Ezra is 1-year Old !

Check out some of Ezra's one year photos.

Trip to Comila, Moinamati, Sonargaon, Dhaka

During our two-week break, we had a chance to visit several interesting sites to the East of Dhaka and in the city, including some Buddhist ruins from the 8th century.  Here are a few pictures.

Star Mosque in Dhaka

Bangladesh National Assembly Building

Ahsan Manjil (The Pink Palace) in Dhaka

Shrine at Lalbagh Fort in Dhaka

(Constructed by the son of Mughal Emperor)

Old Capital Building in Sonargaon

(Capital of Bengal before British arrival)

Hindu Guru (holy man) at Durga Temple in Comila

Excavation of 8th Century Buddhist Temple and Monastery near Moinamati 

Ruins of 8th Century Buddhist Temple at Monastery near Moinamati

Trip to Sylhet, Jaflong, and Srimongal

Finally getting a chance to take some vacation from work for all of us and take the opportunity to get out of the house and around Bangladesh while Alison's parents were here, we took a four day tour through the northeast part of Bangladesh known as Sylhet.  The division of Sylhet contains several towns and cities, including the main one of the same name, and is also home to several national parks, a numerous tea plantations, citrus plantation, and pineapple plantations as well as other things.  The terrain is hilly, wooded, and rocky in places making it very different from the part of the country that we live in.  It reminded me a little of Guinea, although this area is one of the wettest in the world, with some places receiving more than 4 meters (156 inches) of rain on average every year.

Enjoying six-layer tea in Srimongal (a different flavor in every layer)

Hiking through Lawachara National Park (near Srimongal)

Don and Diane in front of their Eco Cottage in Srimongal

Ezra enjoying some fried rice in Sylhet (hands and spoons are just too slow sometimes)

Jeremy, Alison, and Ezra at Madhobkunda Waterfall

Boat ride on the Jaflong River

View of the Jaflong river and across border into India

Taking the train from Srimongal back to Dhaka

Birthday Party Number 1

We recently got back from our vacation around Bangladesh with Alison's parents (Don and Diane) [much more on that coming later], but before we left, we celebrated Ezra's first birthday at our house in Gaibandha.  Here are some pictures...

Ezra waiting for this party to get started...

Ezra calmly enjoying his cake

The family

Ezra trying out his drum featuring (you guessed it) the Bangladeshi group "Gangstar"

Ezra opening more presents (with Bonnie's help)