So the water thing.
I don't know why, but I really and truly thought that clean drinking water would be an issue.
It could be that as close as Mexico, if there is an unsafe tap in a hotel, I will invariably run my toothbrush under it.
So I set out on a mission to provide safe water for the group. I went to Mountain Equipment Co Op and found a water sterilization set for the bargain price of $115 which claimed it could sterilize water bottles for all of us and it had a USB charger to boot! "But" the floor clerk said to me "if you really want to be safe you use an army Micropore filter."
An army micropore filter? Okay! My youngest son loves army surplus and so off I went with him in tow to investigate. I could only get four and so I ordered the fifth and returned for it a month later. Armed with a bag full things that looked like giant plastic brown cigars and a gold sharpie I "prettied them up " with our handwritten names.
At the airport when we were leaving I proudly pulled them out and handed them to all the girls who kindly took them with odd looks and thanked me. I still didn't really get it until we landed at the first hotel and they handed us each two large bottles of bottled water. Same kind as we get here. I looked at Mandy who was trying very hard not to crack up.
We went to a bar one night with our hosts for supper and the girls did pull out their water sterilization cigars and tried to drink their drinks through them. It bubbled and tasted like soap. We laughed. We laughed a lot. It is funny how you suddenly can pull back from a situation and see the ridiculousness of it. In that moment I pictured myself in India with my cigar laying on my belly trying to drink with it from a dirty puddle. That was what these were designed for. For a smart girl, I have my naive moments.
In the end during an incredible, fascinating conversation on the train to Haridwar, I took the train tea that was offered during the service. Mandy had warned me not to eat the food, but I LOVE tea. And it would be boiled. Right?
I was the only one that got sick while we were there and no one could figure it out. There is a hilarious story I will save for another blog related to that but on the train back, once again I reached for the train tea as the attendant was passing. This time none of the girls were asleep and they fanned out from their respective seats and burst out laughing. "Did you drink that on the way here ? " "Yes! " I said enthusiastically.
And so the water sterilization girl, the only one who should have used her own system experienced the Universe's grand sense of humour. NOTE to self. Train tea in India is not actually boiled. The bacteria are simply heated to enjoy a hot tub experience before you ingest them unleashing Delhi's revenge.
We have one brown plastic cigar left. Bree kept hers for posterity. We are saving it for the INYP museum lol.
In love and light,
Kat
I don't know why, but I really and truly thought that clean drinking water would be an issue.
It could be that as close as Mexico, if there is an unsafe tap in a hotel, I will invariably run my toothbrush under it.
So I set out on a mission to provide safe water for the group. I went to Mountain Equipment Co Op and found a water sterilization set for the bargain price of $115 which claimed it could sterilize water bottles for all of us and it had a USB charger to boot! "But" the floor clerk said to me "if you really want to be safe you use an army Micropore filter."
An army micropore filter? Okay! My youngest son loves army surplus and so off I went with him in tow to investigate. I could only get four and so I ordered the fifth and returned for it a month later. Armed with a bag full things that looked like giant plastic brown cigars and a gold sharpie I "prettied them up " with our handwritten names.
At the airport when we were leaving I proudly pulled them out and handed them to all the girls who kindly took them with odd looks and thanked me. I still didn't really get it until we landed at the first hotel and they handed us each two large bottles of bottled water. Same kind as we get here. I looked at Mandy who was trying very hard not to crack up.
We went to a bar one night with our hosts for supper and the girls did pull out their water sterilization cigars and tried to drink their drinks through them. It bubbled and tasted like soap. We laughed. We laughed a lot. It is funny how you suddenly can pull back from a situation and see the ridiculousness of it. In that moment I pictured myself in India with my cigar laying on my belly trying to drink with it from a dirty puddle. That was what these were designed for. For a smart girl, I have my naive moments.
In the end during an incredible, fascinating conversation on the train to Haridwar, I took the train tea that was offered during the service. Mandy had warned me not to eat the food, but I LOVE tea. And it would be boiled. Right?
I was the only one that got sick while we were there and no one could figure it out. There is a hilarious story I will save for another blog related to that but on the train back, once again I reached for the train tea as the attendant was passing. This time none of the girls were asleep and they fanned out from their respective seats and burst out laughing. "Did you drink that on the way here ? " "Yes! " I said enthusiastically.
And so the water sterilization girl, the only one who should have used her own system experienced the Universe's grand sense of humour. NOTE to self. Train tea in India is not actually boiled. The bacteria are simply heated to enjoy a hot tub experience before you ingest them unleashing Delhi's revenge.
We have one brown plastic cigar left. Bree kept hers for posterity. We are saving it for the INYP museum lol.
In love and light,
Kat
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