Bangladesh, Mangroves, indigenous people and nature in an incredible variety

I enjoy this morning’s silence, that hazy, almost misty air, as I sit comfortably with my guide and a hot cup of tea on the thick cushions of the riverboat sitting area. Apart from the constant call of the cicadas and the beautiful songs of the birds, only the gentle sound of the waves tapping on the boat’s hull can be heard, while our boat glides further and further through the impressive mangrove forests of the Sundarbans.

It takes me to a deep calm and serenity.

Individual Journey to Bangladesh

It is the fourth day of our individual journey to Bangladesh,  this Asian country where a stranger – a “Bideshi” is still a peculiarity and is greeted curiously and friendly by the locals. Let’s start by saying: We feel secure at all times and have been advised and looked after so individually and comprehensively by our travel guides that it was easy to learn to love Bangladesh in all its facets. So, if you plan your trip to the new tourist destination Bangladesh with such a competent partner as Terralaya Travels, nothing stands in the way of experiencing pure Asian lifestyle, untouched nature and fascinating wildlife.

Bangladesh with unique natur

Bangladesh has a lot to offer: a unique nature with the world’s longest natural sandy beach and the world’s largest mangrove forest, the bustling metropolis of Dhaka, deep green tea plantations, the impressive architecture of the ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples and a mountainous region populated by various small tribes in the border area with Myanmar. In addition to incredible hospitality, these are good reasons to pack your bags and travel to this country, which is still unknown on the tourist map.

Let me especially highlight two aspects of this diverse and perfectly organized journey today:

Bangladesh is home to the largest mangrove forest on earth

The secluded Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forests in the world, covers a wide area of ​​Bangladesh’s southwest. The mangrove forests are located in a lower estuary and flood area. The two rivers Ganges and Brahmaputra – together about 5700 km long – coming from the Himalayas, unite here in Bangladesh, bringing lots of water water: It is a blessing and a curse for this country. In the monsoon season in June, July and August there are always floods, which has made it difficult to build a tourist infrastructure in recent decades. The fresh water of the inland is mixed with the salt water of the Bay of Bengal and provides a spectacular, diverse ecosystem with good fish supply.

A large part of this unique ecosystem is protected in national parks and bears the title of UNESCO World Natural Heritage.

These natural conditions create a place of unreal beauty in the Sundarbans: often covered in fog, largely uninhabited, wild and swampy. Wild boars, deer, ganges dolphins, monkeys, reptiles and maybe even a Bengal tiger may be seen with some luck.

We enjoy this unique spectacle of nature and the mystical landscape of the Sundabarns on our river boat and cross the river arms in various directions, passing fishing villages and mighty mangrove roots. Unforgettable moments we experience when we drive shortly after sunrise with a dinghy deeper into the side arms and explore the area. We marvel at special bird species such as kingfishers, herons or Brahminenweiher and listen to their singing. Unfortunately, the legendary and threatened Bengal Tiger did not show up.

Otter Fishermen

On the 6th day of our journey, we follow the Bhairab and Chitra rivers and finally arrive at a village of otter fishermen. This form of fishing, where trained otters are used on leashes to catch fish, crabs and crabs, is rarely practiced anywhere in the world because the method is considered ineffective. We have the opportunity to watch the fishermen and their otters in their daily work.

Folklore diversity and tradition in a confined space – the hill tribes of Bandarban

After another stopover in the bustling capital Dhaka we fly to the southeast of Bangladesh, to Chittagong. Upon approach we enjoy the fascinating panorama of the region crossed by several mountains and dense forests, on the border with Myanmar and India. These remote mountainous regions are – due to the neighboring countries – characterized by a large diversity of peoples and traditional tribal treasures. Not far from the summit of the third highest mountain in Bangladesh, Mt. Chimbuk (2,500 m), we visit one settlement of the tribe of Murong, who also live in nearby Myanmar. A Bawm settlement, the smallest minority of Bangladesh, gives us insight into foreign and interesting ways of life, as well as visiting a Tripura settlement. This tribe comes from the former kingdom of Tripura in what is now northeastern India. The small town of Bandarban invites you to take a stroll through the bazaar and visit the Buddhist “Golden Temple”.

End of the journey in Cox`s Bazaar

On the longest natural beach in the world and Bangladesh’s most popular seaside resort we reflect upon the rich experiences we have made during this journey.

General information:
Especially for a trip to Bangladesh competent planning, preparation and professional guides are immensely important. Terralaya Travels was always our point of contact, and thus the organizer of this individual journey, from the entry requirements, through information on behavior, to an individually tailored travel program with particularly experienced and competent travel guides.
Information about Bangladesh

Best travel time
In Bangladesh, during winter, from October to March, we have a well-tolerated, mild and pleasant climate. Adventurous travelers may want to try the special charm of high monsoon in June and August.

Of course you can book this trip with a similar course as a group tour. The next dates are already fixed and that from 20.01. – 01.02.2019 and from 17.02. – 01.03.2018

Bangladesh individual tour:

from / to Dhaka airport. For details see also http://terralaya.com/de/download.php?id=2.

Source: Terralaya Travels and Wikipedia

Our Wellness Temple

Once you arrive at the Bamboo Retreat Hotel, you soon realizes that you find yourself in the midst of a paradise garden. A walk through our garden is already a small wellness experience in itself.

A colorful potpourri of various plants, shrubs, vegetables, fruit trees, giant ferns, grasses and flowers rounded off by the smell of herbs awaits you.

In-between you can discover beautiful butterflies, birds singing and smiling faces of the people who care for this garden.

In the middle, well hidden in a large bamboo hedge, is a small hut. Here we offer you a wellness experience of a very special kind, our hotstone bath.

Out traditional Hotstone-Bath

In this bamboo nest, well shielded from prying eyes, there is a large wooden bathtub. A few hours before the start of the bath, stones are heated on an open fire. They then find their place in a separate compartment of the bathtub, which meanwhile been filled with mountain water. The stones transfer their energy to the water while heating it up.

Herbs are now added to the water, such as a bunch of lemongrass – or a herbal decoction made up of different herbs. Some Sikkimese families have their own “secret recipe” of soothing herbs and healing barks. The plants used in Sikkim for these winter spas include mugwort, dwarf rhododendron, juniper and many more.When the desired temperature is reached – the bath is ready for you to enjoy. 

The atmosphere is unique in the evening at dusk or in the dark.

The bamboo hut is beautifully decorated with flowers, the hearth is glowing, crickets are chirping and you almost have the feeling of being in the rainforest – man in harmony with nature – and in the midst of it the energizing interaction of earth, fire, water and air. During the approx. 20-minute-soak in the water an employee of the house acts discreetly in the background. In between, hot stones may be added to keep the water temperatureand a traditional vegetable soup will be served while you can feel completely at ease.

If we have aroused your interest, contact our reception. You are welcome to make an appointment with us. You get a bathrobe about an hour before the appointed time. It’s best to rest a little longer to get in the mood for this outdoor wellness bath. Once all the preparations have been made and the correct water temperature is reached, you will be escorted to the hot stone bath area.If you wish you can have a look at our hot stone bath-area in the garden beforehand. 

Try it out and immerse yourself in our bamboo wellness oasis in the bosom of nature! If you do not enjoy sitting in the wild, you can enjoy a herbal- and flower bath in our cozy bathroom in the house.

Traditional bathing in Sikkim:
Even today, this kind of “hot stone bathing” is widespread in the countryside of Sikkim. Especially in the winter months, the Sikkimese also like to go to one of the many hot spring Sikkims to regenerate in the water.

Would you like to soak in a thermal spring?

On request, we organize excursions for our guests to these thermal springs (2 – 5 days) – please consult our management or receptionist. Some of these thermal springs are easily accessible – others only on foot or by trekking for several days. The Hot Stone Bath in the wood bathtub serves as a comfortable alternative at home to Hot Spring visits.

Our Indoor-Herbal-Bath

Our indoor version: The Herbal Bath If you do not enjoy sitting in the open air, you can enjoy a herbal bath in our cozy bathroom in the house. For this bath, fresh herbs are collected in our garden and added to the bath water along with fruit essences and various flowers. The active ingredients of the herbs provide soothing relaxation and in combination with the fruity scents for a new animation. The bathroom is beautifully decorated with flowers and after the bath you can still dream a little with candlelight and a cup of tea and switch off from everyday life.

For this bath, of course, only herbs and flowers are used, which are grown in our organic garden.Also this wellness variant is a blessing for body and senses.

We are looking forward to your visit.

Northeast India with fascinating visits to the tribal festivals!

INDIA, aromas of spices, colorful saris, majestic mountains, everybody has their own imagination of the country. India isn’t only a huge country but also a very diverse country.

An old Indian proverb says:
Quietness is not found on the top of the mountains, loudness is not found in the markets in the cities, both of these are found in the heart of the people.

Experience the different regions, the diverse people, and their cultures now. Let the unforgettable encounters come into your heart and let them build a bridge between the worlds, you can do all of this on our cultural journey in northeast India, which is available for booking from now on.

At a glance:
Northeast India-Trip with indigenous festivals
22 days- alternative extension Tripura +4 Days

27.03.2019 – 17.04.2019
Extension Tripura: until 21.04.2019

We will travel to the following regions:
Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya & Arunachal Pradesh
optional: Tripura

Do you know the meaning of the original Indian flag?
It tells us a lot about the Indian people, the fascinating contrasts, and differences, that characterize and make up India: Orange represents Hinduism, green stands for Islam, and the white stripe is for all the other religions and serves as a peace barrier between the different spiritualities. The flag symbolizes the diversity of religions since there is no official religion. During our India culture trip, we will experience over and over again how much of the Indian populations day is affected by belief and tradition.

The priorities on our India tour are the indigenous tribes and their celebrations. We will visit the northeastern part of India and we will go on a very special cultural journey. The regions Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Tripura are still very traditional and are characterized by its neighboring countries Bhutan, Tibet, and Nepal. As well it isn’t a very touristic area. You will get to know the real India with modest and simple but authentic food and hotels.

You can especially look forward to the indigenous celebration. The festivals only happen once a year and are traditional, fascinating and unique, that you will say, I have never witnessed something like it. Probably you will never experience any festivity with the same ambiance. It is not only that the native celebrations get rarer but also that they usually aren’t that close together.

Let’s build bridges to the Indian culture together:

Firstly we will attend a celebration called Aoling hosted by the Konyak tribe. Traditionally the festivities have a span of 6 full days and its purpose is to honor the spring and pray for the gods blessing for the upcoming harvest. Every day in the week of celebrations has its own special meaning and is accompanied with ancient rituals, dances, musical performances and special dishes. In the next 3 days, we will experience the Aoling festival together with many different tribes and we will also get to know about their cultural differences.

Next, we will get to know the Mopin-Festival

It is a traditional festival of the native Adi Gallo tribe. They celebrate it to scare off evil spirits and to bring luck and happiness to the people. Traditional dances named “popir” are performed by the women while music and expressionistic singing give the ritual its luminosity. We will experience and witness the Mopin celebration for several days

We will encounter many religions and diverse cultures and be close to the Indian folk music and you will accompany people that honor their gods and bring them sacrifices. You will be able to witness quiet prayers but also jolly dances.

India is a heavily spiritual country with a special allure. Witness the magic and visit the traditional tribe celebrations in the march and April of 2019.

The journey was organized by Terralaya Travel, a very experienced tour operator in India, which is lead by a Swiss woman who lived in northeast India for many years. She doesn’t only know the culture but also has contact with many natives. This is clearly noticeable by the organization of the trip. Everything is prepared and coordinated for you and you will be able to get a deep insight into the culture and life in the northeastern part of India. Terralaya Travel will also provide help with all legal documents that are needed for entry to India and the appliance for the visa.

Here you can read the detailed plan for the trip.

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us we are happy to help with any questions and discuss the trip with you.

Please notice that you can book the trip starting now and there are only a limited amount of places available. As a special service this journey can also be booked as an individual tour (slightly adjusted to include other tribal festivals in line with your timeframe), ideally from November to March.

We are looking forward to your booking and the unforgettable encounters that we will have with the original and diverse native tribes and the fascinating nature.

Gundruk and Sinki

Whether its soup or pickle, Gundruk is always inviting and pleasant in taste. One can sense the hard work, endurance and efforts put by Himalayan people especially women to prepare Gundruk; an accommodating mineral source during the off-season when diet is mostly starch with infinitesimal quantity of minerals. Gundruk can’t be cooked and usually served as an appetiser in form of soup or pickle or as a side dish with the main course/vegetable.

Fermented Food and Appetiser

Gundruk is an ideal example for effective utilisation of excess production of spinach, mustard, cauliflower and radish leaves during the harvest season. These leaves are collected, washed with water and then left in open space for 2-3 days to become dry and shrivelled. These dried leaves are chopped into moderate size pieces with knife or sickle and sometimes smashed along with radish roots as well. The smashed and shredded leaves are stored in seal tight  container in warm place for at least 4 days for fermentation. When stored in earthenware pot for fermentation, lukewarm water is poured into the container till it covers all the leaves. It taste acidic when its ready, one can also recognised the extent of fermentation through smell. In the end, Gundruk is removed from the container and dried out in sunlight.

Similar to Gundruk, another fermented variety is Sinki prepared from radish tap roots. The process for fermentation to prepare Sinki is somewhat different from that of Gundruk. The radish with   tap roots are broken down into small pieces in “Dhinki” and then stored in a hole dug down to 2-3 feet.

Initially a small fire is ignited to warm up the hole and when its sufficiently hot, fire is put off to line up the bamboo and straw at the bottom. The shredded radish is stuffed on top of the bamboo layer which is then covered by vegetation, rock,  mud etc. to fabricate an impermeable barrier. On completion of bacterial curing which last for a month, final sun drying is carried out before consuming it.

If radish pickle is to be prepared then sun drying is not required instead it is directly mixed with spices and stored in container.
We at Bamboo Retreat Hotel prepare our own “Gundruk” and “Sinki” from organic vegetables cultivated in our garden to serve the delicious, mouth-watering Potato-Gundruk Soup, radish pickle and various other Himalayan/Sikkimese cuisines to our guest.