A Few Extra Hours by Shahjalal International

Day 122 - Well, this is the day we were due to leave Bangladesh. When we made reservations several weeks back, our Malindo Air flight was to depart at just before midday. Soon after buying the tickets through their website, they made a change to our schedule. Rather than leaving at noon, our return flight was re-booked and we were put on a flight leaving twelve hours later. Our lives do not run on any particular schedule, so the changes were of no particular concern.



Of course, it meant we had extra time. So we ate breakfast at the Rafflesia Serviced Apartments at around the same time as usual. The manager said that he'd have to charge us another full day, if we left at 8:00 pm. He offered a deal over their regular prices but we declined.

For the same amount of money we decided we could check into a hotel near the airport, which is around an hour away due to horrendous Dhaka traffic. At around noon, we headed to the Richmond Hotel and Suites near the Shahjalal International Airport. We figured we'd take them up on the offer of a free shuttle at around 8:30 pm.







We got to rest and see a part of Dhaka we'd not seen. We were near an upmarket, 5-storey, government-sponsored clothing and department store. So I bought two batik-like shirts suitable for summer. This is a type of cooperative that turns over profits to rural women who sew and create the crafts which are sold. We also ate lunch and had a very substantial nap before our late-night flights.

Getting through the airport was easy only because an official police officer helped herd us ahead of possible crowds and smoothed our way into line for boarding passes and immigration. Of course, he expected a little 'tip'. Whereas, Dennis of my youth would have roiled at the thought of an unfair situation, my older self realizes that this man is paid next to nothing. In order to provide for his family, he needs to supplement his meager, inadequate wages. It's not simply a matter of what's piously considered right or wrong. Unfortunately, the whole system becomes corrupt and difficult to change. No one gets enough to live on and everyone needs to get a little more anyway they can. We gave him extra takas worth about US $3.50. I'm sure he would have preferred more like $20.

We are now waiting for our flight but it should leave on time. As it is a bit under four hours of flying, we should get into Kuala Lumpur International Airport a bit before six o'clock in the morning. We can probably get through immigration and into a Grab ride-share car in short order. I expect we'll be in the Maytower after the 60 KM trip downtown by 7:15. That will be just about the time it gets really light.