Delhi Belly, Mumbai Motion...Whatever, It Felled Me! - January 20, 2012

I guess I shouldn't have been so smug.  Six weeks in India and no health
problems.  Of course, I've been pretty careful, eating mainly at home ( not
hard, as Lorna is a fabulous cook ), drinking their boiled water or using my
Steripen faithfully.

About 2PM on Tuesday, the 17th, I began to feel distinct unpleasant
rumblings in my tummy.  Immediately, I took two Lomotil tabs and got
horizontal.  Of course, I couldn't stay horizontal very long, what with
racing to the bathroom.  Next, I started emptying everything out of my
stomach, a most unpleasant process.  I know I've been a nurse for 45
years but emesis is something I've not handled well.  In fact, I would often
warn my patients of this in hopes it might stem their nausea ( it never did )
and it was all I could do not to join them as they retched.

Thankfully, a dear Indian blogger and friend, Shiju Sugunan ( you
must check his "Cranium Bolts" ...http://www.craniumbolts.blogspot.com ... for
the most incredible photography ) helped me tremendously.  Since I
arrived in India, I have spoken to Shiju frequently and we text often and he
totally amazes me with his incredible wealth of knowledge in so many areas.
He was full of good advice about home remedies for "motion" as my malady
is called here.  Slowly but surely, I began to improve.  The chemist also
sent over some medications as did the village doctor ( give me a break,
what self respecting nurse will go to a doc because of diarrhea - unless
it's their own primary care provider!  Of course, this high and mighty
attitude of mine got me hospitalized for five days last year, to the tune of
$50,000! ).

I am finally up today and applying eyeshadow for a foray to Hong Kong
Bank.  Perhaps, this is not the wisest thing as an auto rickshaw ride could
wreak havoc with my borderline stability.  I will take my ziplock bag along.

I did feel I was on the road to recovery yesterday when I went to see
with whom Lorna was chatting outside the front door.  There, was a lovely
lady, in a sari, carrying a huge bundle on her head.  She set it down, lay
it open and it was filled with all sorts of wonderful vegetables, including my
favorite okra, which they call lady finger here.  "Wait, wait," I begged, "please
let me take some pictures."  She agreed but I could only photograph her
from behind.

It seems these ladies get up very early in the morning and travel by train from
Vasai, which has been a farming area for 5000 years, according to an India
Times article I read.  There was once a no development order for this area
but, as is the way with progress, urbanization and building are replacing
the farms, which were called by the British, "the lungs of Mumbai."

For now, though, ladies like these, go throughout the villages, bringing the
freshest of produce, and head for their train ride home when the bundles are
empty.