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Published: February 25th 2009
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We began are day excited about our upcoming overnight Camel Ride. We had lunch at the Om Shiva Cafe. It was a buffet. All of the warning signs not to eat there were present. Not very much business. However the food seemed fresh and it was quiet, away from noise and smells. Afterwards I did not feel quite right.
WE walked a bit and then met our guide and another couple who would be on the trip with us. They were a twenty something couple from St. Petersburg Russia. Friendly and spoke some English, she more then him.
We walked to the outskirts of town, over a short foot bridge over the Puskar Lake. We had to remove our shoes while we walked over the bridge as the Lake is considered Holy. At the end of the bridge we meet our camels and the rest of the Camel crew. They had already loaded supplies,food and blankets onto the camels. We added our packs and then the asked us to mount. Annya was asked to go first. After sitting on the Camel she was told to lean way back as the Camel bent its knees and then lifted upward. It
is a thrill to watch and I hope this video catches what it looks like. Its also a bit scary. It feels like you are going to fall off. Then the Camel lifts off its knees and suddenly you are really high in the air. Camels are tall.
We all mounted and the guides led us thru the outskirts of town and then into the dessert. First the led by walking ahead with hold of the reigns, or ropes thru the Camels nose. Once out into the dessert the guides then mounted on back of the camels and rode with us.
Camel riding feels different then horseback riding. More of a rolling gate. When the gallop it really is bouncy.
We rode for a few hrs and enjoyed a beautiful view. To our right was the Snake Mountains. We were told years ago many Cobra snakes lived in the mountains. Now not to many. As we rode I had a few Burbs that did not feel right.
At dusk we stopped and they pitch camp. They laid out thick blankets for us to lay on and ones to use as covers. Then then went about making a fire and cooking food. I did the Long Wu style Tai Chi form while Annya wandered about. Later she joined me and we did the short form as the sun went down.
The sky was cloudy and overcast and dark fell quickly. No moon in sight or stars. My stomach began to rumble a bit.
The lead guide started calling me Uncle. He called me over to the fire were he offered us all some Chai. I took a few sips and Annya put hers to the side. I did not feel right and went an sat by the blankets away from the fire. Before long Annya and the Russian couple came and sat next to me on our blankets. our guides built another small fire next to our blankets and a young village boy came and played a striged musical instrument by the fire. We all took turns trying to play something and had little success.
Soon they brought food. I ate a little a did not feel good at all. The guide said Uncle have some balled Chipatti and I tried some. My stomach was not right. I tried a little Dahl and felt queezy. I then tried some of the subj i and knew something was wrong. My stomach ached. Uncle are you O'k said the guide. Nooo I said. Can I get you ginger tea. Nothing please I said.
I turned and rolled over on my side. That was the beginning of a long sleepless night in the desert. The Burbs became more frequent and the taste in my mouth more foul. Annya rubbed my back and acupressure points. I tossed and turned and went from Hot to cold with shakes and shivers. Somewhere around midnight the vomiting began. It continued for hours until nothing was left in my stomach. I did my best to crawl away from the blankets and Barf in the sand and bury it afterwords. It took all my strength to do that. Finnaly the retching stopped and I was just left with this terrible pain in my gut. I think i slept a little. When I woke it was still dark and the sky had cleared. I could see Orion and the Big Dipper and there to the south was Scorpio. it felt refreshing seeing a similar night sky. Accept the position of the stars was different. They were at a different angle that i ever saw before. I felt a little out of place. Off centered in some way. As I lay watching the night sky I realized my insides was going thru a battle . Like Star wars, the force of the dark side was winning. And yet, I felt the power of the force, pushing the dark side awayand moving things down into my bowels.
More time passed and I realized it was gonna come out the other end know. Using all of my strength I walked about twenty yards from our blanket, dug a hole and squatted to let nature takes its course. Whew what a smell. I buried it like a dog and stumbled back to the blankets. The night air was cold. I shivered and Annya rubbed my back until the sun rose.
Uncle take breakfast said our guide as he brought toast and chi and Banana. nooo I can't eat. Annya and the Russians ate and soon we mounted our Camels for the return trek. Holding my guts we lumbered back to the city at a faster pace then we came. I think our guide was worried and wanted to get me back as soon as possible. The ride back was very difficult and upsetting to my stomach. Hey , since it was empty, nothing happened but aches and cramps. They dropped us off at the other end of the city near the Brahman Temple. Annya led the way and I followed like a zombie. It was a relief making it back to the hotel. Annya went to a Pharmacy and found an electrolyte restore formula that worked well. That was two days ago. I have had some toast and a little mashed potato since then. I am feeling better. Runs are gone. Just a little weak.
As I write this Annya is resting in our room. She has an upset stomach and light runs. Hope it is not the same.
Adventures in India.
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Jitendra Agrawal
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Pack Lunch/water before trip
I would let a good restaurant pack my lunch/dinner if it is going to be a day's trip into boonies. I would also boil/cool water overnight and carry in glass bottle covered with wet cloth to keep the water cool. Lastly if you do get sick, just go on a fast with hot water and lemons only for 24+ hours. A green pill called "Podina" available in most pharmacies is very useful to fight/thwart stomach problems. Use any wide spectrum antibiotic if infection.