Types of Tourists you find in Cox's Bazar
Cox's Bazar offers its visitors two things: a chill time with convenient access to the sea, and a million other visitors. And you can do two things about it: complain or enjoy your stay regardless. I went with the 3rd option of observing my fellow tourists, and here are my findings:
The Casuals
Casuals are the majority of the population spending that sweet holiday in Cox's Bazar. They're low-key representatives of some or all of the types mentioned later. You, my dear reader, are most probably one of them (I say this so you don't get triggered if you somehow relate to the following types).
The Saltwater Creatures
You'll find these guys bathing in the beach for hours on end. To the layman, it should get boring after a while, but to them, every wave brings with it an uncertainty, an adventure. And that trumps the sunburn that follows.
The Hoarders
Everything's a souvenir for them. Whether it is broken pieces of shells picked from the sand or shutki, they're confident their friends and family back home will treasure them unconditionally. You'll find them populating the Burmese markets, bargaining for those 100% authentic Made in Myanmar sandals and t-shirts.
The Supermodels in another Life
You haven't seen these guys in action if you think Dogue models are the best in the business when it comes to fabulous poses. And there are also the couples with their awkward smiles with half-dressed strangers and random onlookers in the background, absolutely romantic.
The Foodies
Eating shutki for breakfast, Loitta fry for lunch, crab and shrimp fries for evening snacks, Koral/Hilsha curry for dinner and 100% authentic Burmese candies for dessert, and posting reviews to Foodbank in between – this is the day in life of a foodie visiting Cox's Bazar.
The Litterers
Litterers are the worst kind of tourists and Cox's Bazar has no shortage of them. I don't know whether they are criminally ignorant or sacrificing their prized litter to Poseidon, but regardless, they should really stop.
The Absolute Madmen
These guys are the real deal. It starts with a horseback ride on the beach and before you know it, you'll see them swimming further than everyone else, disregarding the repeated whistles from the lifeguards, during low tide, without a life buoy. The rich ones go the extra mile and do some paragliding.
The Hypersomniacs
They aren't a Cox's Bazar special. There's always that guy in a trip who decides a few hours' (usually half a day's) sleep is preferable to actually enjoying the place he paid so much money to visit. Or maybe in our absence he makes important transactions for his secret drug cartel. We can never know.
The Ones too Good for the Sea
These are the ones who prefer their hotel's swimming pool over the sea. I personally don't get them. Why come all this way if a dip in a pool is the highlight of your stay? You don't see people from Cox's Bazar travel to Dhaka to buy shutki.
Forgive me if I'm being salty, I'm a type 2.
Fatiul Huq Sujoy is a tired soul (mostly because of his frail body) who's patiently waiting for Hagrid to appear and tell him, "Ye're a saiyan, lord commander." Suggest him places to travel and food-ventures to take at fb.com/SyedSujoy.