Nagar Daze

I have an enormous love of travel and am reliving some of my India experiences and rather than clog the main board thought I would blog them here.

Nestled deliciously in a small grove of apple trees, our new home a short distance outside the small town of Naggar is indeed splendid. Its second story balcony peeks through the upper branches of the orchard which is now in seasonal bloom and it sits like a near perfect hide that makes an ideal vantage point to view the many varied and vibrant displays of abundant bird life that naggar has the good fortune of haboring. I can only assume our ornathological friends are completely oblivious to our very closeness as they frollick amongst the fruit-tree follage in their brilliant devil-may-care caps of orange and yellows, their dapper coats of reds and blues, and their speckled breasts puffed large in the cold of early morning. In the late afternoon we are visited by the local kingfisher family, five in total, who perch in their favorite tree. We have named them Kevin, Collin, Chloe, Claire and Augustus, Augustus seemingly always a little detatched from the rest. Yes, we have been very fortunate to have found such a place. If it were the last place I ever saw I could hardly complain, which is just as well as during the previous seven days I thought I might die, several times.

It was on me with little warning, a viral tsunami sweeping over my body rendering me completely and utterly exhausted for a week. A stabbing ache accompanied my extreme malaise, spiking with unregulated surprise throughout my being as sheets of perspiration flooded in waves over me leaving only space for feverish cold to torment my attempts at sleep.My breathing became labored and burned with each breath. I have never felt so overwhelmingly weak and feeble and really felt quite awful.

Consulting my "Health in India" book, I identified my condition as a chest infection that is experienced by up to a quarter of travellers who journey to India, and after lengthy advice from the local medicine supplier, I aquired the correct antibiotics and almost immediately felt better. This condition also leaves the patient susceptible to bacterial infection which accounted for my stomach cramps and many loose movements over the last week. Another round of meds for this infection has almost seen a complete return to good health. Fortunately this wonderful little location in northern India won't be my last place of rest, although I may not complain to much if it were, it really is quite beautiful.

I am becoming "Indianised". The cushy pillow of western living has been firmly wrenched from under my well padded behind and flung into the dusty street of Indian living where it continues to be trampled and kicked under the weight of this Indian experience.

India may not always be kind to the traveller but I am beginning to suspect it is ALWAYS one helluva ride. Giddeeyup

Cheers
Hammockman