Last night in Dhaka

So on our last night we were planning on having dinner with Martin. We picked him up at his office around 7pm. In the car we decided what to do for dinner. As we are planning and deciding AN ELEPHANT walks by us on the street- just like that! We stopped the car and it is amazing and quite strange to see this enormous animal. Martin and Steven asks if they can take a ride. The man says yes and off they go. I was not that brave so I stayed put on the ground but I dared to pose next to it.

Off we go to dinner. We end up at a crepes place which had really amazing milk shakes. The most memorable thing however I think was the lousy and terrible service. Five waitors standing around now knowing what to do really. It was hilarious!

Somehow we are not ready to go home yet. We decide to try to get in at the American Club as two of Martin's friends are there. We drive over there and even though Steven has his passport, Martin is a member at Nordic Club they refuse to let us in. Only a member at the American Club that sign in guests... So... we go to the Westin hotel as we really want to end the evening with a drink. The Westin is one of Dhaka's most exclusive places and they have a rooftop bar (see earlier post) and they have alcoholic drinks which you can't find anywhere else in Dhaka.

 

 

When we walk in... there is a band playing and it is a quite unexpected scene that awaits us. They are from the Fillipines and there are three girls in the front dancing and singing and one guy in the back playing keyboard. The girls are wearing some outfits which I am not sure where they belong and they sing covers of for example Britney Spears, Rihanna, Whitney Houston and they have their own coreography... Kind of karaokee feel to it... Yes, you can only imagine... Suddenly a guy comes up on stage and believe it or not sings "Gangnam style" and they do the whole dance and sheeebang! I am the only woman the bar as it is filled with men who sings along and dances as well. The whole thing feels quite overwhelmingly funny as this is the most exclusive place in Dhaka and then you walk into this!

 

FINALE:
The two friends of Martin are coming to join us, Magdalena and Marcus. Two Swedes who have lived in Dhaka for about 6 months now. He works for Telenor (Grameenphone) and she has her own business in Sweden but can work from here.

Suddenly a man starts talking to me. His name is Daniel and he is from Australia. Turns out he is the General Manager (big boss) The Westin Hotel. We talk a long time about the band, the hotel, our visit. We get to meet The Executive Manager (biggest boss) and the chef, who by the way is from Switzerland. Daniel tells us there is a Dhaka house party at The Radisson Hotel later that evening and asks us if we want to go. He says it is the coolest party ever with huge dancefloor, dj from New York, special invitation only, bar etc. We all say: YEAH! Let's go!
So he brings us special invitiaion gear, a NY baseball cap and a ticket in form of a passport. We take our car and go.
As we step into the Radisson Hotel our minds are blown away. Huge scene with people all dressed up for party. Dj, bar and dancefloor. Great set-up and very very very unexpected. We dance and have an almost sureal but really good time.

Daniel, The General Manager at The Westin Hotel

ONLY IN DHAKA!