Venice is probably my favourite city even though I don’t know it as well as I ought to. On this trip, although we only had two nights, it was a combination of fantastic weather and superb accommodation.
I had booked us a room at the Westin Europa and Regina, just opposite San Salute on the Grand Canal. Our friends at the Westin Dhaka found out and arranged for us to be given the best of the three penthouse suites – thank you Stephane
and team!
It is said that there are three traditional Chinese curses, each one ratcheting up the severity of the punishment: May you live in interesting times May you come to the attention of those in authority May you find what you are looking for Those of you who are burdened by insomnia or lead sad lives may well have ... ...
I don’t intend to use my blog to simply replicate news items from other places but the BBC’s Kevin Connolly reflects so well my own views on how Barack Obama’s historic election win has helped widen the boundaries of the American dream that I think it bears publishing here – the original is copyright of ... ...
Here I am again, eight days later, in a different coffee house but back for more Radioactive! This time, I had to fight for a table and not only has Mitul managed to bring along people from his office, he has also roped in his girlfriend, Laura, to sing! Before I tell you about the gig, ... ...
So here I am, on a Thursday night (the start of the weekend in Bangladesh) sitting in the Cuppa Coffee Club sipping a mango yoghurt. Why am I here when I could be in the executive lounge at the Westin gulping free wine during the two-hour happy hour? A very good question and the answer ... ...
I listened to BBC Radio 4’s Thought for the Day this morning and was greatly struck by what Akhandadhi Das had to say as he prepared for Diwali: “Diwali is usually described as the celebration of good triumphing over evil and that is certainly one of the themes of the Ramayan, the Hindu text ... ...
I arrived back in Dhaka after the Eid holidays just in time for the celebration of Durgha Puja. For Bengali Hindus, this is the main religious event of the year, even bigger than Diwali so, with just a brief pause for a shower and a spot of breakfast after my flight, I ventured out to ... ...
I realise that I have not actually said anything yet about the work I am doing in Dhaka and that is clearly remiss of me as I know that you are all keen to know what I am up to. The Institute of Governance Studies (IGS) is part of BRAC University in Bangladesh. My job, ... ...
What a lovely day it has been. Not too much work – it is a weekend after all so only three meetings – and then my very good friend, Dipu, arrived with a birthday cake and a present. Sadly, Dipu was fasting so I had to demolish most of the cake on my own. If ... ...
So here I am, back in Dhaka and in the midst of Ramadan. What’s different? Well, for a start, work finishes early so that people can get home to break their fast. The traffic has also altered its pattern with a phenomenal rush homeward starting from about 3 and the streets really empty around the ... ...
Niall Johnston’s Blog
Resting (after a fashion)….
