Backpacking in Bangladesh: Visiting Singer Pro Sewing Machine Shop in Dhaka

Backpacking in Bangladesh: Visiting Singer Sewing Machine Shop in Dhaka

Backpacking in Bangladesh: Visiting Singer Sewing Machine Shop in Dhaka

After getting my Bangladesh Visa in Hong Kong, I was off to explore Bangladesh, flying into Dhaka and overlanding down to Chittagong. What I didn’t realise is that when I hit country 103 with this place, just how manic and mayhemic it would actually be. Yeah you hear all sorts of things about Dhaka, but until you have been here for yourself, you don’t have a clue. Especially when I had just arrived from backpacking in Singapore. Singapore is understandable, it’s organised, it’s progressive. Bangladesh is the polar opposite, it’s chaotic, disorientating and non-changing. It is also ridiculously unpredictable.

Harbour side in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Harbour side in Dhaka, Bangladesh

While it would be easy to start with a “Top 5 sights” type of post, Dhaka hasn’t been like that. It’s more of a city for random stuff happening – going out, walking round the streets, getting a baby taxi (tuk tuk) and breathing in the never ending fumes of countless exhausts. It’s a city where life can never really stand still. There are a crazy amount of people on every corner of every street. All day long, and maybe when we are sleeping too.

Dhaka never stands still

Dhaka never stands still

This is arguably the biggest test of my backpacking career. I stayed north of Dhaka in Uttara but backpacked like a beast through central Dhaka too – the Old Town, Motijheel, Sadarghat and the crazy markets.

Old Town Dhaka, Bangladesh

Old Town Dhaka, Bangladesh

I was in the Old Town of Dhaka and as the only token white person for miles, you attract lots of attention. I’m taking photos and videos, left, right and middle. The reason being the weather was normally torrential rain and I was making the most of this rare dry period to get snap happy. A few locals chat to me, then a policeman comes over and talks away – very friendly.

The local peeler and I

The local peeler and I

During the conversation with the policeman (who also gets his mobile out for a selfie of me and him), literally a crowd gathers just to see me – to see if I’m real. This crowd below gathered only because I was here. That much is f**king crazy. They almost take it in turns to be photographed with me.

This crowd gathered because of me - this place is NUTS.

This crowd gathered because of me – this place is NUTS.

Then during all this, the locals are all posing for photos with me, and a guy pulls up on a motorbike. I’m introduced to him – a local journalist, Khan from the Observer and a Bangladeshi online “paper”. I’m standing there thinking what the hell is going on and as the guys pose for more photos, when they ask me where I’m from, I tell them Belfast (they won’t know Bangor) and Northern Ireland. Bemused looks and then I bring out my flag for a few photos, these guys are nuts about Cricket, but since Northern Ireland plays with the Ireland cricket team, then there are still bemused looks. I get a shout of England, again, close but no cigar!

Posing with some locals with my Northern Ireland flag.

Posing with some locals with my Northern Ireland flag.

Just after this, the journalist Khan comes over for a chat and speaks a decent amount of English. The crowd quickly disintegrates and people go back to the lives they had before I backpacked down this random street. Khan and I talk to the police a bit too and then I tell him I am heading down to the river next to see the boats at Sadarghat.

Khan on his motorbike

Khan on his motorbike

At first I’m thinking just to walk away, then I randomly ask if I can go with him on his motorbike. I also need to find a money changer (it’s hard to find – believe me) so he agrees to take me to both those places as well as a Sewing Machine shop. What?! I’m going backpacking to tour a sewing machine shop? Yes let’s go! I’ve toured a silver workshop in Java, a ceramics work shop in Marginea, a secret plastics factory in rural China and a candle factory in Swaziland, but a sewing machine shop? First time for me!

Backpacking in Bangladesh with Khan: Visiting Singer Sewing Machine Shop in Dhaka

Backpacking in Bangladesh with Khan: Visiting Singer Sewing Machine Shop in Dhaka

Where is Singer Pro Sewing Machine Shop?
It is somewhere between the Old Town and Sadarghat (by the River Buriganga) on a poky busy street. The entire area around it is disorganised. Completely. I was using tuk tuks, motorbike and rickshaws to try and tour this crazy city.

Singer Pro Sewing Machine Shop

Singer Pro Sewing Machine Shop

Arrival at Singer Pro Sewing Machine Shop
It has been bucketing (raining heavily) all morning and I have been drenched a few times. As we pull into the Sewing Machine Shop, we take shelter and I’m asked if I want a cigarette and a coke. I decline both, I’ve got some water.

Backpacking in Bangladesh: Visiting Singer Sewing Machine Shop in Dhaka

Backpacking in Bangladesh: Visiting Singer Sewing Machine Shop in Dhaka

I’m given a seat at Singer and I’m introduced to the Sewing Machine lads. I’ll be honest we all shook hands and swapped names, but I can’t remember their names. I should have written them down.

The sewing machine lads of Singer Pro

The sewing machine lads of Singer Pro

Khan’s Interview and a Tour
Khan does a quick interview with them and it’s all in Bengali but I get some translations and listen to it.

Backpacking in Bangladesh: Visiting Singer Sewing Machine Shop in Dhaka

Backpacking in Bangladesh: Visiting Singer Sewing Machine Shop in Dhaka

Basically this is what they all describe as “the best sewing machine shop in Bangladesh”. I have no idea if they are justified, but there are plenty of packages to be shipped out.

Sewing machines ready to go!

Sewing machines ready to go!

Top 5 Sewing Machines in Singer Pro, Dhaka, Bangladesh
As far as I could tell, if you’re into Sewing Machines, the best five sold here are:

  1. Bird Fly
  2. Eliza
  3. Butterfly
  4. Flying Man
  5. Beautiful
Hat trick of decent sewing machines

Hat trick of decent sewing machines

They are all ironically made in China. During my time in the shop, at least 2 customers purchase sewing machines. I’m there for about 30 minutes.

Backpacking in Bangladesh: Visiting Singer Sewing Machine Shop in Dhaka

Backpacking in Bangladesh: Top Sewing Machines to buy

After checking out the sewing machine shop, I tour the harbour and we get caught in a torrential rainstorm. Khan kindly still gives me a lift to the money changer place he knows (the rate seems to be fixed and trustable in Bangladesh – when I was there in August 2015, the rate was $1US = 79 Bangladeshi Taka).

Torrential rain in Dhaka

Torrential rain in Dhaka

Money changer in Dhaka Old Town

Money changer in Dhaka Old Town

Drenched Northern Irishman

Drenched Northern Irishman

I offer to pay Khan petrol money and for the “tour”, but at first he declines. I pay him a few Taka at the end and he takes it and we say our goodbyes, swapping e-mail addresses. I tour some more markets in Dhaka but the torrential rain even causes my tuk tuk baby taxi to get caught in the floods so it’s back to Uttara I go. It has been a crazy day.

Floods from my tuk tuk seat in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Floods from my tuk tuk seat in Dhaka, Bangladesh

So if you are ever in Dhaka Bangladesh and you need a decent sewing machine, then Singer Pro is the place to go! Here are a few videos from the day:

9 thoughts on “Backpacking in Bangladesh: Visiting Singer Pro Sewing Machine Shop in Dhaka

  • Hi Jonny,

    Flippin heck, you’ve had a crazy first few days there, though it makes for great stories in the end! I love how people in other countries like to take photos of the token white person, just as much as we like to take photos of them. This is part of the reasoning why I started to think about cultures and what some cultures thing of another.
    Man – the World is a wonderful place!

    Your top 5 sewing machines cracked me up – I love how you just go and do whatever in places and connect with locals, rather than doing expensive organised tours. You’re a great traveller Jonny, and more people should travel this way.

    Enjoy the rest of the adventures in country 103!
    Abbi
    Abbi recently posted…A weekend wander to Arundel, West SussexMy Profile

  • Hi Abbi, Thanks for the comment. Looking back from my fourth day in Bangladesh now, this was the least crazy. A 16 hour train ride due to a sad crash and meeting a Pakistani guy (the only other foreigner in Dhaka apparently) were highlights. There have been some very very strong emotional moments and overwhelming things here in Bangladesh. If I stop in the street anywhere, within 1-2 minutes I will have 40 – 50 Bangladeshi guys crowded around me staring. This has never happened anywhere else. It is truly emotional. They have never in their life seen a non-Bangladeshi before. Safe travels. Jonny

  • Hi I Am Nikita I Am a Travel Agents From India and I read your Article carefully and there I got many information and many things. this is very nice and I am going to give You Excellence for this Blog. Your Blog Written very Nicely and Your Thoughts are Awesome.

  • Brilliant stuff – it’s all about those random moments that you couldn’t make up. Not only do you have the best experiences but they also give you the best stories!

    Would you recommend staying in Uttara? I’ve seen a lot of the guesthouses tend to be a fair distance outside of central Dhaka, and from what I’ve heard it’s perhaps not where you want to be staying in the first place!
    Jack Oldham recently posted…Behind Bars in Lvshun PrisonMy Profile

  • Hi Jack, thanks for the comment and glad you enjoyed my post on Bangladesh. Yes Uttara was a decent place to stay as it was closer to my night train. Dhaka is huge though – lots of choices! Apologies for the late response. I have been suffering from deep depression the last few years caused by liars and I haven’t checked or responded so quickly. It’s a very cool country and totally crazy – have fun out there. Stay safe. Jonny

  • Hi Jonny,

    Superb blog but even it looks amazing vlog. Thank you for adding to my knowledge.

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