First trip to India-don't want to get sick!
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 144
Back from India-wonderfull!
Thank you for the advice.
I had a fascinating trip and had no problems with food or anything-but then, I was living in a cocoon.
Stayed at top hotels, drank only bottled water, no ice but plenty of scotch, avoided raw fruits and salads.
Did go to a few roadside restaurants near Chennai with our rep and had the thalli-no problem (much to my surprise).
Also, had plenty of Indian food in Delhi and Chennai at the major restaurants-all of which I found spicy/flavored but not
super "hot". This surprised me and I wonder if the spice level was lowered for the foreigner?
I had a fascinating trip and had no problems with food or anything-but then, I was living in a cocoon.
Stayed at top hotels, drank only bottled water, no ice but plenty of scotch, avoided raw fruits and salads.
Did go to a few roadside restaurants near Chennai with our rep and had the thalli-no problem (much to my surprise).
Also, had plenty of Indian food in Delhi and Chennai at the major restaurants-all of which I found spicy/flavored but not
super "hot". This surprised me and I wonder if the spice level was lowered for the foreigner?
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
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in most of the big restaurants you need to specify how spicy/hot you want your food....if you don't then it will never be 'super hot', just a little hot....
#18
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Plan to be careful and stick to it
I've gone to India 6 times from age 2 until 3 years ago. I got sick every time except for once. When I say sick, I don't mean cholera, typhoid, etc but 1-day-long GI events. The only reason I got sick last time I went was I caved and drank a lassi (yogurt drink) in a cafe. Don't do that. Just stick to your plan of eating at nice restaurants, drinking bottled water/alcohol/sodas, and using common sense which is certainly easier said than done. Have a great time!
#19
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I've gone to India 6 times from age 2 until 3 years ago. I got sick every time except for once. When I say sick, I don't mean cholera, typhoid, etc but 1-day-long GI events. The only reason I got sick last time I went was I caved and drank a lassi (yogurt drink) in a cafe. Don't do that. Just stick to your plan of eating at nice restaurants, drinking bottled water/alcohol/sodas, and using common sense which is certainly easier said than done. Have a great time!
#21
#22
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I found out that there is a Lavarro (or however you say it) coffee shop in my complex. I have been pleasantly surprised with everything I've gotten there.
#23
Join Date: Oct 2009
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I did everything right before I went to India three weeks ago, but I still got a bad stomach after approx 30h.
Turns out it was the malaria medication my doctor prescribed me that caused it. The day after I stopped taking it, my stomach returned to normal.
So my advice, just make sure you eat stuff that is well cooked and only drink bottled water/sodas and stay away from the most spicy things and you'll be fine.
Turns out it was the malaria medication my doctor prescribed me that caused it. The day after I stopped taking it, my stomach returned to normal.
So my advice, just make sure you eat stuff that is well cooked and only drink bottled water/sodas and stay away from the most spicy things and you'll be fine.
#24
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no starbucks in india....there are a bunch of other chains like coffee bean, cafe coffee day, barista, costa coffee, etc....all pretty good....
#26
#27
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i think the correct statement would be that you are more likely to get sick in the summer due to the insane heat....but that doesn't mean you won't get sick in autumn or the winter....
#28
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
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For future readers of this post there is a product called travelan (link here): http://www.travelan.org/
We used it before every meal in india and didn't get sick once during 10 days on two separate visits. We ate at hotels, but also at local restaurants and even at the seaside in Goa.
Highly recommend the product. Once we got back home we had a slight upset stomach for a day or so - but that was probably because we weren't using the travelan anymore and our bodies were adjusting back to the usual bacteria!!
We used it before every meal in india and didn't get sick once during 10 days on two separate visits. We ate at hotels, but also at local restaurants and even at the seaside in Goa.
Highly recommend the product. Once we got back home we had a slight upset stomach for a day or so - but that was probably because we weren't using the travelan anymore and our bodies were adjusting back to the usual bacteria!!
#30
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let me know if anyone needs suggestions on where to eat in delhi....i'll be happy to provide a few names....