Thursday, January 19, 2012

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.
















37 comments:

  1. I remember we used to buy vegetables from this old man in Pune and he'd ask what we wanted, get up pull or pluck whatever we wanted from his field/garden right there!! Now those fields are residential societies :(

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    1. I am waiting for this lady to return...I love okra and she always has it. Somehow, from the village market, it isn't quite as lovely as that she brings to us from her own farm.

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  2. u r going to become an Indian lol

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    1. Well, I feel like I am at least half Indian already! Not a bad combination.

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  3. Glad to know you are being looked after well. Sorry couldn't get in touch with you!
    Take care!

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    1. I have two months left in India..headed now to Jaipur and, then, on to Patiala for a few days. I will get to Bangalore before I leave. Isn't that where you are? I do hope I can manage to meet with my blogger friends there.

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  4. My dear Carmen,
    I hope you're all well by now, and not a motion sickness feeling left.

    I love fresh vegetables like this..homegrown! Take care of yourself, (how many times do I have to tell you this?) :-)

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    1. Icy, you can tell me to take care of myself as often as you like. It's nice to know you worry about me. So far, so good though, every time I head out in an autorickshaw in Mumbai traffic, I wonder if I will return!!

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  5. hope you are feeling better now!

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    1. I am completely recovered from my malady and so much looking forward to flying to Jaipur tomorrow and to my visit after in Patiala. This will be the first time I've gotten out of Mumbai and I'm ready for a brief change.

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  6. Beautiful photos! I'm sorry to hear you've been sick, but glad you are on the mend.

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    1. The village chemist and doctor certainly contributed to my recovery from "motion"...I did lose ten pounds - the plus side of the ailment. My pants are way too big, now, but I am not going to spend money on new clothes My budget is for travel!

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  7. Anonymous2:34 PM

    I hope your trip to the Bank was unadventurous! good toknow you're getting better, stay well,
    manuela

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    1. Manuela, I miss you. I am so glad to be heading off to the the lovely city of Jaipur in Rathasthan. Finally, I'll get to visit a new Indian state and, after that, I'm headed to the Punjab.

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  8. I'm so sorry that your tummy finally succumbed to the nasties. Hope you feel better soon. THe veggies look yummy, though.

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    1. I am well, Joan..hope not to experience a repeat of this malady during the rest of my stay.

      I am really enjoying the huge selection of fresh vegetables and everything is so inexpensive.

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  9. sorry to know you got sick Carmen, hope you get better soon. Oh, I love those okras and other veggies.

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    1. betchai -
      Warm greetings to my California sister. I am completely cured from my illness ( and almost ten pounds lighter which I certainly needed ).

      Aren't those vegetables fabulous? It's so nice to have them fresh from the farm.

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  10. I hope you don't stay sick long and it is all over with. I've only ever had okra once before, but I liked it a lot.

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    1. Hello, dear Ratty. My illness lasted a full four days, during which time I was, mostly, in bed. I did lose ten pounds ( need to lose about 80 more but that is not the way I would choose to do it.

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  11. happy that you enjoyed India
    sure you will recover fast
    nice pic

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    1. sm, I still want to know how we can meet before my India trip ends. I will visit Bangalore...are you there?

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  12. Oh, I do hope you are completely better now! It's such a shame that happened.

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    1. I am hoping, dear Sheila, that I will experience no more illness while I am here in India! One such event was more than enough. Am feeling great now for my trip to Jaipur and the Punjab.

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  13. I think there was a subliminal message here...when you stated your stomach woes, my innards turned a tad. Ohhhhhhh, Poor you!! It must have been dreadful.

    And your images....absolutely awesome.

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    1. It's funny, no one else in the household was sick so I have no idea what made me so ill for four days. My pants are much looser now so there was, at least, one good outcome from all of that.

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  14. The world of blogging is truly amazing, isn't it? Love that last photo. Hope you have fully recovered now, Carmen.

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    1. I am feeling fine now and crossing my fingers that there is no repeat of my malady.

      Hope you are well and having your usual good times in Sicily.

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  15. Beautiful pictures. I'm glad that you were feeling well enough to get vertical and take them. Thank goodness for knowledgeable friends!!!

    I hope you remain well for the rest of your travels.

    :-)
    Traci

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    1. Thank you so much for your good wishes, Traci. I am counting on being healthy for my last two months in India. Will be doing quite a bit of traveling now so I can't afford to be ill.

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  16. I am happy you have found good friends here who can take care of you very well.

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    1. Rajesh, I am truly blessed with my Indian family and friends. I am getting very excited, though, about heading to Jaipur for a week, then on to Patiala to be the guest of Dr. Gorea, an esteemed forensic scientist there.

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  17. Hoping that spate of upset will not bother you again.
    The vegetables look lovely and fresh.
    Maggie X

    Nuts in May

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    1. I am completely well now, Maggie, and thriving on all the good healthy vegetables here.

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  18. How are you feeling today?I hope you get in the best health soon.I love sticky okura,too.I grow them in my garden in every summer.

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    1. It's good to be well again! I am back to eating all this good spicy Indian food and to enjoying the fabulous vegetables. I don't even have to cook them...my "sister" does it all!

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  19. glad you are better...love the pics! Miss you much!

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