FOOD & HEALTH
Food was quite a problem since we were all staunch vegetarians. This is the land of Pork and Beef. But thank goodness, also of splendid white rice. The hotels go into a tizzy whenever vegetable dishes are requested for: either the markets were already closed or else the trucks had not yet arrived with their merchandise of onions and potatoes. But the hospitality of the people always ensured that we got something more palatable than what we get in many of the restaurants back home.
Relax, you are on a holiday, but take care, don’t fall ill: head aches, fever, dehydration, stomach upsets and nausea are some of the most common ailments. Eating light and a heavy liquid diet are good when you hit the road. Try carrots, bananas, dry fruits and biscuits. Drink lots of water, as much as you can, never mind if you need to stop every now and then to answer the call of nature. Mix electral with water to save yourself from being dehydrated. Particularly on the tough legs such as Tezpur-Bomdila-Tawang, where the steep ascents and descents require you to get acclimatised fast, else you may feel nauseated and have a heavy head. Avoid oily food, and keep away from culinary adventures with food you have no clue about. Stick to eating foods using oil that you find edible. If you do not like mustard oil in your food, insist on refined oils of other types. Abstaining from drinking liquor is a must for the driver, advisable for the passengers too. This was our recipe for the trip to North East trip – we came back fresh, healthy and without those extra pounds.
Carry your first aid box, and any other medicines that you are used to. Even toothache can spoil your holiday and the nearest dentist may be 500 kms away! Mosquitoes can be malarial, have coils and mats on hand. Ensure that throw-up bags are easily accessible, you never know when you will need them.
True testimony to the medical care that we took came during our Tezpur-Bomdila-Tawang trip. This is the stretch that several do over 2 days, we did it in one. The army has acclimitisation camps to help them adjust to the rarefied atmosphere at that height. We had our juices throughout and the weak-kneed had their Avomims. Persons suffering from vertigo, beware.