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Published: December 11th 2012
Working Hard
We spotted this guy as we drove through the mountains on our way to Jaipur.Our travels were wonderful and exciting and, frankly, I could go back tomorrow. Kyle and Dad were ready to return home, but only because they are always ready to return home after a certain amount of time.
My favorite part of the journey was, obviously, the Pushkar Camel Fair. This was a highlight not only because of all the camels, but because we were able to spend so much time there. Being in the same place for about a week was very relaxing and allowed us to really get a feel for the community. Camp Bliss was wonderful and the food was mouth watering.
Surprisingly enough, the fair also made the top of Kyle's and Dad's highlight list. Kyle said a close second place was going to the Golden Temple near the Pakistani Border.
We wrapped up the trip without much issue and kept wondering when something negative would happen--everything just went so well. The second-to-last night we were in India, Kyle and Dad were struck with a horrible case of food poisoning. It was pretty shocking since none of us had any issue with the food up to this point and on that particular day, we had
eaten both breakfast and lunch in a 5 star restaurant.
The sickness hit the night before we flew back to Delhi and lingered until we flew to the States. Everyone is fine and if there was going to be any issue with illness, this was the perfect time for it as we were wrapping up the trip.
The interesting part of the story was that Dad was not healing as quickly as I would have liked and, quite honestly, seemed to be getting worse, so I had the hotel call for a doctor. The doctor came to our room, assessed Dad, wrote up a treatment plan and prescribed some meds. The entire service cost $28!
And if that did not give you sticker shock, the six different medications that he prescribed, that were delivered to our room, cost $6. (Please note, paying to use the wifi in our room cost much more than $6!)
In fact, when the concierge at the hotel said they could call for a doctor, they said "We can get a doctor for your father, but it will cost 1,400." Kyle's response was "$1,400???" And the concierge, laughing uncontrollably like Kyle was
My Dream Boutique
After we left Pushkar, we drove by the Camel Charisma store. insane, said, "No, 1,400 Rupees!" Apparently, this concierge had never been to an ER in the United States!
The one other interesting cost issue that came out of the whole food poisoning situation had to do with orange juice. I had been begging dad and Kyle to drink fluids and just try to eat a little something. Finally, they both agreed that a glass of orange juice sounded appetizing. Desperate to find anything that they would consume and wanting to make the process happen quickly, I ran down to the fancy restaurant at this hotel and asked to order two glasses of orange to take back to the room.
If there is one thing we learned on this trip, it was that nothing is simple in India. Apparently, orange juice is no different. The hostess at the restaurant informed me, I must go back to my room and order it via room service. I dutifully did this and the juice was delivered and the guys gulped it down to report that it was the best orange juice they had ever tasted. I informed them, "it should be, it cost $10 per glass!"
While they were sleeping I
found a shi-shi grocery store that sold Gatorade (less than $1 per bottle), so they were able to re-hydrate without depleting the bank account.
Easy for me to say, because I stayed healthy throughout, but the illness happened at the very end of the trip and did not define the trip.
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Tracy
non-member comment
No, you can't be done!
I have had so much fun watching your trip! Glad you are all back safely (and healthy), but these posts will be missed.