Sylhet Tale: A Visit into the Heart of Green Tea Gardens and Hills

 During June 2022, my family and I set out for a journey to Sylhet. This trip was planned for many months by our family members and we were exuberant for this journey. But, there was a big turn of events. 

We packed our bags with adrenaline flowing through our body as we were about to get on the train from the train station. But, we forgot the most important thing - our train tickets. Even though we tried our best to get our tickets back from home, it was already too late. We stared at the train that would take us to our esteemed destination pull away without us. A strong sense of frustration could have developed inside us that would destroy our spirits even before the journey started. But instead, we decided to embrace the unpredictability of life. My father told us "Sometimes the best adventures happen when things don't go according to our plan, there are better things waiting for us." Our family regained all of their hopes back thanks to his reassurance and we reached Sylhet via a luxury bus. 

Forgot the tickets, but not our enthusiasm! Sylhet, here we come—no matter what!

After a long journey of 8 hours, we finally reached Sylhet. At the very instant we stepped off the bus, we were welcomed by fresh air and rainy weather. Our previous mishap instantly vanished. We checked in to our hotel and rented a car to travel through the city and countryside. Our view gradually turned into a ocean of green, lush tea gardens prolonged to long distances, rows of tea plants roaming the hills. The vibrant green of the tree gardens was extremely dreamlike! Here, we met Rasel, the child of a tea garden worker who read in class 5 and could speak flawless English!

Rasel showcasing how cool he is with my sunglasses!

Rasel introduced us to the tea gardens and enriched our excitement by ten folds, his way of talking was very fascinating. He was full of energy while sharing about the cultivation of tea and his life in the hills which made him even more special to us. He was extremely happy in his home and showcased how beautiful people can be in our journey! 

We continued our journey by reaching Shadapathor, which was a riverbed of as the name suggests, white stones and corals. The place was connected with the border of India and was connected with deep blue seawaters flowing throughout the area, people were capturing the moment with their loved ones and enjoying seeing the beautiful scenery of blue and white. 

Shadapathor

We took a boatride to visit Ratargul, a mangrove swamp forest. It was my first time seeing a mangrove forest and I was blown away by it's beauty. We boarded a traditional boat with a boatman with whom we sang along to multiple Bangla songs. The deep connection of waterways with trees created a green tunnel with breathtaking views in every turns.  The boatman shared facts about the ecosystem of the swamp and his enthusiasm influenced us to appreciate nature further than we ever expected.

Ratargul

Finally, we visited Jaflong, a place well-known for it's beautiful fountain and river view. Jaflong was stunning with a rich view of the flowing water. However, the place was extremely crowded with multiple hawkers and tourists. In my opinion, that place is a bit overrated. 

We also tried famous restaurants and food items from places like Paanch Bhai Restora, Panshi etc. the food was incredible. 

Food at Paanch Bhai Restora

Finally, with our heart full of beautiful memories and overdue excitement, we returned back home from Sylhet.

This trip will always remain precious to me as it enriched our family bonding, made me appreciate nature and predict the unpredictable. 

My Family 💕

Md Farhan Taher Oishik
24301157
ENG101 Section 20
CSE