What did I have to do to get to Bangladesh?

Here are just a few things I had to do before making it to Bangladesh.  My first step was finding out what shots and medication I would require.  Other than standard tetnus and Typhoid updates, I also got a vaccine against Japanese Encephalitis which is mosquito borne (and speaking of mosquitoes I also will be taking maleria tablets).

Then, the process of getting a VISA to visit the country.  What I found out was that Canadians are only allowed a maximum of 30 days in Bangladesh.  This was certainly not the case for other people from other countries.  As I began to get more information about the program I would be invovled in, I realized that I would need the full 30 days with arrival on the start day and leaving the morning after it finished.  This required a flight change, but more on that later.

Getting the VISA required letters of support from Bangladesh as well as letters of support from my own home country employer.  Then sending my passport off with the proper paperwork to the Bangladesh Consulate based in Ottawa - all in all it only took 10 business days from sending it out so I was happy with that.

The options for flying to Bangladesh from Toronto all took me over the Atlantic - whether it was connecting through Turkey or Quatar, these seemed to be the main options (Same for Ashley going to Nepal).  I picked Turkey as it meant only 1 connector through Istanbul.  And because of the 30 day limit  in Bangladesh, it meant I had to have a 1 night layover in Istanbul, where I have arrived.  

As many of you know, I can't pass up an opportunity to visit a new culture and had a good afternoon exploring different sites such as the pictured Blue Mosque, Sophia Hague and the Bascilica Cistern.  Tomorrow I will meet up with others from the program at the airport as they are coming in from other locations and we will be on the same flight in to Dhaka where we arrive in the early hours of the morning.  Which, from what I have read, is a good thing as traffic can be very challenging as the day progresses.  Total time in the air will be 20 hours and it will be an 11 hour time change from Toronto - this is pretty much the other side of the world.

So, this is where I am so far.  Next update will be from Dhaka.