Madrasahs of Registan Square, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Whitechapel, Brick Lane and Bangla Town - evolving cultural smorgasbord

London is a melting pot of diverse ethnicities. Nowhere is this more visible than in Whitechapel Station where you see signs in both English and Bangla. Dual language signage was introduced in 2022 in honor of the large Bangladeshi community that calls this area home. While Bengali speaking shopkeepers and customers abound, Whitechapel and its most famous street, Brick Lane, exhibit an eclectic mix of culture, food and demographics. While exiting the station you cross turnstiles displaying signs of Islamic Relief. Step outside and you find yourself in Dhaka's bustling bazaar. You will see street vendors selling Langra mangoes freshly air shipped from Egypt! Kodu (green pumpkin) and Lal Sag (red amarnath) compete for attention with a variety of gourds that are common in Bengali culinary preparations.