Travel

India to go or not

Travel

Posted by: burnsy

29th Mar 2013 03:37pm

In October and November 2012, at the behest of my wife, we spent just over 4 weeks in many parts of India with the aim of both sightseeing and fulfilling her Buddhist quests. She had a great time visiting many religious sites and attending a Dalai Lama lecture in Dharamsala. I, for much of the journey, suffered a variety of ailments including many bouts of Delhi belly, worms, chest infection etc. She is very keen to return to India next year. Should I dare to accompany her again?


kanu
  • 9th May 2014 04:32am

I guess you have to ask yourself do you enjoy anything about India. If you are not really into the Dalai Lama (or whatever other part of india is on the menu .. ), then I guess it will be one relentless austerity for the sake of humoring your beloved.
If not, Dharamsala is picturesque so maybe there is some sort of mountaineering touring thing you can latch on to (or even paragliding if your adventurous ... popular spot for that )
If its simply an issue of dealing with your health, then it may pay to look at factors at play. I spent about 3 years in India (including dharamsala ... which, by the way, strikes me as one of India's more accessible parts to western sensibilities) and perhaps the big thing is the weather. At that time of the year you are getting the early onslaught of winter (due to the altitude). Going a month earlier (or alternatively in late march) might help avoid the likelihood of developing chest infections.
Dietary complications usually get more complicated from eating the wrong thing at the wrong time. Fried foods, heavy spice (particularly red chilli) etc all have predictable consequences.
Try eating your main meal in the middle of the day (better for digestion).

If she is really into buddhism in all its flavours maybe you could suggest venturing into nepal, which, while possessed of similar challenges to health that india poses, tends to be a bit more geared up and accommodating for westerners


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