Highway robbery

We were on our way to a village wedding, admiring green fields and the beautiful nature.

Suddenly there was an elephant in front of the car. 

Elephants are surprisingly big animals. 

And rather loud. 

I don't speak elephant language but had no difficulties in understanding that the creature was yelling for money.

The owner had done a good job in training the giant. The elephant was both scary and funny at the same time.

Its trunk was waiting for the payment just outside the windscreen. Only 100 taka or bigger  notes  (about a dollar) were accepted. My husband accidentally tried to give it a 10 taka note which resulted in a threatening movement against the car. Luckily, a bigger note had a calming effect. 

Actually, the episode was entertaining, well worth the illegal road toll.

The day after we met two elephants close to our home in Dhaka. Now totally cool in the meeting-an-elephant - situation, I just pushed the elephant's trunk away and winked to the owner. 

The weather is at its coldest and the wedding season at its hottest. A countryside  wedding had a special charm with half a village enjoying the wedding lunch, women in their best clothes, men in more relaxed outfits. All - except two foreigners - eating with their fingers. 

After the first round of guests had emptied their plates, the next crowd took over and the tables were quickly filled with new heaps of rice, chicken, vegetables and dessert. Amazing logistics. 

After the lunch the guests made portions of paan, especially those underage.

Paan is a kind of liquidless cocktail made of betel leaves filled with e.g. areca nuts, tobacco, slaked lime. The chewable cocktail gives a kick to any party - and a red shade to one's teeth.