<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I bought the Bradt Guide to Bangladesh prior to a recent week-long visit to the country, and was amazed at how well-laid-out, up-to-date and accurate it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I was not able, on this occasion, to explore very far, but thanks to the guide I discovered some excellent restaurants and great clothing stores in Dhaka.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I was able to travel a couple of hundred kilometers north of Dhaka, and experienced for myself the guide&rsquo;s description of the Rajshahi district as &lsquo;a real paradise&rsquo; (and a welcome break from the indescribable Dhaka traffic!) </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I learnt about the 120-km Cox&rsquo;s Bazaar, billed as the world&rsquo;s longest beach (though it seems there&rsquo;s actually one twice as long in Brazil).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I read about Sundarban, home to the world&rsquo;s largest mangrove forest and the endangered Royal Bengal tiger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I discovered that half the country is under water during the monsoon season. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I found out all about ethnic minorities. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the Bradt Guide to Bangladesh is so much more than a simple tourist guide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It has excellent sections on a range of subjects from the country&rsquo;s history to climate change, living in Bangladesh, and much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Above all, whether you are simply visiting for a short while, or planning to move there,&nbsp;you will find the guide&nbsp;filled with useful information about responsible travel, and how you, as a traveller, can get involved in supporting positive change. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>The writers, Mikey Leung and Belinda Meggitt, write with honesty, enthusiasm and insight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>They certainly open your eyes to the fact that Bangladesh is far from &lsquo;the basket case&rsquo; it was described as by Henry Kissinger when the country gained its independence in 1971.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">And after my short visit, I can confirm unreservedly the authors' description of the Bangladeshi people&rsquo;s &lsquo;never-ending hospitality and graciousness towards foreign guests.&rsquo;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If you&rsquo;d like to see photos of my trip, see here: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=300266&amp;id=664241054&amp;l=f7d9e47d15"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=300266&amp;id=664241054&amp;l=f7d9e47d15</span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "><span style="font-family: Verdana; color: #000000; font-size: x-small;">Based on this single experience, I shall be buying Bradt fro</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "><span style="font-family: Verdana; color: #000000; font-size: x-small;">m now on, rather than Lonely Planet or Rough Guides.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></p>