After last nights overpriced dinner we carefully researched a close by, reasonably priced restaurant to go to. We ordered two lovely Dhal's and a Paneer dish (both of which were very good) and paid under a quarter of last nights price. However half way through dinner Chris looked at me and asked...
'Did you just nibble my finger?'... (Note the use of the word nibble not bite)
Public displays of affection from Western women are frowned upon in India and besides I was eating pretty good food, why on earth would I have taken a break from that for a finger nibble?
'No I said, definitely not' (looking at him like he was mad)
Anyway 5 minutes later I felt movement against my back and moving forwards Chris saw a mouse scrambling along the back of our seat! Urghh. In classic Indian style the waiters smiled and said....'no madam, no mouse here'.
On returning to our hotel Chris thought it best to double check the internet on the possibily he had contracted Rabies which both of us had not been vaccinated for before our trip to India. Basically the advise is confusing; it says go to hospital and get a vaccination for a dog bite, lick of open wound, or any drawing of blood. It does not however cover a mouse nibble that may or may not have drawn blood. (Maybe that classes as a bite?)
So I headed downstairs to ask the hotel and front desk. They laughed and said no of course not. However I thought best to double check so asked them to take me to the local pharmacy. Collecting Chris we started our 10.30pm trip to the local pharmacy. Once there they advised caution...go to hospital. It's likely your ok but just get the post exposure jab just in case.
An Auto-Rickshaw later and 100 Rupees (£1) we arrived at the hospital. We went to A&E first as directed by the Rickshaw driver. On entering we dodged the fresh sick on the floor, the countless beds of seriously ill and very frail looking patients only to be prioritised and asked...'where is your slip?'. We didn't have one. So we were redirected to the next building over. At a small desk just inside the entrance were seated two male doctors who were treating patients on a first come first served basis...Apart from male foreigners. Much to his annoyance, Chris was prioritised, prescribed and treated within 2 minutes of being inside the main doors.
To put this in context the two desks were just in front of Triage. In Triage there were 4 beds and in 3 of them the patients were either bleeding onto the floor or throwing up on it so it felt exceedingly silly when Chris sat down to report he had been 'bitten' (note the use of the word bitten) by a mouse in a restaurant. However the doctor told him he was right to come and we were ushered straight to the nurse to have injections.
And he needs 3 more!! So we will be visiting a number of hospitals as we travel around Rajestan.
So some key positives:
Chris is and will be ok
It's been an education
Whilst I initially thought it was an over-reaction the doctor seemed to think it best that we had come ( I also once reported to A&E in the UK for a 'broken foot' which after x-rays turned out to be a pulled muscle) so can't really tease. Caution is best.
Chris gets prioritised so the hospital visits don't take long
I am and was a lot more supportive than I sound in this post but it is in my nature to tease Chris!
Negatives:
Exposure to airborne diseases in Indian hospitals. I have not yet researched the chances that we could get sick from those.
Apart from that today has been awesome and tiring. We saw the Red Fort, used the subway, avoided touts to successfully purchased our train tickets to Agra and explored the spice Bazaars. Delhi is crowded, noisy, has crazy traffic and enough lying, selling and touting to drive you mad but today allowed us to see through that a little more to the beauty of the city. We saw Monkeys, Chipmunks, 4 businessmen on a motorcycle and when you do find tranquility (like inside the Red Fort) it is such a rarity that it is all the better for it.
More tomorrow but headed to bed now.
Jane xx
Ps. I had my hair cut as well.
Chris
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