2009 cleaning up the beaches with SAFE
Posted on 07. Apr, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Events, Responsible Travel
Volunteers from different organization will be participating in this year’s beach and underwater Cleanup as part of an earth day activity.
Climb Bangladesh's second-highest mountain; visit the Chittagong Ship Breaking Yards
Posted on 29. Mar, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Events, Free Travel Tips
This April, join Bangladesh travel guru Mikey Leung for an unforgettable
Chittagong Hill Tracts Trek, co-organised with Bangladesh Eco-tours,
the hill tracts’ leading trek operator.
Essential reading – recommended books and movies of Bangladesh
Posted on 11. Feb, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Blog
A concise list of recommended fiction, non-fiction and movies for visitors to Bangladesh.
River World: A Two-Day Floating Photography Tutorial, Feb 6-7, 2009
Posted on 01. Feb, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Events
Click here to see the flyer in full size.
• Do you want to improve your digital photography?
• Just bought a new DSLR and need to learn more about how to use it?
• Do you want the opportunity to travel and shoot Bangladesh’s rivers on a luxurious historic sailboat?
• Would you like to see your [...]
Composition tips for photographers: some quick tips
Posted on 27. Jan, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Events, Photography
You’ve newly arrived in Bangladesh and you’re amazed at the colour and the energy that this country possesses. Each day is a flowing reel of potential images, bursting with human energy. So what should you try and capture in the camera?
Here are some composition tips for getting your viewers ‘into your frame.’ For the full [...]
Technical photo tips for technophobes
Posted on 21. Jan, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Events, Photography
Do you want to create striking photos of Bangladesh with your newly purchased digital camera? If so, you must learn the basics of exposure first, or you’ll find it difficult to make your photography excel to a new level.
Here’s a quick guide to some of the most useful functions of your camera. Whether you [...]
Five easy suggestions for taking better photos in Bangladesh
Posted on 15. Jan, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Events, Photography
You’ve just arrived in Bangladesh, and quickly realise you’re in one of the world’s most photogenic countries. You’ve got a brand new camera but what now?
Here are five easy suggestions for taking better photos in this lovely country. (A FREE training session will be held on these topics at the Nordic Club next Monday 19 [...]
A Useful List: Bangladesh Holidays 2009
Posted on 12. Jan, 2009 by Mikey Leung in Events, FAQ
Thinking about planning your 2009 holidays in Bangladesh? Then the following list might be useful:
21 Feb International Mother Language Day.
10 Mar Eid-e-Milad-un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
26 Mar Independence Day.
14 Apr Bangla New Year.
1 May Labour Day.
9 May Buddha Purnima.
7 Aug Shab-e Barat (Ascension of the Prophet).
13 Aug Sri Krishno Jônmashṭomi.
15 Aug Bangabandhu Assasination Day.
18 [...]
September on Jessore Road, sung by Allen Ginsberg
Posted on 26. Dec, 2008 by Mikey Leung in Blog
~story by Mikey Leung~
Poet Allen Ginsberg was an American activist who penned many criticisms of his country’s military decisions, especially the Vietnam War. During his travels in India he spent a period in Kolkata during the time of the Bangladesh’s Liberation War and later wrote a poem describing the intense misery of refugees that he [...]
Do you know where your shrimp comes from?
Posted on 23. Dec, 2008 by Mikey Leung in Food, Responsible Travel, Sundarbans
If not, maybe you should find out. “White Gold”, as Swedish NGO the Swallows NGO has termed shrimp from Bangladesh, is one of the nation’s most environmentally threatening products.
This is because the shrimp farms require saline water. In a bid to increase production for the lucrative product, producers have forcibly taken land from poor villagers, [...]
Urban Study Group offers new walking tours of Old Dhaka
Posted on 15. Dec, 2008 by Mikey Leung in Events, Free Travel Tips
Homaira and Taimur at it again—this time they’re expanding their tours to include other destinations in Old Dhaka, starting with a walk on 16 December to the historic boro and choto Katras (caravansarai), some of Old Dhaka’s ancient mosques, the Armenian Church, and then the Lalbagh Fort.
Previously, they have featured tours of Shakhari Bazar (also [...]
Guide Tours offers Dolphin and Whale Watching tours in the Bay of Bengal
Posted on 11. Dec, 2008 by Mikey Leung in Best of Bangladesh, Events, Free Travel Tips, Responsible Travel
~courtesy Guide Tours~
50 Kilometers offshore of Dubla Island (Sundarban Reserve Forest), there is an underwater canyon where the depth increases drastically from only 10 meters to over 500meters – the Swatch-of-No-Ground. The change in depth is clearly visible on the surface, dramatically marked by a contrasting color change. The amazing fish abundance supports [...]
Dhaka's top seven value-for-money restaurants
Posted on 09. Dec, 2008 by Mikey Leung in Editorials, Food
~story by Mikey Leung~
Stuck for some restaurant recommendations while living in Dhaka? Here are our top seven recommendations straight from the upcoming guidebook. The following choices were made on ‘value,’ which really means value for money. Price was definitely a consideration but not the deciding factor in this list.
1. Dhaba Hse 100, Rd 11, Block [...]
Ideas Manzil: Bangladesh’s first heritage accommodation property
Posted on 19. Nov, 2008 by Mikey Leung in Photography, Responsible Travel
~story and photos by Mikey Leung~
Barry Ison likes to get things done.
“So what?” you might say. But Ison’s choice of where to get things done might strike you as confusing, perhaps even crazy. The notion of creating new hospitality businesses in Bangladesh, one of the world’s least-travelled, disaster-prone countries might elicit such a response. [...]
"Guide to Wildlife" of Bangladesh
Posted on 18. Nov, 2008 by Mikey Leung in Events, Links
Click here for a full-size preview of the cover.
(Nov. 18, 2008, Dhaka) – A new “Guide to Wildlife” book has just been released in Bangladesh.
The 306 page full-colour guide has colour photographs of all the mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians found in the 19 protected areas of Bangladesh. It includes the coverage of almost 400 [...]
Cartoon, Painting and Photography Exhibition at Drik Gallery
Posted on 29. Oct, 2008 by Mikey Leung in Events
Click here for a large version of this cartoon image.
You are cordially invited to the inauguration ceremony of “The Right to Health”, an exhibition at Drik Gallery on Thursday, 30 October 2008 at 5pm. This exhibition is curated using different form of art media: cartoon, painting, personal stories and photography.
Mr. AMM Nasir Uddin, Secretary, Ministry [...]
Non-profit Christmas handicrafts on sale at Folk International
Posted on 21. Oct, 2008 by Mikey Leung in Responsible Travel
A special message from non-profit handicrafts organisation in Gulshan:
“Greetings from Folk International. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to inform you that as per tradition, Folk International has started its CHRISTMAS SEASON from 1 Oct 2008.
Our Christmas products are already on display, including hand crafted Christmas decorations, table runners, table cloths, cushion cover, Christmas greeting [...]
Good Morning Guesthouse brings disadvantaged youth into the hospitality trade
Posted on 19. Oct, 2008 by Mikey Leung in Editorials, Responsible Travel
~story by Mikey Leung~
After visiting similar hospitality projects in Cambodia and China, I’m pleased to share what I believe is the first organisation I know of that explicityly brings disadvantaged youth into Bangladesh’s hospitality trade.
The Good Morning Guesthouse is now open in Banani, at Apt B5. Hse 5, Rd 10/A, Block H. Reservations can be [...]
Architects fear destruction of Dhaka's Shakhari Bazaar
Posted on 12. Oct, 2008 by Mikey Leung in Editorials
~story by Mikey Leung~
Originally aired at Asia Calling on 11 Oct 2008.
This week, Hindu people across South Asia celebrated Durga Puja, the biggest celebration of their cultural heritage.
But throughout the country, this heritage is actually being actively destroyed or left to decay. One area of the capital is being particularly targeted by developers. Known as [...]
"Shushuk Mela" – Introducing Whales and Dolphins of Bangladesh
Posted on 08. Oct, 2008 by Mikey Leung in Events, Free Travel Tips, Responsible Travel
~guest post by Elisabeth Farhni Mansur~
Click image for large size preview.
We are proud to announce the first-ever ‘Shushuk Mela’, an interactive exhibition ‘introducing the Whales & Dolphins of Bangladesh’ at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Dhaka, from 9th to 12th October 2008. It is open to all every day from 9.30 am to 8.30 pm.
The exhibition, [...]
Look inside Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, Bangladesh's National Assembly building
Posted on 05. Oct, 2008 by Mikey Leung in Best of Bangladesh
~story by Mikey Leung~
Tours of Bangladesh’s famous National Assembly building are not too hard to come by, with a few private operators offering to arrange the trip. But for those of you who don’t get the chance.. here’s what some careful digging has discovered:
Nathaniel Kahn is Louis Kahn’s son. The famous architect was found dead [...]
