Leaving Agra, I started having a few cramps in my gut which is usually the sign of something unpleasant about to happen. I was having visions of finding a bush to go behind while being surrounded by a circle of staring Indians asking more dumb questions ("please sir, what were you having for breakfast") when lo and behold, something I hadn't seen for quite a long time appeared- The Golden Arches. And immediately I thought, 'hmm, clean toilet'. When I got in there, (just think of Trainspotting), when you gotta go, you gotta go. But there was no loo roll and the little hose thing by the wc didn't seem to put out any water. No matter, no time! Just as I was thinking I'd be leaving the stall with one sleave less (like my mate Iain when we went mountian biking one time...), thank the Lord, the hose thing started working. Phew!
But it didn't end there. I was planning on riding to Chandrigarh bypassing Delhi, but somehow got routed right to the centre of the city. By this time, I really wasn't feeling right and it was incredibly hot (52 C) and the traffic was solid. When I finally got to the centre, I got off the bike and just sat on the kerb. I was feeling dizzy, weak and the stomach cramps were still there. As normal, the crowd of overly interested Indians soon arrived throwing a barage of useless questions at me, none of which I had the energy to answer. I managed a weak "S...otland" to which I heard, "ah, he's from Holland" but I didn't have the strength to correct them. I must have looked a right sight as eventually the dumb questions stopped and then I got some more usefull things like there was an air conditioned mall and tourist office nearby. I mustered up the strength to find some Ibuprofen and managed to get moving again. I'd thought of just staying in Delhi till I sorted myself out but I learnt that the cheap hostels were located in an area with narrow streets and likely as not, no parking. Instead I headed north in an attempt to get out the city. I stopped for some cold water and knocked back a litre in a few minutes. I started to feel better and decided that I probably didn't have malaria but it was more likely a combination of extreme heat and eating something a bit dodgy.
I finally made it to Changrigarh 11 hours later but still not feeling great. I'd read that the city was unusual for India as it was designed in a grid system by Le Corbusier however all I could think of when I got ther was "it looks like bloody Westerhailles!". Finding an overpriced hotel with no parking to speak of in the charmingly named Sector 22, I crashed out.
But it didn't end there. I was planning on riding to Chandrigarh bypassing Delhi, but somehow got routed right to the centre of the city. By this time, I really wasn't feeling right and it was incredibly hot (52 C) and the traffic was solid. When I finally got to the centre, I got off the bike and just sat on the kerb. I was feeling dizzy, weak and the stomach cramps were still there. As normal, the crowd of overly interested Indians soon arrived throwing a barage of useless questions at me, none of which I had the energy to answer. I managed a weak "S...otland" to which I heard, "ah, he's from Holland" but I didn't have the strength to correct them. I must have looked a right sight as eventually the dumb questions stopped and then I got some more usefull things like there was an air conditioned mall and tourist office nearby. I mustered up the strength to find some Ibuprofen and managed to get moving again. I'd thought of just staying in Delhi till I sorted myself out but I learnt that the cheap hostels were located in an area with narrow streets and likely as not, no parking. Instead I headed north in an attempt to get out the city. I stopped for some cold water and knocked back a litre in a few minutes. I started to feel better and decided that I probably didn't have malaria but it was more likely a combination of extreme heat and eating something a bit dodgy.
I finally made it to Changrigarh 11 hours later but still not feeling great. I'd read that the city was unusual for India as it was designed in a grid system by Le Corbusier however all I could think of when I got ther was "it looks like bloody Westerhailles!". Finding an overpriced hotel with no parking to speak of in the charmingly named Sector 22, I crashed out.
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