travelsundarban: Pleasant Padma

We were out of Dhaka crowd and the spell of month-long scorching heat. We drove down to the Mawa ghat through the smooth metalled road under the cover of gray cloud and occasional friendly drizzle.

Before us, the mighty Padma River was flowing as it was thousands of years ago. This part of the river is bifurcated into two channels making a huge island in the middle and the two branches joined again.

We were on a newly-built wooden boat 'Panshi Nao,' a name chosen from its traditional design. As we settled comfortably on top of the boat's hood, it started moving with much noise from the engine.

We were cruising on the smaller branch of the river but strong wind created huge waves that rocked our boat. Though we had some life jackets, the waves made some of us a bit worried. But soon the worrying time was over and all of us started singing suppressing the whirring of the engine. Mr Alam and Mr Maroof of JABA Tours, our host of the trip, were always busy looking after us. Soon then joined the chorus.

The weather was not photographer-friendly as most of them hate such lighting condition, but surely it was perfect for the outdoor-loving tourists. The condition was ideal for the autumn Padma landscape as if came out of poems of Tagore who used to spent quite a long time on the river.

Apart from the mechanised boats, small dinghis were plying here and there. The colour of sky and water became dirty gray and the horizon could only be defined by the lines of lush green vegetation.

After an hour or so, out boat anchored at the junction of the main course of the river with strong currents.

It was time for swimming but the level difference of boat and water made it difficult to drop into the water. Fortunately, Inam volunteered by dropping his inflated boat into the water. Alam dropped down some lifebuoys entangled by a strong rope for the relief of the tired swimmers.

One must admit that swimming in swimming pools and free flowing water is always a different experience. Suddenly clouds disappeared and an intense blue sky with brilliant sunlight came out from nowhere. We did not waste time to enjoy the magical moments. We got to swimming, mud-bathing, squeezing through the paddy and jute vegetations and everything that came to our brain.

We were tired to our bones and our stomach persuading us to call it the fun. We obliged.