It's been awhile, so I'll take you back a few weeks. I was sitting on the toilet flicking ants off my feet in the middle of the night doing what you do in India. Try your hardest to fight off all of the bacteria, viruses, dirt, grime, filth, and rot that seem to seep their way into anything and everything here. After several trips back and forth from the bathroom to the bed, I finally felt like I was 'done'. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Whatever I had simply shifted its focus and I started vomiting harder than I'd ever vomited before. After four years in the Marine Corps, and even getting my name on a plaque at a bar (Big Helyn's), that's a pretty profound statement for me to make. I remember having this weird moment of clarity between heaves, likely a result of being mildly dehydrated, sleep-deprived, and having a fever, and I was staring into the toilet thinking, "How could there be so much food in my stomach? That's what's making me sick. I'm eating too much food." After the fact, I thought my prognosis was pretty funny. I'm glad I didn't decide to become a doctor, because I'm clearly not ballooning up over here. In fact, I'm down to around 180 lbs, and wearing the same size jeans I wore in high school. Fortunately, I recovered quickly and was back to my usual self in a couple days.
After recovering from my first bout with 'Delhi Belly', I was feeling healthy, but watching what I ate a little more carefully. I was also getting very excited for our upcoming trip to New Delhi and Agra. We were planning to stay at a really nice hotel, and I was eager to seek out some adventures with Thumper in a new city. The morning of our departure I woke up freezing and feeling a little off. At first I thought maybe I was just feeling off because it was 3 am, and we were getting ready to travel for the first time in India. Once again Dr. Pancho was horribly wrong. My immune system was fighting with everything it had at another stupid, stupid, stupid, STUPID case of 'Dehli Belly'. You can imagine how much fun it is to wake up a two-year-old at 3 am and take them on an hour-long drive, followed by a two-hour flight, followed by another hour-long drive, all the while it's between 90 and 105 degrees. Now do it while you're running a fever and have explosive diarrhea. Welcome to India!
I just needed to get all of that out of my system...no pun intended. I spent an entire day and a half hunkered down with Thumper in the hotel room, and thoroughly missed out on seeing any of New Delhi, but I recovered quickly again, and was feeling better by the time we got in the car for the four-hour drive to Agra. It was absolutely amazing to drive through farmland and open fields. Legs and I spent the entire time daydreaming about Eastern Washington and the Pacific Northwest.
In Agra, we stayed in a phenomenal hotel that actually had a view of the Taj Mahal. We hired a tour guide to take us through the Taj Mahal in the evening, and we got to see one of the most spectacular monuments in the world at sunset. The river running behind the Taj Mahal, the wild monkeys climbing walls and pillars everywhere, the mosque next to the palace, it all created a stunning environment that will never be replicated anywhere. There was such a peacefulness walking through the palace gardens, and simply standing and looking out over the river was wonderful.
So, the roller-coaster continues in India. It amazes me how I could go from feeling so crappy, and disgruntled to feeling such tranquility in a single trip. Thumper, Legs, and I had a beautiful time at our hotel, and at the Taj Mahal. Our stay in Agra and the time we got to spend together absolutely made up for all of the inconveniences along the way. I'm sure that we'll continue to swing back and forth from thoroughly enjoying the adventure we're on, to missing home with all of our hearts.
Happy Travels!
Pancho
After recovering from my first bout with 'Delhi Belly', I was feeling healthy, but watching what I ate a little more carefully. I was also getting very excited for our upcoming trip to New Delhi and Agra. We were planning to stay at a really nice hotel, and I was eager to seek out some adventures with Thumper in a new city. The morning of our departure I woke up freezing and feeling a little off. At first I thought maybe I was just feeling off because it was 3 am, and we were getting ready to travel for the first time in India. Once again Dr. Pancho was horribly wrong. My immune system was fighting with everything it had at another stupid, stupid, stupid, STUPID case of 'Dehli Belly'. You can imagine how much fun it is to wake up a two-year-old at 3 am and take them on an hour-long drive, followed by a two-hour flight, followed by another hour-long drive, all the while it's between 90 and 105 degrees. Now do it while you're running a fever and have explosive diarrhea. Welcome to India!
I just needed to get all of that out of my system...no pun intended. I spent an entire day and a half hunkered down with Thumper in the hotel room, and thoroughly missed out on seeing any of New Delhi, but I recovered quickly again, and was feeling better by the time we got in the car for the four-hour drive to Agra. It was absolutely amazing to drive through farmland and open fields. Legs and I spent the entire time daydreaming about Eastern Washington and the Pacific Northwest.
In Agra, we stayed in a phenomenal hotel that actually had a view of the Taj Mahal. We hired a tour guide to take us through the Taj Mahal in the evening, and we got to see one of the most spectacular monuments in the world at sunset. The river running behind the Taj Mahal, the wild monkeys climbing walls and pillars everywhere, the mosque next to the palace, it all created a stunning environment that will never be replicated anywhere. There was such a peacefulness walking through the palace gardens, and simply standing and looking out over the river was wonderful.
So, the roller-coaster continues in India. It amazes me how I could go from feeling so crappy, and disgruntled to feeling such tranquility in a single trip. Thumper, Legs, and I had a beautiful time at our hotel, and at the Taj Mahal. Our stay in Agra and the time we got to spend together absolutely made up for all of the inconveniences along the way. I'm sure that we'll continue to swing back and forth from thoroughly enjoying the adventure we're on, to missing home with all of our hearts.
Happy Travels!
Pancho
