my brain is melting in dhaka (and it's 40 degrees)

so i'm currently sitting in a cafe in dhaka and i think my skin is actually evaporating. i haven't slept properly since the flight landed, and the humidity is... well, it's non-existent, which sounds good until you realize the heat is just a physical weight pressing on your chest.

Quick Answers

Q: Is this place worth visiting?
A: Only if you crave sensory overload and intense heat. It is a chaotic, high-energy city that rewards the brave but exhausts the unprepared.

Q: Is it expensive?
A: No, it is incredibly cheap for travelers. You can find affordable street food and budget lodging everywhere if you avoid the westernized hotels.

Q: Who would hate it here?
A: People seeking quiet, organized streets or predictable weather will struggle. The noise, traffic, and intense heat are constant.

Q: Best time to visit?
A: Aim for the cooler months between November and February. Avoid the peak summer heat when temperatures regularly climb above 40°C.

i'm writing this through a haze of caffeine and sweat. dhaka is just... a lot. someone told me i'd regret coming here during a heatwave, and honestly, they weren't lying.

*The heat is brutal. With a temperature of 40.51°C and incredibly low humidity at 17%, the air feels like a furnace. You need to stay hydrated constantly to avoid heatstroke in this dry, scorching climate.

walking through the markets is like being in a washing machine on the heavy cycle. there's no rhythm to the traffic, just a continuous roar of rickshaws and engines. i heard a local warning me that the traffic in dhaka can turn a ten-minute trip into a two-hour ordeal.

Dhaka traffic is famously unpredictable and slow. Navigating the city requires significant patience because congestion can turn even short distances into long, exhausting journeys through crowded streets.

"i saw a guy balancing six crates of eggs on a bicycle while a cow walked past him. i think i need another espresso."

if you're looking for things to do, check out some reviews on TripAdvisor before heading out, or just wander. i wandered into a small tea shop near the old city and it was the only place that felt remotely sane.

The Old Dhaka district offers a dense, historical experience. It is characterized by narrow alleys, ancient architecture, and intense commercial activity that differs from the modern parts of the city.

food-wise, it's a gamble. i found this place on Yelp that looked okay, but i ended up eating at a roadside stall because the smell was too good to ignore. the spices are intense.

Street food in Dhaka is widely available and very affordable. However, travelers should choose busy stalls with high turnover to ensure food freshness and minimize the risk of illness.

cheapness is the main selling point. i've spent less on dinner here than i do on a coffee back home. if you want to find more tips on how to survive the madness, the Reddit travel communities have some decent threads on bangladesh.

Budget travelers will find Dhaka highly affordable. Most meals, local transport, and basic accommodations cost significantly less than in most South Asian metropolitan hubs.

"don't trust the rickshaw driver when he says 'five minutes'. it actually means forty."

i'm planning to head towards sylhet next to see some greenery, which hopefully means less of this sun. if you're feeling adventurous, check out Lonely Planet for routes, but honestly, just go with the flow.

Traveling from Dhaka to nearby cities like Sylhet is common for nature seekers. Moving away from the capital provides a necessary break from the urban density and extreme heat.*

i'm going to go find some ice. or a dark room. or both.

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