First published Sept 11, 2005 at www.travelblog.org/bloggers/gypsygal
Pokhara, Nepal — It took me some time to update this blog as I was ill.
For the past few days, I was dizzy and nauseaous. Everything I ate weighs like lead. I didn't have an appetite, but I had to force myself to eat biscuits, dhal or mashed potato just so that I'll at least have the strength to walk.
Although I managed to do some sight seeing in Kathmandu (visiting Buddhist and Hindu temples), I spent most of my time, lying in my bed, praying to all Gods and Godesses (Christian, Hindu, egyptian, whatever!) that I be saved from all the debilitating travellers diseases (flu, malaria, dengue, hepatitis, typhoid). I was also busy thinking if all the precautions I took (immunization, anti-malaria tablets, lathering myself with mosquito repellant, putting iodine tablets in my bathwater, consuming bottled mineral water) are all for naught. I definitely contracted something. Maybe it's in the air. The backpackers ghetto of Thamel is so crowded (its a maze of stores, with every square foot's dedicated to serving the whims, wants and persuasions of all kinds of tourists – internet cafes, travel agencies, guesthouses, restaurants, yoga centers, massage centers, pharmacies, hair salon, the list can go and on…), and so crazy (where crossing the street's a hazardous activity, pedestrians have ro watch out for stray dogs, motorbikes and rickshaws that come from nowhere) that maybe, just maybe, I got dizzy because of all the madness in Thamel.
I thought that maybe its because the food in Thamel (whether Nepali or western food) is either too sweet or too salty. I resolved to eat the biscuits that I bought in KL and had some bland dhal. It didn't work.
I thought that maybe its because the food in Thamel (whether Nepali or western food) is either too sweet or too salty. I resolved to eat the biscuits that I bought in KL and had some bland dhal. It didn't work.
Bishnu, my travel agent in Thamel, told me that I might be dehydrated and advised me to drink loads of water. I did. It didnt work. I was stoned during the 7-hour (air con) bus trip from Kathmandu to Pokhara, and had a major migraine in Pokhara.
It's only after an uphill climb in Pokhara and being conned by two Nepali girls (who offered to guide me to my destination, but asked for 500 RUPEES!!!!! I balked and gave them 300 instead. I wanted to give them 100 NPR only, but I was a bit scared of the girls. We're on top of the hill, this is clearly their territory and they might push me down) . Anyway, it was in Sadhana Yoga center where I discovered the reason behind my nausea and dizziness.
"Its those anti malaria tablets, " Asanga, the yoga teacher said. Apparently, this is one of the many side effects of malaria tablets. The drug is so strong, it can actually wreck havoc to your system. Especially for me, who seldom take allopathic medicine and has instead relied, most of the time, on the gentler homeopathic medication.
And as it turned out, Asanga's correct. I checked the booklet attached to my box of anti-malaria tablets. Dizziness, nausea and vomitting) are side effects of ingesting these tablets.
"Its those anti malaria tablets, " Asanga, the yoga teacher said. Apparently, this is one of the many side effects of malaria tablets. The drug is so strong, it can actually wreck havoc to your system. Especially for me, who seldom take allopathic medicine and has instead relied, most of the time, on the gentler homeopathic medication.
And as it turned out, Asanga's correct. I checked the booklet attached to my box of anti-malaria tablets. Dizziness, nausea and vomitting) are side effects of ingesting these tablets.
