Jim and Kevin both went out and enjoyed the surf with the local surf club. This is the beach right off of the town of Cox Bazar and can be easily reached from the downtown. Jim and the lads and lassies all took to the rickshaws for transportation to and from the beach, but a surf side hotel can easily be had here. The beaches were clean, broad and very, very long, something like 26 miles long. There were horses to rent on the beach as well as food to be purchased at beach side cafes. The nonsurfers among us, rented covered wooden chaise lounges to relax on and in my case shot the dudes and dudettes in the water.

Another snap of the surf club including Honorary Member Jim Bailey. Jafar Alam is second from the left and please note the young girl surfers as well. The girls in particular are fighting an uphill battle, not only are women adults surfers nonexistent as role models but the society frowns upon adult women swimming in public. Additionally all of these heroic young surfers have come from and are still in very very poor home situations, so putting food on the table is an everyday chore. There are no days off in this life style.

We hoped that our presence might escalate the status of the club and it's members. We talked with the Rotary Clubs as well as local officials about the economic value of having a group of young people who could help to develop the area as a Bangladesh surf spot. We feel that Cox Bazar has all the ingredients it needs to take off. Young skilled surfers, surf equipment, good waves, a beautiful beach and Cox Bazar is a well known and easily accessed beach vacation area for Bangladeshies.

Cox Bazar Surf Club

The first of a movement. Surfers in Bangladesh. If anyone ever doubted that there could be surfing in Bangladesh just ask these young surfers or if anyone ever wanted a surf lessons, just ask Jafar.