The most recent travel I made out of the city to another, as far as, I remember was to Sylhet for presenting a paper in a conference. The beauty of the whole travel was definitely in the journey. I had no idea bus journeys had become so modernized in our country. There were lots of tissue papers and free water bottles in the tray in front. My mother and brother were with me. The glass windows were dark and closed and we could hardly watch out of the windows. The air conditioner was on, and it was a pleasant environment along with other passengers. The bus driver’s assistant said a simple short prayer and greeted us all using a microphone. Soon we were off. Whew!! We chose our seats at the rightmost front for easy breathing and movement of hands and legs in the wider space. It all felt great. We came to a standstill at about half the journey and had the liberty to enter a food and rest center where we had snacks and refreshed ourselves. In the meantime we were debating which hotel to book whether near the conference holding university or near the bus stop. We finally decided on the latter and that’s where we stayed overnight. All night I was kind of tensed about the presentation that I was to perform on my reseach. I knew all the materials in there and everything was in my finger tips but still…….The presentation day passed off smoothly with a few people around. We had boxes of lunch and drinks. When my part was over, I couldn’t wait to travel back home sweet home. But once again it was the journey that was delightful and exciting and free from the monotony of mundane life. Although it was evening and we were going to reach home by late night, I felt blessed but said a silent prayer and remained relaxed.
I have been on trips outside the city as little as a child, especially the visit to Chittagong sea beach is a memorable one. We went to the city by first class compartment of railway train and then by bus to Cox Bazaar motel. It was so near the beach. I am so grateful for those special moments with my family. We had fun playing and wading through the sea water. We didn’t know swimming and the first dip into the water was kind of scary. But gradually we dared to go a little more into the sea water and as I said we had loads of fun. Each one of us took the cameraman lead and took the memorable photos of other members. I remember my dad standing beside my mom in sky blue sharee on the beach, and I can bet it was the best picture of my parents that I could ever come across. Both looked so darn happy!! Next as a gesture of a befitting stay near the beach we went for a bumpy jeep ride on the rocky hills nearby and simply, I have to say it was so purely adventurous and exhilarating.
Another small ride during my childhood on the outskirts of the city was with my own family, cousins and aunts on a simple boat journey. As we settled ourselves, balancing and sitting on the seats of the simple wooden boat, the boatman sang to his heart’s content paddling us through the wavy waters of the river. Soon I switched from the boatman’s song to the depth of the water in the river. This was even when I was a bit younger than the last travel and my heart beats went thumping because I was scared I might fall into the water and drown, still not knowing swimming (which I didn’t learn until I was a teenager). But Almighty God spared all of us. We reached an island and excitedly took photos of ourselves. It was like having conquered something. Yet it was only the fear we conquered and learnt to enjoy the journey by water. The way back was more comfortable and enjoyable: simply an indelible memory, and who knows moments like these may never come to pass again in my life.