A friend of mine from college, Lauren, is a fellow lover of travel but she travels with dietary restrictions after struggling for years learning what she could and couldn’t eat. She shared her whole journey on Facebook and Instagram. I reached out to her and asked if she could share a little about traveling with dietary restrictions when you feel so limited to what you can eat without getting sick. Thanks, Lauren.

Simplicity and planning are two keys when you’re traveling with dietary restrictions. The stress of travel is already draining. You don’t want to add to it with foods that don’t sit well with you or have to deal with the stress of trying to find foods that you can eat. It’ll just bring you down and bog down your trip. When you’re traveling, you want to do everything you can to support yourself so that you can get the most out of your trip – because that’s the whole point…to explore, experience and FEEL good while doing so.

A little background on my health and my experience with dietary restrictions- although I no longer see them as restrictions, I see removing them from my diet as a blessing. I’ve been dealing with chronic and autoimmune conditions since age 12. I’ve been labeled with fibromyalgia, lyme, chronic fatigue and so much more. My health journey has been a hell of a ride.

Three years ago I realized I wasn’t getting better doing what I was doing – pumping myself with pharmaceuticals and eating any and all food you can imagine. I hit rock bottom one day and threw out the pills, cleaned out the cupboard and never looked back! I’ve gone through all sorts of stages of removing, adding in and experimenting with foods, using myself as a guinea-pig-science experiment. I started out slowly by removing one thing at a time… gluten, meat, dairy, processed foods/sugars, soy, grains and so forth. After finding everything that didn’t work, I finally found a combination of things that DO work. I have ultimately ended up as a raw vegan, eating a diet consisting of predominantly fruit, some vegetables and nuts/seeds, which has been what is reversing my chronic and autoimmune conditions (it’s a process).

Read more:

• 9 exercises you can do in your hotel room
• How to get good sleep when you travel
• 11 tips to stay healthy while you travel 

During that time of experimentation, I became really good at dealing with the ever-changing dietary restrictions I was going through. I learned how to navigate through social situations, traveling and restaurants – and I’m here to share my experience to make it easier for you to live your life, no matter what dietary restrictions you may have and no matter where you are!

5 Tips for Traveling With Dietary Restrictions

1. Plan Ahead

Do your research before you get on the road! Research the area you’re going to and where you’ll be staying and traveling around. Look into restaurants and their menus – you can literally plan out what you’re going to get at each restaurant before you even leave for the trip if that will make it easier for you! Also, be upfront! You can call and ask them if they will be able to work with your food restrictions. Most restaurants are totally cool with it and they WANT to cater to you.

I like to personally make a list on my phone of restaurant names, the meals I was looking into that would work for me, phone number and the address of the place. This way when I arrive, I don’t have to go back internet surfing trying to remember what is what and which place carries what foods I’m able to eat. A good google search would be wording like “restaurants near/in cityX with gluten-free options/vegetarian options/dairy-free options” and go from there.

2. BYO

I have been known to BYO avocado a time or two… no matter your dietary restrictions, almost every place you go to is going to have some type of salad options, grains, vegetables, simpler side dishes, etc., in some form or fashion. A lot of the sauces and dressings have ingredients that don’t sit well for a lot of people so here’s what I recommend.

If possible, I’ll bring my own avocado, a travel packet of almond or cashew butter and/or a travel packet of coconut aminos. Nut butters makes a great creamy addition on its own in a dish, or mixed with the coconut aminos as a delicious dressing/sauce. The aminos also mix well with lemon juice and a little honey or maple syrup (almost all restaurants have one or the other). Other options are asking to sub any sauce/marinade with simple olive oil, lemon/lime or my favorite, lots of extra guac… because guac goes with and on everything (I’ll order like 3 servings of extra guac – and I’m not sorry about it!). Another idea is to bring mini seasonings to add massive flavor to any dish! Also, if I’m just going to an event or restaurant when not traveling, I make my own dressing at home, put it in my bag and bring it with me!

3. Mix and Match

Mix and match different items on the menu to create what works for you. If you look at an entrée description, you’ll see most of the foods that are in a dish. For example, if I saw a dish that had roasted vegetables or potatoes but what I was ordering didn’t have it, I would either sub out something from my meal or kind of create my own using sides and items from different entrées.

If they have it listed on their menu, that means they have it in the kitchen. Just because they don’t offer it with other entrees or on its own, doesn’t mean they can’t accommodate you and make you up your own serving! Also, if you see a sauce from a different entrée that would work for you, ask to have a side of it.

4. Fruit for Breakfast

Fruit makes the morning meals a breeze wherever you are traveling. Almost anywhere you go for breakfast will have some sort of fruit. A lot of the time they’ll just come as sides or as accents to other dishes, but that means they have some in the back. It’s easy to order let’s say, 5 sides of whatever fruit platter they have (you’ll be full – trust me…order five servings of any fruit platter and then tell me you’re still hungry!).

In a similar sense, you would save time and money if you researched markets/grocery stores ahead of time and bought your own stash of fruits. That way, you can wake up, have your breakfast and start your adventures, having one less meal to worry about trying to accommodate. It’s also a great snack to have on you throughout the day as a snack.

Fruit is a perfect meal and your body’s best friend. And no, fruit does not have too much sugar in it (biggest myth EVER), but don’t get me started…that is totally for a different article.

5. Travel Prepared

Be prepared to succeed and stay full & satisfied. There are a ton of great snacks and foods you can travel with to have with you throughout the duration of your trip. Especially if you’re checking a bag, that means you get a personal item and a carry on. You can bring a bag solely for the purpose of stocking with fruits and snacks.

The fruits are great because that way, you have food on the plane and some for when you land, so you’re not scrambling to get to somewhere to eat right away. You can also stock your suitcase with easy, on-the-go snacks that you can throw in your bag and have with you while you’re traveling. My favorite travel snacks (in no particular order): dried fruit, delicious bars, granola, raw nuts and seeds, crackers, nut butter packets and coconut amino packets.

Traveling with Dietary Restrictions is Possible!

I know it may feel overwhelming at first when you’re adapting to living with food restrictions, but know that you are not alone and it is totally doable! Start playing with the recommendations above and you’ll find that even though it may seem like a lot of planning at first, it really doesn’t take much effort and you’ll become an expert in no time!

I wanted to touch on the emotional/mental part of having dietary restrictions and living life with them. I know how frustrating it can feel going to social situations and restaurants and feeling like there’s nothing for you to eat. It gets easier with a little planning, adapting and becoming creative by working with what’s around you, I promise.

I know it’s taken me awhile to come to a place where I’m comfortable with what I will and will not eat. It’s easy to give in to peer pressure and feel uncomfortable in social settings, but it takes courage and strength to stand up for yourself and feel confident in the choices you make for your body. A lot of times it can feel isolating, embarrassing and like somethings wrong with you, like you’re an inconvenience (YOU’RE NOT). I used to feel like that a lot.

I would feel massive guilt around saying “no” to foods that were being served and what everyone else was eating. I used to feel so uncomfortable at restaurants because I would have to change my order so much: can I please have X without a,b,c,d,e, etc. and can I sub that with this and can I have an extra side of that, actually can I just make up my own dish, etc.

But here’s how I’ve come to see it…we only know one thing FOR SURE: we have the body we’re in for the rest of our time here. Don’t you deserve to feel good and treat it properly, the way it’s asking you? If you eat foods that don’t agree with you just because of other people and then you feel unwell, even sick, then what’s the point? Who has to experience that unpleasantness – YOU DO. This is your vehicle through which you move in this world – feed it the way it’s asking to be fed!

A list of healthy travel snack that you can buy on Amazon, curated by Lauren:

1. FRUIT
2. Dried Fruit
   1. Coconut Chips
   2. Apricots
   3. Dates
   4. Figs
   5. Raisins
   6. Mulberries
   7. Mangos
   8. Pineapple
   9. Banana Chips
3. Bars
   1. That’s It
   2. Larabars
   3. GoMacro
   4. Simple Squares
   5. Kind Bars 
   6. The Gluten Free Bar
   7. Redd Superfood Energy Bar
   8. Granola
   9. Purely Elizabeth
   10. Kind Clusters
   11. Raw nuts and seeds
   12. Cashews
   13. Almonds
   14. Pumpkin Seeds
   15. Sunflower Seeds
4. Crackers & Chips
   1. Flackers
   2. GoRaw
   3. Mary’s Gone
   4. Rice Cakes
   5. Jackson’s Honest Chips
   6. Buddha Bowl Popcorn
   7. Nut butter packets
   8. Cashew
   9. Almond
   10. Justin’s Squeeze Packs
   11. Travel-Friendly Condiments/Spices
   12. Coconut amino packets
   13. Travel Size Spice Kit 
5. Chocolate!
   1. Endangered Species
   2. Alter Eco
   3. Seaweed Snacks
   4. Snack Packs (Different Flavors)
   5. Large Raw Nori Sheets
6. Alternative to Wraps
   1. Raw Wraps Spinach
   2. Coconut Wraps

Thanks Lauren, for these tips for travel with dietary restrictions!

Author Bio: Lauren is on a mission to ignite a heal-yourself revolution and create something massively different than what’s been going on thus far. Three years ago she went on a journey to heal herself from debilitating chronic & autoimmune conditions and is now successfully overcoming them. She is a Certified Regenerative Detoxification Specialist & Iridologist, working with people to help them identify where and how to start healing themselves. You can follow her on her Instagram, website and subscribe to her soon-to-launch YouTube channel, as well as visit her Shopify store which carries spunky t-shirts for plant enthusiasts. Check out

The post 5 Essential Tips for Traveling With Dietary Restrictions first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post 5 Essential Tips for Traveling With Dietary Restrictions appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

I sometimes share e-mails under the tag “ask me anything“. I get a lot of very similar e-mails which means there are a lot of people out there thinking the same questions. Why not address them to everyone? You can search more like these by clicking that link above.

How do you avoid Delhi Belly? You don’t! Just kidding…

Delhi Belly, which is just a term for stomach issues in India, happens all over the world when traveling and eating foods you’re unfamiliar with. Most people expect to get sick a few times in India, Mexico, or Thailand.. and I am no exception. I have had serious food poisoning many times, two of which put me in the hospital (once in Goa and once on Ko Phi Phi).

street side hotdog on a small Thai island… ended up being okay :) it was the beef burger later that got me!

I wrote some tips on how to eat street food without getting sick so check that out as I’m not going to get into specific tips here.

I’m surprised how many e-mails I get from readers who are terrified of getting sick in India from the food or water, so much so that they aren’t sure they want to come at all. After the most recent one, I decided to address it on the blog because it’s really such a non-issue… but I can see why you’re worried. You might even be reading this because you’ve emailed and I’ve sent you this link.

Here are some of the ramblings I tell people who e-mail with concerns:

• You might not get sick at all! and if you do it’s not usually that big of a deal.
• If you get a sick belly in India, you probably don’t have a parasite or worm… you’re going to be on the toilet for a day until it goes away (which is why I always tell people don’t take stoppers unless you have to catch a train).
• You can brush your teeth with the water.. I have all over India for years.
• You obviously can’t drink the tap water, but you can have filtered instead of bottled. If you accidentally drink from the tap as I have many times, you might get sick but to be honest I haven’t been sick from the water here (yet). Granted, I take de-worming pills 2x a year… yes, kind of like the ones I give my dog. If you’re in India all year, you should take one when you leave. Just ask the chemist.
• Sometimes when you think it’s food poisoning, it’s really just some IBS because your stomach isn’t used to the food you’re eating: too greasy, too much ghee, too spicy, too sweet. It could be anything that your stomach disagrees with.
• I’ve had just of bad of food poisoning in the U.S. as I have India.
• Don’t just take random antibiotics if you’re going to be in India for six months, because you can’t take them each time you get sick. Find out what’s ailing you (aka get a stool sample tested) and take the correct antibiotic.
• If you’re in India a short time, then just take cipro or whatever the chemist has on hand.
• Want to know which drugs and other medical things I take? My travel first aid kit gives a full list.
• Want to know which vaccinations you need? Here are the immunizations I got for India.
• You can expect to get sick a couple of times on your trip, but it’s not as bad as people make it out to be and if it is, you can get an IV at the hospital and you’ll feel better in a few hours.
• If you have IBS, celiac dx, or other digestive issues- you will have to work harder to eat clean in India. There aren’t as many gluten-free options and if you have IBS it’ll probably kick into high gear… but at the same time switching to an Indian diet works for some people. I know travelers who have never felt healthier, while others suffered.
• It’s not just India… does that help? a little bit? I mean, you could get sick anywhere ;)
• If you’re really concerned and it’s troubling you a lot, then you should skip street food just to ease your mind. Don’t feel you “have” to eat street food to be cool like Anthony B., ha ha.
• Overall, getting a sick belly is the last thing to worry about in India! Enjoy!

The post Ask Me Anything: How do you avoid Delhi Belly? first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Ask Me Anything: How do you avoid Delhi Belly? appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

I was not aware that some Indian cows have gone extinct! There used to be over 100 types of Indian cow, but now are only 30-35.

The Brits came in and were like, “your cows are weak, ours are strong, so here take some!”. The Indian people liked the strong cows better and therefore Indian cow breeds starting dying out. Here in this small town in Karnataka they’re trying to help save some breeds.

Goupushti Mahayajna | Protecting the Indian Indigenous Cow

In India, cows are the “Mother of the Universe” aka Mother India because they give life via milk. They have cows from all over with labels above showing which type they are. They breed them to bring back breeds that are dying out. They have gotten 8.2 Crore signatures for the banning of all cow slaughter in India.

Just recently, beef was banned in Mumbai for “animal cruelty” reasons, but many believe it has more to do with religious, as other animals are still killed.

One big reason they want to keep their Indian cows around is because they believe the urine of the cows offers medicinal value (they even use it to make organic cosmetics).

“From the ancient times the panchagavya (milk, curd, ghee, urine, dung) was used in Ayurvedic treatments. These medicinal properties are seen only in cow products of Indian breed cows. Cows are useful to human beings in the field of agriculture, energy production, food & nutrition also. Indian economy is dependent on Indian breed cows. Indian breed cows are on the verge of extinction…”

So they are saving the cows and also selling the products from the cows. Not unusual, I know of people in Goa who drink a little cow urine for health reason (I guess…). To me, it’s a little to “Eastern medicine”. They have two cows from the Krishnaveni breed and they are the only place in the world to have this breed.

Reading through the pamphlet, some things these products are indicated for are:

Diabetes, hypertension, infection, heart problem, and mental disorders seems to be the hardcore ones, while there are lighter usages like hair toner, skin problems, and colds. Some items are used for scrubbing baths and cleaning floors. If you want to buy this and try at home, I think you’re an interesting/brave/crazy person and would love to hear if it works for you… the website is below.

If you want more cute cow photos, I’ve got em! If you want to read more, how about that time I was headbutted by a cow in Varanasi?

Practical Information:

• You can visit the website for more information and directions. The town is called Ramachandrapura
• Fee: there is no fee but you can donate, or pay 10 rs to feed the cows. I was here with my goMowgli tour as a back-up for another trip that was canceled due to traffic/riots as mentioned in a previous post.

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

The post Goupushti Mahayajna | Protecting the Indian Indigenous Cow first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Goupushti Mahayajna | Protecting the Indian Indigenous Cow appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

When you are planning a trip abroad or in your own country, each step is important to make sure you save the most amount of money. Once you’re on the road it doesn’t become a free for all; you still have to manage your expenses so you don’t end up going home earlier than you want to.

13 Tips on how to Save Money While Traveling

1. Take Longer Trips

The best way to save money while traveling is to take longer trips less often rather than many short trips. The longer your trip, the more time you have to take slower transportation.Obviously you save on taking less flights. Instead of paying 200 bucks for a short flight, you can take that 6 hour bus. (read more for tips on domestic flights in India)

2. Track Your Spending

While traveling I don’t write down everything I spent on, but I do jot down every time I go to the ATM. I tend to take out about 200 bucks at a time while I’m backpacking, especially in India in case I end up somewhere with all the ATM’s empty, which happens quite often to me! If you write it down you’ll see how often you pull out money and think ahead asking yourself, “if I continue pulling out 200 bucks a week and I going to have enough money to complete this trip?” If not, you need to cut back.

TIP: There are apps to help you track spending like Trail Wallet and Mint although I haven’t tried them I hear good things.

3. Travel Off Season

I’ve written a whole post on this topic (linked above) because it’s such a huge component of my travels. India is not the only seasonal place; even the Greek islands have an off-season. Do some research and see when the best time to go is- it’ll be the month before or after tourist season kicks off. Usually WAY off-season is either scorching hot or monsoon in many places so not always a good choice. Those times are fun to travel too though.

4. Don’t Shop Near Tourist Attractions

This should go without saying, but I see people shopping near them all the time so it must not be well known enough. These prices are usually much higher and instead you should look for a local market to shop. For example in Goa, anything you pick up at a stall in Anjuna Beach is much cheaper in the local Mapusa market where less tourists go.

5. Careful on Food and Drink Spending

I’m pretty bad about this as I am the biggest eater ever. I just live to eat. My budget is usually over 50% on food and drinks.

• Try not to eat at the tourist “international” joints where the menu has a little bit of everything.
• Try not to eat right on the beach in expensive places.
• Do take away when you can as some places charge service fees, luxury fees, and seating fees.
• If you’re in hostels or have your own kitchen in a condo, cook sometimes.
• Try to stay somewhere that offers free breakfast. In Asia, you can usually negotiate a free breakfast into your stay- you almost always can in India.
• When it comes to drinking, if your plan is to get pretty drunk then you should have a few at home before you go out.

6. Avoid ATM Fees

I bank with Charles Schwab. Other than occasional card blockages to “prevent fraud”, I am a huge fan and actually have gotten so many people to switch to banking with them! I have NO ATM fees via the bank or currency change fees. They do come out when you swipe the card but at the end of each month they are refunded to your account. This is great because in more dangerous places you can take out smaller amounts of money.

7. Pack Appropriately

If you pack what you need, you’ll prevent buying it on the road. In countries which are cheaper this isn’t as important, but in expensive cities or even islands with high prices like Ko Phi Phi, sunscreen can set you back $15 USD. Check my travel packing list to see what I recommend. Research your destination. For example, as an American with no health insurance, I don’t take any medicine to India. I buy what I need cheap in India as I go. As an Indian traveling to America, you’re better off stocking up on anything you may need.

8. Pick Up Work While You’re Abroad

You can pass out fliers while you’re on the Thai islands, take some farm work, or bartend at a hostel. You can work on a yacht for the summer, teach English as a second language, or even be a parade girl in Ibiza! There are options out there and bloggers write about ways they work abroad quite often like Alex in Wanderland’s Series Earning Abroad. I became a Thai masseuse and because that doesn’t need a massage table (it’s done on a yoga mat), I can do that anywhere I move or travel to just by putting up fliers. You can find work on Fiverr, I hire people on there all the time.

9. Make Your Flight Bookings Smart

You really need to do research. It might be cheaper to fly into a nearby airport and take a train onward to your destination. I use multiple sites to look for flights.  I have all of this written about in my travel resources.

10. Take Advantage or Discounts and Freebies

• Google “free things to do in _____” and see what comes up. Usually there are walking tours, museums, and neat local markets to visit.
• Let hotels know if it’s your birthday or anniversary- you might get a bottle of wine!
• If you’re a student, see if a tourist attraction gives a student discount and show them your student ID. Booking sites like cheapoair offer discount codes to students, military, and senior citizens.
• Before you book on any site do some research and see what discount you can get. I do this with shopping too. For example the same way you can google “[store name] discount code”, you can search your booking engine, like [expedia discount code] and see what pops up. I always find at least 200 rs off my makemytrip bookings.
• Another thing that is helpful is to sign up for e-mail alerts, or if you hate getting spam, you can “like” your favorite booking sites FB page so you’ll see any new deals they have running.

11. Don’t Book Ahead ALL the time in Asia

When you do use Agoda to book a room, but while traveling in Thailand I can say we always got better prices just by showing up and negotiating when it comes to budget huts and guesthouses. You can’t very well do that in Paris! In India, 100% it’s better to show up and negotiate for a budget property. What I do is call first and ask how much and negotiate a little on the phone and tell them I’m coming. Call a few places and see what rate they can give. Once you have a few in mind go check them out and see in person what rate they’ll do. Booking sites are almost always higher for budget lodging, but in my experience for a 3 star or higher, you want a booking engine. They compete with each other and might be running a special so it’s worth checking around- these nice places won’t negotiate anyways so a deal online is better than full price on arrival. To sum up, it might be better to book ahead in a nice hotel in Bangkok, but not on a smaller Thai island where you can check out a few places in only 15 minutes.

12. Take Advantage of Travel Bloggers

When you find out where you’re going, Google “__[insert city]__ travel blog” and see who is a pro at the region you’re visiting. They probably have hundreds of tips on their site to help visitors save money plus can tell you the best hotels that are up to date rather than only look at what Lonely Planet is telling you. Some of my favorite restaurants that are insanely popular in Goa have never graced Lonely Planets pages. I am thinking about going to Beijing soon, so of course have to reach out to Beijing expat bloggers like Joella.

13. Make a Realistic Budget & STICK to it.

The key thing here is realistic.  If you know you want to buy a necklace in each city you visit and you want to go skydiving or white-water rafting, you better think ahead and add that to your budget. If you don’t prepare for a realistic amount and find yourself overspending constantly, not only will you possibly run out of money, you’ll find yourself in a sour mood and cutting back on things you might need near the end of your trip. I see many posts that say “travel India on 10 bucks a day” and YES you can, but why would you!? You’ll be freakin’ miserable. I wrote a post on traveling India on 20 bucks a day which I think is more realistic and you’ll probably spend a little less meaning you’ll be less stressed throughout the trip & happy when you have cash at the end.

Bonus: 14 ways to EARN money while you’re traveling and 12 ways to travel the world for free!

[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

The post 13 Tips on How to Save Money While Traveling first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post 13 Tips on How to Save Money While Traveling appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

I think I’m finally believing in Ayurveda! Ok maybe the massage part more so than the medical part, but had I more time at Indus Valley Ayurvedic Centre (IVAC) it might have just converted the U.S. trained nurse in me over.

I have always thought Ayurveda massages were too oily and didn’t work my muscles enough/ not enough pressure was used. Typically they are a stroking massage to get blood flow going. I finally had an Ayurvedic massage worth writing about, but first let me tell you about the place.

Indus Valley Ayurvedic Center Review

If you have some cash to spend on Ayurveda while you travel in India, IVAC in Mysore is the place to do it. Not only the most famous center in Mysore, but maybe all of India with two newer sister locations in Goa (Sun Valley and Rococco).

It’s just a few minutes drive from the city center but is far enough out that you don’t hear traffic or the chaos of a city- although Mysore is pretty calm for an Inidian city. The whole place has “aummmmmms” sounding of in all directions to keep people happy and calm. Literally, the noise comes from some hidden place; I think speakers under wooden boxes.

The property is quite spread out with a tennis court, cabins dotting around (one in the shape of a swastik), a huge swimming pool, restaurant, and treatment centers. There is WiFi only at reception.

As for rooms you have the option of standard, cabin, or deluxe. The deluxe room at the time I was there (October during Diwali) was around 6,000 while the cabins were going for 8,000 rs.

I was in a Deluxe room which had two single beds, a foyer, A/C, hot water shower, and all the extra towels, toiletries, and blankets you could want. Since there is no room service, the tea kettle came in handy during my 3 night 4 day stay.

The night I showed up my food was delivered to the room as I’d missed dinner- but that’s not the norm. Breakfast is from 8-10, lunch from 1-3, and dinner from 7-9. It’s buffet style and Ayurvedic diet. You won’t be getting any meat or chocolate chip cookies here. Surprisingly the meals weren’t bad. I’m not a huge lover of Indian food (I know, how the heck did I end up living in India!?) and I eat as unhealthy as possible pretty much all the time- but carrot salad, clear veg soup, and tamarind rice kept me full during my stay.

Of course there was more on the menu and the guests were raving about how much they loved it. I’m still trying to understand beetroots. But moving on… They served dosas for breakfast along with all the other Indian goodies plus fruit, juice, and cereal. This is one of the best restaurants in Mysore.

IVAC Treatments

Not just a place for massages and pedicures, they do treatments here for anything from paralysis pain to weight loss. After looking at the tariff card, I knew I couldn’t afford to try out the more extreme options and went for the abhyanga massage, a one hour full body massage with sauna for 2,175 rupees. When my appointment time came, the masseuse came to my room to escort me (nice!).

Little did I know this was a TWO PERSON MASSAGE!!! As in, yes, FOUR HANDS massaging me. I could not even hold back my excitement.

They started by pouring hot oil in my ears and sticking cotton balls in. Next, hot oil all over my hair, as she rubbed it in I pondered how I could ever rub it back out… She massaged my shoulders (all the while I’m still thinking it’s just her giving the massage) then bam all the sudden someone else was massaging my feet!

It was the bomb.

The massage was done on a table similar to a doctor’s table… so as the four hands massaged I slid around the board like a slimy fish- literally drenched in oil.

Next was sauna, then I hopped in the shower provided at the treatment center with little hope of getting my 100% oil-drenched body clean. They actually suggested it’s better to leave it on but I’m seriously far too OCD for that.

There was one bottle of “soap” to be used on my hair and body… I wasn’t buying into it’s usefulness. I washed my hands first and magically the oil disappeared…

Now, according to Dove commercials, Dove is used on birds after oil spills, but Dove does not get the oil off me after I have a massage in Goa… so what in the hell was this magic in a bottle? Unlabeled, it’s a secret I’ll never know (but could surely buy some in the Ayurveda pharmacy on site).

The whole massage was basically life-changing (as much as a massage can change a life) and it’s a good thing I had to check out the next day or would have just done two or three more.

The fact that a simple oil massage could surprise me here makes me wonder what other goodies they have, but *sigh, I just don’t have the budget to be spending money on spa treatments that often. It’s best to buy a package then you get all kinds of goodies built in like massage, yoga, etc.

Other treatments on individual basis: Consultation 600 rs, Yoga 300, Oil drip for full body 9250, Bastis 1625, Beauty treatments start at 2000, Weight loss 3750, Deep tissue massage 2875, Thai massage 5000, Hot Stone 5000, plus about 20 more!

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

The post A Review of Indus Valley Ayurvedic Center (IVAC) in Mysore first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post A Review of Indus Valley Ayurvedic Center (IVAC) in Mysore appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Being the type of person that eats week old chicken from the fridge, I’m probably the last person that should give advice about this but I’m going to give it my best shot. There are some things on the street here even I won’t eat. I want to share some tips on eating street food in India but really a lot of these can go for just eating in India and not getting sick. I asked in my Facebook group, and it seems like this is one of your biggest fears!

15 tips for eating street food in India

1. Don’t be afraid of the street food. It’s just like any other hot country with street food. In northern India, the street momo’s are the best I’ve had in any restaurant in the world. Don’t miss out on this!

2. This is one that always works- go where the locals are. If there’s a long ass line with local’s chowing down on samosas then obviously they are good AND they are making them fresh.

3. I usually stay veg only when I eat street food. You just don’t know how long the meat has been sitting out before it was stuffed inside whatever they’re frying in it. Exception: the beef cutlet guy at the Arpora/ Anjuna roundabout in Goa… give me those beef burgers all day! Obviously shwarma and other stands that are known for meat are okay. I’m talking more like small stands that have one meat option.. it’s probably been sitting there all day.

4. Judge on cleanliness. Are they using a dirty old knife and a cutting board covered in mold? Probably skip eating at that place. It’s really just using your judgment here and deciding if they place looks clean enough to eat at.

5. Beware of the street drinks which are not hot. Because the water didn’t come to a boil it could be bad, and most likely the ice was NOT made from clean water like you’d automatically assume in an Indian restaurant. Just because the locals are drinking it doesn’t make it okay as they can handle the water better than a foreigners body.

6. Beware of the Sauce.If you get a samosa and sauce is offered, just know the sauce and chutneys are made with tap water most times and could have been sitting out in the sun a while. I always eat it anyways, but I’m a streetfood risk-taker. They also water it down to make it last longer.

7. Any grilled or deep fried veg, fruit, and nuts should be snatched up and eaten! It is so good. The corn on the cob grilled with lime and salt is the best I’ve ever had. The fresh potato chips are almost as good as the pan roasted nuts. Maybe the veg and fruit wasn’t washed, but it’s been cooked and should be fine. Don’t be alarmed if they re-fry something. It’s kind of like re-heating it and it might not have been cooked fully at first. It’s to speed things up when you order. Definitely try a potato patty (aloo tikki) and dosas in the south.

photo of snacks flickr / oranges from flickr

8. This is a no brainer, but if you buy fresh fruit and veg from a stall, you need to wash with clean water before eating.

9. Puffs and samosas are common but if you don’t know the Hindi words for specific veg, don’t except much explanation. They will just say it’s a “veg puff”. You can guess which one! In Goa it’s usually aloo (potato), while in Kerala you get a scrumptious egg puff or a mutta(r) puff (peas)

10. Avoid ice basically all the time on the street.

11. Chai is totally fine to drink even when the place looks a bit dirty and grimy. Sometimes you can stop in Bombay at 4 am and buy chai from a guy who’s also selling cigarettes to drunk people. The people who walk up and down trains also sell a mean chai!

12. The GOOD street meat you should eat every chance you get is a shwarma! Usually it’s goat or chicken, or some kind of mix. Doesn’t matter; it tastes like a little lamb. They layer lots of mayo on local bread and some fresh veg (which may or may not be clean, but like I said… I’m not really the best person to be telling you what to eat since I eat everything). Usually shwarmas are so popular that you don’t need to worry about freshness and the whole slab of meat will be gone in two hours, but if you see them re-light the meat and heat it back up that’s a sign it’s old and might get you sick.

13. When you get fresh juice, have them juice it in front of you, don’t take a cup of pre-made juice. It could be very old or watered down with bad water.

14. If you are buying food from a vendor during a bus stop and can’t tell if the food is fresh, ask in Hindi: yay taja hay? They will be too impressed/confused with your Hindi to lie to you.

15. Lastly, don’t blame your illness on the street vendor if you do get sick. Who knows, maybe you hadn’t washed your hands! It’s a common mistake while backpacking but in India you really need to at least rinse them with bottled water if you don’t have sanitizer or hand wipes.

Are you ready for your big trip to India?

Check out my other article on eating here: how to make sure you don’t get Delhi Belly. You can also check out my tips on vaccinations and what to pack in your medical kit. Want more tips for traveling India or better yet to have me plan your trip? Buy my India Guide ebook and even if you ONLY read that, you’ll be 1000% prepared for your trip. It’s 6 years of India travel experience all wrapped up in an organized easy to read manner.

Pin these tips for eating street food in India and not getting sick for later:

The post 15 Tips on Eating Street Food in India & Not Getting Sick first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post 15 Tips on Eating Street Food in India & Not Getting Sick appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

I have posted a few e-mails from readers before, under the tag “ask me anything“. I’m going to be doing it more often. I get a lot of very similar e-mails which means there are a lot of people out there thinking the same questions. Why not address them to everyone? That is what inspired my FAQ about India post. You can search more like these under the tag or in the search bar: “ask me anything”.

Scared to Travel

After answering this e-mail, I realized I’ve gotte a lot that are similar. People have fears of travel and I’ll tell you exactly what I told her.

“The second I booked my flight, I just got scared. I am 19 years old, and I really don’t know what I’m doing, even though that’s something I think is the great thing about traveling as well, it also is really scary.  I’ve read all your posts on female traveling, and you have some very good tips. I was just wondering if you could tell me something that helped you get less scared before you travelled? If there is even something to tell of course… I know it will be scary at first no matter what. “

Travel can be scary! Especially the day before and day of. If you are an anxious person at all, you’re bound to get a belly-ache. You’ll start double checking your lists and making sure your flight REALLY leaves when you think it does. That’s okay. I promise, everyone who has any type of anxiety does it. Anxiety always escalated when it comes to travel.

When you’re on the plane all alone.. you may start thinking “what the fuck was I thinking!? OMG.”

Well, I’m here to assure you that I’ve had that feeling and it goes away. It’s how I felt the first time I was on a plane to India. I was all, “I’m going to see tigers and hike to the top of a mountain!” and then once I got on the plane to Bombay along with all these confusing Indian people, I was like, “who cares about tigers, I should have just gone to the zoo, and really I hate hiking, I don’t even want to climb a mountain or even a hill for that matter.”

It gets better…

When I landed in Bombay, I couldn’t sleep thanks to the time change, so I laid awake until the sun finally rose and I could explore. That’s when all my fears went away. I realized it wasn’t such a scary crazy place and I wasn’t the only person doing it. I met friends right away near the train station.

India is a pretty daunting place to a new traveler and if you can make it there you can make it anywhere. If you are showing up in Paris or Bangkok, you’re going to adjust so much faster than you think.

You’re going to be nervous, maybe even a little scared. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s excitement just getting confused and being misplaced, in my opinion.

Just keep your head up and once you get to your destination you’ll see the worry was for nothing.

Some Tips on Anxiety & being scared to travel alone:

• Join couchsurfing, not just to stay with a host but for meet ups. You can even find a travel buddy like I did in India. It’s great to have a “friend” in your new place. Try to do this at your arrival point so you can adjust better, like I did staying with Elise in Bombay.
• Feeling bored and lonely in a big city? Go to the train station and scout for another tourist arriving. Don’t be creepy though! In India, the forien tourist quota line is bound to have some toursits hanging around that you can sightsee with.
• Take something comforting from home: maybe it’s your favorite songs on a playlist, photos on your iPhone to scroll though, or a hoodie you love.
• Embrace traveling alone. Write, learn to take great photos, try taking a language book and practicing talking to locals.
• If you have severe anxiety, don’t let that stop you from traveling. As a nurse, I have seen first hand how people with anxiety taking their medications appropriately just makes it melt away. Talk to your MD before your trip and get some “just in case”.

feature image photo source flickr

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

The post Ask Me Anything: Scared to Travel Alone first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Ask Me Anything: Scared to Travel Alone appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

A handful of bad things happened while in confusing and hectic Varanasi, and at the moment a cow threw me into a wall, I’m pretty sure I was thinking “ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!!?!” It was one bad thing too many.

Here’s what happened.

Ashley, my fun lovin’ English buddy had just been pick-pocketed and was so “it’s not a big deal” (while I remember being pick-pocketed in Barcelona and going all karate-kid on some dudes) and she was off looking for her wallet at the train station.

I was feeling super sick having just left the hospital from one of many Dengue appointments, and spent most of the afternoon puking my guts up. I headed home on my own while Ash did her thing.

Varanasi has tiny little roads, like Venice… but filled with cow poop.

The rickshaws can’t take you down, and those who travel with rolly suitcases really regret it after the cow poo build up in the wheels.

I was told there was no such thing as a mean cow in India. Having been in India a while, I thought cows were my little pals. I would walk past them, pet them, whisper jokes to them and they’d laugh about what a hoot I am…  I mean, this guy below loves shopping for scarves as much as I do. Kindred spirits.

This next cow though… he just gave me a bad feeling. He was big and was looking right at me.

I thought I was going to vomit again and/or pass out because I was still feeling really sick, so I didn’t want to take a detour. I decided to just walk past him nonchalantly like I always do.

I think I thought about it too long- because he was pretty annoyed with me, so much so that he THREW ME into a wall with his head.

It happened so quickly I wasn’t sure what to do! He didn’t even move his feet. With just neck power, he whipped his head against me, and his horn cut my bum (and ripped my pants open, whoops, I’m sure the locals were all look at that scandalous disrespectful white girl with her ass out!).

He actually picked me up into the air and jammed me between his head and the wall. I put my hand up to protect my face and my hand got busted up a little bit, road rash style.

As soon as he let me go, I ran to the end of the alley around a corner and peeked back at him to see if he was chasing me. He still had not moved his feet. He was straight chillin’. I took a photo, obvi.

I told my guesthouse owners what happened and they were basically like, “No, that didn’t happen. Cows are nice. You are a liar.” 

Okie dokie.

By the time Ashley came back (without her wallet) my entire left butt cheek was black and blue. We ate a sad lunch on the rooftop before going to the confusing Ghats to cheer ourselves up by watching cremations.. so that sounds a little weird, although it’s a real party feel at the Ghats- people here don’t fear death like most people.

Ever since, I’ve been a little more hesitant around cows. Obviously they are everywhere. I actually wrote an entire post about how much I love cows. I’m not going to let one bully (get it? BULL-y) get me down.

It was a not-so-nice reminder: cows are wild animals. That is one of my many tips to remember in Varanasi for the next time. Duh Rachel.

The post That Time I Was Headbutted By a Cow in India… first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post That Time I Was Headbutted By a Cow in India… appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

This post is for all my nursing readers. I know some of you are struggling with your jobs, or nursing school because you e-mail me about it, usually saying, “I want to quit nursing!” “I want to drop out of nursing school!” “How did you do it?” “Was your family mad?” I understand your feelings because I was there once not that long ago.

I remember being in Europe in the summer, dreading going back to school. Each quarter the teachers would say something like, “Maybe geriatrics won’t be your thing, but next quarter we’ll do pediatrics. Eventually one will grab your heart and you’ll know which type of nurse you want to be.”

I never had one really grab at me, but I did love working with the babies. I was a nurse aid for 2.5 years on a postpartum unit. I loved my coworkers and swaddling and rocking those newborns was like a form of therapy! I truly loved that job.

*Stay tuned to the very bottom for the tips to keep your resume fresh while you take a “break” from saving lives.

My Background in Nursing & How it Led me to Travel

Because travel was my priority, I knew after one year of resume building, I wanted to travel nurse. I talked to some agencies and they all concluded that cardiac telemetry was the minimum amount of critical care to be able to get the majority of good jobs.

I worked in Charlotte, NC on a cardiac tele floor for a year. My resume was finally looking real! I quit that job, went to India for a few months, and came back to take my first (and last) travel nursing job.  Because of meeting Ben, I went back to India.

when I took my first nursing job in NC, I met Britani! She was my travel buddy in the U.S.

The truth is, if I hadn’t met him, I would have taken another assignment. I had a great plan to work 3 months with overtime, then travel until I ran out of money (at least six months), then take another assignment. Repeat.  I didn’t get very far down my path.

Do I miss nursing? Not really. I miss the money. I miss night shift. I miss the emergencies. I miss the stability and the days off. But the “nursing” part I don’t miss.

With my new life plan, giving massages and trying to get this website a popular source for travel to India, I still get those free days- just not the money, yet. On the bright side, I don’t argue with morbidly obese type two diabetics with heart failure about fried chicken and mac n’ cheese. (mmm, fried chicken!)

 For those of you still in school, but hating it…

My advice is to finish school. I won’t ever e-mail my readers back and tell them to drop out.

After you graduate you HAVE to work for a year before you can take off traveling (if you are in the U.S.). It’s very difficult to get a hospital job if you don’t and you’ll end up in a nursing home or on a rehab or med/surg floor.

This is why you really should work as an aid during the school year and take advantage of your summers off to travel.

Really consider travel nursing. I would still be doing it if I hadn’t had the interesting experience I did in India. Travel nursing will fill your pockets with more money than you know what to do with and because contracts are up after 13 weeks, you can take time off as you want before you take another assignment.

a couple photos from my assignment in Washington

Don’t take as much time as you want though. No more than a year. After a year, you can’t get a travel job in the U.S. unless you’ve got quite a lot of experience under your belt. After a year of no work, you can still get a job as a nurse- just not as a traveller. It’s almost all travel nurse agencies policy in the U.S. and abroad (Middle East & Asia).

I happened to meet Ben on my first trip to India. It could have been different. I knew travel nursing was only until “something life-changing happened”, and luckily it happened on my first trip after quitting my first nursing job. It could have been the third or fourth… who knows?

As a nurse, you have amazing options for travel which is part of the reason I think you should 100% finish school. I didn’t love nursing, but I didn’t hate it. Working 3 months a year at a job I was “ok” with in order to travel the rest of the year was a sacrifice I was super happy to make. It wouldn’t have bothered me ONE BIT to keep doing travel nursing on and off while I saw the world. My girlfriends I met travel nursing are still doing so in Hawaii, Alaska, and California. They are living it up and take expensive trips all the budget knowing budget isn’t a huge concern. It’s an awesome career path if you’re not bummed out staring at the clock every 12 hour shift you work.

So, for those of you who want to quit your job but aren’t sure…

No reason to be miserable. My advice to you is to try travel nursing in the U.S. before you go off on an international adventure. It’s fun to move to another city. Because you’re a traveler you don’t have as much responsibility within the unit, and you won’t be in all that “nursing drama”. Most likely they won’t make you be charge nurse (unless you took my assignment in which case you would “tag team” charge nurse with other travelers & train the new travelers coming in. Scary!) You get in and out.

If it’s a good facility, they usually should give the travelers a fairly easy set of patients since we aren’t trained more than a couple days (or in my case 1 day). You might find that the vibe of being a traveler suits you more and you might even start to like nursing. Who knows?

Use that opportunity to save up some money for your trip abroad. Three months flies by! Taking just one assignment gave me enough money that over a year later I still have some. Keep in mind I’m in India though not Paris.

For those who say, “But, I want to travel now!!”

If you’re sure, you’re sure. Go for it! Although leaving school isn’t ideal, it’s your call.

Ok, so you’ve quit- now what? 

FYI, your paycheck is gone. I hope you’ve thought of this you crazy people! ;)

I’ve mentioned in a couple posts that I don’t see my degree as a waste. I see it as a back-up that helps me sleep at night. This is why I tell people not to drop out of school.

You guys have asked how people reacted. My friends were supporting. My bestie, who I was doing travel nursing with, of course was bummed I was leaving. She has since been traveling through California causing me envy with every mojito and concert photo she posts with all her new nursing friends! She’s having a killer time out there.

My family was/is worried. I mean no parents wants their kid to leave the career they helped them get.

I had a nice paying secure job. Our parents come from a generation where you don’t leave something like that. Our generation switches jobs every year almost and outside the U.S. there is less “loyalty” to your employee and more switching for “something better”. You have to follow your heart.

You can still get nursing jobs after being out of work for a while, just not your ideal job. We do lose skills and surely now, if someone went into an irregular rhythm and I needed to start a code or even titrate a drip, my heart would stop for a few seconds while I panicked and tried to remember everything.

There are some things you need to take care of so that your degree doesn’t become useless. 

• Keep your primary license active. I only keep Ohio active. If you take another travel job, they will pay for your new licenses, so I didn’t keep my Washington or North Carolina.

• Make sure you have your address up to date with the nursing board. I have everything sent to my parent’s house in Ohio. They’ll send a reminder when you need to re-new.

• For Ohio, to keep it active, I have to pay money every two years. Keep this information written down and stored.

• To keep a license active, you have to follow your states’ rules on CEU’s. For Ohio, I have to do 24, one being specific.

• Keep your certifications active. When I was home in May, I had a class booked to renew my ACLS. That also gave me 8 CEU’s. Do the same with your BLS or whatever else you have. Having these active will help you get a job after some time off. It shows you take initiative and didn’t let your skills slide. Actually, in many cases you can’t even apply to a job without these active.

• If you can volunteer abroad, then you should at least once a month, It’s something you can put on your resume. It’d also be nice to bring up in an interview. I haven’t found a place in Goa, or maybe I haven’t tried hard enough.

• If you’ve had multiple jobs, you have to combine your retirement papers? 401k? I’m not quite sure. My parents helped me with this- well, their tax guy did!

• Lastly, even if you find yourself in Fiji when tax time rolls around, you still have to file taxes one last time if you let your income go. If you find a way to make money after that (blogging, massage etc) you should file taxes have to file taxes even if you don’t live in America! Fuck.

Did I go too meme crazy!? Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

The post “I Want to Quit Nursing to Travel” Tips for My Fellow Nurses first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post “I Want to Quit Nursing to Travel” Tips for My Fellow Nurses appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

There is so much to say on this vibrant place that I’ve done a few separate posts that will be up soon: Varanasi travel tips, What to Expect at the Ghats in Varanasi and below is my little introduction to Varanasi and to the crazy we got ourselves into.

Man, Varanasi did NOT go as planned!

I had been a little pampered traveling with Chloe. In India, traveling alone is just as stressful as it is exciting because when things don’t go quite right and you’re stranded it always seems worse when you are alone. Now that Chloe was headed to Rajasthan and I was going to Varanasi, I had a pit in my stomach to be back on my own (or maybe it was the Dengue side effects still).

Getting to Varanasi was a headache to say the least. It involved a long train from Agra to Allahabad. I slept well overnight. I think I grossed people out as I hadn’t showered in 3 days… but I was tucked into my sleeping bag with my backpacked chained to the bottom post (make sure to pack a bike chain in India).

There’s almost always a stop-over on very long, non-direct train routes. From 3-7 am, I slept on the floor of a train station in the dirt, exhausted until my train to Varanasi came. By the time I got to Varanasi I was just delirious. I was starting to feel really sick again because I still hadn’t taken a rest to recover from Dengue Fever.

I’m not gonna lie, I was pitying myself quite a bit- all alone in a shitty train station with my stomach doing somersaults, but then a family invited me to sleep with them on the cow-shit covered floor which was really nice so I curled up next to them.

When you get into Varanasi, the first thing you need to know is there is a backpacking area to stay in that has budget guesthouses. Just ask for Old Town or Main Ghat. Don’t pay more than 200 rupees for a rickshaw.

The rickshaws can only take you so far, then you must walk down the narrow lanes, holding your backpack, while you hop skip and jump over cow shit. You can try to avoid getting head butted by a cow (or fail like I did). 

Where I Slept

I wanted to stay at famous Alka guesthouse but it was booked. He owns another, so I stayed at it’s sister, Teerth Guesthouse, for 700 rupees a night. It was just as good.My friend, Ashley (who I met in Pushkar), showed up a day later and we split the cost.

The guesthouse was clean, had decent food, and had a great location. Staff was very friendly. They have a guy who will come do massages in your room; obviously I took full advantage of that. Contact details: D. 8/9 Kalika Gali, Varanai, 221001, e-mail at teerth_guesthouse@hotmail.com to book.

We met many people who stayed at popular backpacking guesthouse, Ganpati, and loved it. It was more ideally located, but over my budget.

Varanasi gave us head-aches and butt-aches.

Varanasi is the most spiritual place in India, where pilgrims come from all corners of the country. Travelers stand near the Ghats watching the cremations in awe. That’s something for another post though.

On top on Varanasi being an overwhelming place to be, we had some really interesting things happen to use there.

• I spent 12 hours in the hospital after I passed out at my guesthouse. I hadn’t been eating because I was so sick and well no food means no awkward moments on buses and trains. I should have stopped traveling to recover a couple weeks after Dengue fever, but instead I kept going. The doctors in Varanasi were shocked by my lab values, and although they wanted to admit me, after I got my fluids I went back to my hotel to sleep. I took a handful of pills that initially caused me to vomit for hours, but finally cured me within a week. As a nurse, I hate that I was that “Left AMA (against medical advice) patient”.

• Before leaving Varnasi, we had to get to the train station at 6 am to get in line for the opening of afternoon tatkal (sound confusing? It’s explained on my post about booking trains in India) in order to get the limited available tickets to Delhi where we each had flights booked out of. She was off to SE Asia and I to Goa.

• Another horrible thing happened- A dog along the river bit Sophie, another girl I met. Now, these dogs are known to chew on bloated bodies that wash up to the shore. As you can imagine she went to the hospital asap.

• THEN Ashley was pick-pocketed at the train station after we got our tatkal tickets. When she went back to look for her wallet, I headed toward the hotel and…

• …got head-butted by a bull (tell you more about this later!). Big time. Like, he destroyed me.

So obviously, things didn’t go super smoothly in Varanasi but it didn’t stop me from loving it there. I’ve never been somewhere so interesting and shockingly weird, but in a good way. There is so much to say on the place which is why I’m doing separate posts on different topics.

Varanasi is the place in India where the dead are brought to be cremated and find salvation. Tourists come from far and wide to take a peek into the interesting ceremonies at the Ghats on the Ganges. We put aside our problems and spent a few days exploring the most ancient city I’ve ever been to.

More to come!

The post Introduction to Varanasi: It did NOT Go as Planned first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Introduction to Varanasi: It did NOT Go as Planned appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

“Oh, as if! You skinny bitch!”

This is what skinny girls hear when they complain about being fat, so I’ve got to tread lightly here. I know I’m not fat, but I have gained about 8 pounds in the last year in India. Traveling/expat life and being fit don’t really go together, especially in India when it’s a few bucks for a 3 course meal and there are so many new things to try.

I haven’t worked out since High School soccer and that was six years ago. I also eat like a 15-year-old boy. Ben and I eat dinner out most nights and lunch often too. Appetizers, main course, and dessert! It’s amazing and horrible. June 9^th I turned 25 and apparently that’s when metabolisms stop! I need help to figure out how to stay fit while traveling.

I know this super fit chick, Lindsey, who runs Mango Fit, and always saw her killer abs popping up in my FB newsfeed. I told her to save my body from self-destruction and figured instead of keeping her advice to myself I’d share her words of wisdom on staying skinny and healthy while you travel.

Handing it over to Lindsey, my new online personal trainer ;) Look at those abs…. I mean, clearly you should hear her out!

Lindsey from Mango Fit:

There are two things I truly enjoy in life:  Fitness and traveling.  I am far from an expert on traveling, but have tons of experience and knowledge on fitness and health.

I have had the privilege of training in some of the most well equipped university workout facilities and was taught by some of the most educated and tough strength trainers in the U.S.  Since my college volleyball days, I have learned a lot about living a healthy lifestyle. It’s realistic for most people; even if you’re one who enjoys traveling!

Yes, of course, I am doing it to live a long, healthy life… but I will be completely honest, I do it mostly because I love to feel good about the way I look in my clothes and my bikini.

I am pretty sure most of you would agree, when we travel, we want to experience the culture. We all know delicious local food is a big part of learning a culture.  It’s highly unlikely you have access to the local Urban Active or YMCA to get a quick workout in.

So you finally get to your destination; you weren’t able to fit all your workout gear into your bag and you may not be in an area where it’s safe to go for a run by yourself… So what will you do to stay fit?

• I have created a list of exercise circuits plus 10 tips so you can choose from and do in a confined space keep your nutrition in check while still enjoying your travels to the fullest!

High Intensity Interval Training (straight from your hotel room)

In general, the absolute best type of workout you can do when you don’t want to spend a lot of time is HIIT, or High Intensity Interval Training.  This is basically doing an exercise or cardio for a short period of time at a high intensity, then resting.

But I will stop with all the technicalities and get to the example workouts.  Just remember if you want to get in a quick 30-minute workout before your day begins, do short bursts of any exercise for a short period of time and then rest and repeat that for 5 (or X number of) rounds, then change it up for a new round of exercises.

It is also great to utilize some sort of weight, so be resourceful with what you have.  Use your backpack or water jugs or even large rocks.  It doesn’t really matter, just get active and moving for at least 30 minutes a day and I promise you will feel good about yourself and enjoy your travels without having to worry about any weight gain.

TIP:  Fit it in first thing in the morning! This way you can enjoy your day worry-free…and your “plan” to do it later doesn’t get skipped because of your exciting day of sightseeing!

HIIT Exercise Options: (repeat each set 4-8 times)

Set 1:  Squat jumps x 15-20

Jog in place 30 seconds

Rest 20 seconds

Set 2:  Plank holds 20 seconds

Floor Run 30 seconds

Rest 10 seconds

Set 3:  Burpees x 15

Squat holds 30 seconds (can include weight)

Rest 20 seconds

Set 4:  Lunges in place x 20 (can include weight)

High knees 20 seconds

Rest 20 seconds

Set 5:  Ski jumps x 20 (hop one leg to the other side to side)

Push-ups x 10 (on knees if necessary)

Rest 20 seconds

Set 6:  Bicycle Abs x 20

180-degree squat jumps x10 total

Rest 20 seconds

Hopefully this gives you a good idea of what HIIT is.  It can be done with running/sprints or really any kind of exercises.  Once you get a good understanding, you can start to make your own combinations of exercises.

The post Mango Fit Shares How to Stay Fit While Traveling first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Mango Fit Shares How to Stay Fit While Traveling appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Before I tell you my tips on how to drink bhang lassi in India, I want to paint a little picture of Rajasthan… but since there ARE photos in this post (lol) feel free to skip ahead, I suppose. Rajasthan is a very unique state in India. In the desert, with buildings that blend in with the sand, you’ll see painted elephants in the streets and ATM’s that are constantly out of money (this happens more often than you’d think!).  You feel like you’re in a movie. Like you’re really far out there and no one can find you. But, they can find you. It’s quite touristy, but as I’ve said before, Who Cares!?

Mostly vegetarian, the food is superb and the shopping is even better (including great deals on hand-beaded wall hangings).While touring through the majestic town of Jaisalmer, looking at the men with bright turbans smoking charas in a chillum (like the guy below) or drinking opium tea along side the road, I came across a “Government Approved” Bhang Lassi shop.

On menus across Rajasthan, Bhang Lassi is referred to as “special lassi”.

Tom Maisey govt. bhang shop

Keep in mind most towns in Rajasthan, like Pushkar, are very holy. You can’t have items like eggs, and you definitely can’t have beer. So what is bhang? It’s a form of cannabis put in a fruity yoghurt drink.

• Read more: how to have the PERFECT 3 days in Goa

Sadhus, who openly partake in smoking hash. It is not taboo here.

Cannabis is part of the culture in India, partially thanks to the powerful god, Shiva, who loved his cannabis plant along with his pet cow. It is confusing what is OK and what’s not in India, especially rules on how females can dress, considering one can get hash in a restaurant but girls can’t show their thighs.

Like many articles, I must make a disclaimer: Don’t do drugs! Even Bhang Lassi! Now in the off chance that you choose to ignore me and partake in the delicious dangerous drinking of special lassi…

Here are my 15 tips for bhang lassi in India

1. If you don’t like yoghurt, ask for a special Coca-Cola or Fanta.

2. While you’re there, grab some green cookies. They aren’t suspicious at all. Just kidding. They are very suspicious, so just in case eat them discreetly. It’s a tricky law where you can’t buy and sell, but officials seem to be looking the other way. Best to not take your chances showing the whole world your cookies.

Reuben Strayer bhang

3. On your first try, even if you think you compare to Bob Marley in tolerance, get a “light” lassi. They make them very strong. It is not the same as smoking and bhang side effects can be stronger.

4. Do NOT take this alone. I have heard from travelers that they drank one, fell asleep, and woke up without a purse.

5. You are asking these vendors to put a drug in your drink. You are at their mercy, and you are taking a risk that they could add anything else they want; you don’t know their bhang recipe and what else they might add. As another option, you can try to make your own lassi at home or partake on Holi with locals you trust.

6. Buy from government approved shops, not street vendors.

7. Do NOT by any means drink bhang lassi before your camel safari. This is just a no-brainer… right? Possible complications due to bhang effects include: almost slipping off your camel, wobbling for an hour, thinking it’s hotter than it is, feeling like you’ve been on your camel for days, and worse thinking that you are in danger in Pakistan since during my trip 6 years ago, a couple of tourists had been killed there at that time.

8.You, as a foreigner, should not partake in smoking/drinking on the streets like the sadhus (holy men) do. They are worshiping and/or helping free their people from sin (I’ve been told mixed reports) and you clearly are not.

9. Do NOT think this is the same as smoking a joint. It isn’t. You may be loopy for hours.

10. Do NOT think that because you ate a brownie once, you are the master of all drugs edible. Do not underestimate the powerfulness of bhang drinks.

11. Don’t drink lassi on an empty stomach, and try to stay outside.

12.  I don’t even know why I’m typing this… but don’t give a sip to a child or animal. I don’t know why this would EVER happen, but for some reason I feel obligated to type it.

13. If you have forgotten a few cookies and taken them on a bus/train/somewhere that you get searched, first of all you’re a silly person. Second of all, remember that this is India and ask “How much is the fine?” The best way to nonchalantly offer a bribe. Does this make you ethically innocent? Nope, but it can easily keep you out of trouble.

14. If you are in India during Holi, there is a huge increase in Bhang intake, and everyone and their father are on it. Although I’m not advising you do drugs… Holi is a fine time to give it a whirl.

15. If you see cannabis growing on the side of a street, don’t steal it. It could just be a nuisance in someone’s garden OR, in somewhere like Malana, you could get in a lot of trouble from locals (so I hear).

16. Get travel insurance! If you’re reading this considering taking bhang while here, then you are a bit of a risk-taker. Risk takers especially should have insurance. Health care in India is expensive, and a broken wrist for instance at the hospital could be 1,000 USD or I’ve heard of a bladder infection being 2,000 USD for two days on IV drips. Get a quote and see if you can afford it.. and if you can’t, maybe put off your trip until you can. It’s pretty cheap.

Ok, that’s enough tips on bhang lassi. So here’s just a little summary in case you weren’t paying attention.

Keep in mind this is a mind-altering drug. Use common sense. If you are nervous about taking it then DON’T. I don’t suggest this to anyone who has never smoked anything other than a cigarette. Actually, I’m not suggesting it at all. I’m just giving tips in case you decide to drink it. “Cause I’m a cool mom.” Remember that weed is accepted in India because of religious beliefs. Do not be so carefree about other drugs. Be safe and be smart!

Excited for your India trip? Check out my other articles on India. If you click that link, you’ll get to all my India articles from booking trains to packing. I cover just about every subject! Here are a couple posts to start with:

• My India Guide and Tips Ebook Read what’s inside here. It’s my ultimate guide and if you only read this guide, you’ll be SET on your first, second, and even third trip to India.
• How to find the cheapest flights in India (fly to almost all the tourist cities for just $200 in total)
• How to get your visa for India

Pin these bhang lassi in India tips for later:

The post 15 Tips for Drinking Bhang Lassi in India first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post 15 Tips for Drinking Bhang Lassi in India appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Although I didn’t go to Uganda for the purpose of hospital volunteering, while I was there, I spent a few days a week volunteering at the local hospital Holy Cross Orthodox, in a nearby village, Namugoona.

Early in the morning, I’d ride a bota bota there, sidesaddle, for about a dollar. It was a unique experience to see the hospital there compared to American ones. I am a registered nurse, specializing in cardiac care, and although I’m not working as a nurse now, I’ll always have an interest in the medical field and I love the adrenaline rush of taking care of really sick people.

I have mixed feelings about volunteering abroad, but I think that if you have a true skill set that can help people, you pay your own way, and you benefit a group of people in an unselfish way then there’s no harm done. I was in Uganda for “tourism” and did some volunteer work on the side- which I think is something anyone could look into on their travels. What I don’t believe in is having no skill set, asking people to pay for your trip for you, going for the wrong reasons, and not truly benefitting the people you visit, because actually short-term volunteers can bring instability. In the future I’ll be posting more about controversially dubbed “voluntourism” abroad. But back to Uganda…

Whenever anything went wrong at the hospital in the states, like the computer charting system was down, I would remind myself at least we have patient charts. It would take ages to explain the differences between hospitals in Uganda and America, so I’m just going to stick to the biggest most noticeable ones. I know that these employees do their best with what supplies they have and I don’t judge them at all; I just want to share my experience.

Differences between hospitals in America and Uganda

Doctors are trained a lot less hands on in Uganda than in the states. They learn mostly from a book then get straight to work. Sometimes I didn’t think they were careful enough with stitches, and weren’t doing basic tasks like checking vital signs or listening to the heartbeat of a child who’s mother said “his heart seems too big”.

The lack of supplies. Gloves weren’t always used, needles were left in IV  fluid bags and reused to flush IV’s, and in general supplies were very different from the states.

The lack of empathy. If a patient couldn’t afford treatment they weren’t getting treatment. This includes a teenager who wrecked on a bike. It includes a twenty something year old who came in for a circumcision and couldn’t afford the oral pain medicine, and came back crying asking for help. It was also hard to watch parents hit a child that cried getting IV’s placed or getting stitches.

When sedated from pain medication, in order to get stitches or whatever else, the doctor doesn’t wait for the patient to wake up and take vitals to make sure it all went okay- the patient is sent out immediately after, being carried in the mothers’ arms. This is because they can’t stay or they’d have to pay inpatient care.

The “theatre” or OR was a very unique experience! I worked for 2 years in OB/GYN taking care of moms and babies after delivery. I have seen cesarean’s and women give birth…no problems. Here, I almost fainted and had to leave. It was done much quicker. The scrubs were ironed to sterilize, and as for your sterile feet, you can either wear boots or go barefoot.  Did I mention instead of scrubs I would wear a skirt and flip-flops, which is the appropriate wear for females.

Malaria treatment was frustrating. Patients were given antibiotics sometimes and that is not how you treat malaria. Antibiotics were given for anything- and that’s really bad for your body. These patients will build up a resistance, which will cause problems later in life.

There was no real assessment of patients. It was word of mouth. If the mother said “my baby is not eating, seems tired, cries a lot, and I think she had a fever last night” the baby is diagnosed then and there with usually malaria. They will do a test sometimes with an old school microscope, after they dry the blood smear with a light bulb. They don’t check blood pressure or heart rate, and most didn’t have a stethoscope on them.

The nurses don’t have to do as much. Families take care of the patients and bring them food. Nurses will give medication and do trauma care/wound dressings. Many times, the doctor did that. Not to say the nurses aren’t educated, because they are. But there was a lot of sitting around and tea breaks because they didn’t have as much delegated to them by the doctors. Sometimes one just wouldn’t show up, maybe because it was raining. They nurses I met were all very smart and could have done more if they were instructed to. I was there as a student and was still learning at the time, so it seemed very hands-on. But now, looking back in comparison to working in the critical care units, it was not hands-on.

For emergencies the patients were sent to the capital of Kampala, Uganda, because this local hospital was very small and didn’t have the test equipment. It’s a little scary to have to get an hour to the nearest hospital for a heart attack or snakebite. I had a green mamba waiting for me at my front door one day when I came home. All the neighborhood kids who usually love snakes ran! That’s how I knew it was bad. Luckily, the groundskeeper shooed it off… therefore, I got no sleep for days thinking it would come back. My daily life in Uganda was really quite calm but by immersing myself into “work” and culture, I got to learn so much more.

It was incredible how one doctor was there at a time, 2 or 3 nurses, pharmacist, lab tech, an accountant, manager, and cooks ran the whole hospital. Granted, it was small but in comparison to say, India, where it takes 30 people to change a light bulb, it was like magic that they worked everything out.

There was less responsibility and liability on the staff. No one is going to sue, there is no charting, and they can refuse care if they want to without paperwork. Strange! They don’t ask detailed histories on the patients or do in-depth discharge teaching.

IV fluids treat everything from electrocution to malaria, the flu, a small cute, a rash… you name it! Fluids for everyone!

I loved my time at the hospital and really loved all the nurses I met especially kind pregnant Lucy. I think what they do is remarkable with so little support and supplies. It’s truly amazing.

The post An American Nurse in a Ugandan Hospital first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post An American Nurse in a Ugandan Hospital appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Before your trip there is a lot to plan and get organized. But it’s not just packing, you’ve got to think about paperwork and your health as well. Lots of new travelers ask me:  Should I get travel health insurance? The answer is most often, Yes!

Whether it’s for a short trip of a month or two, or a year RTW (round the world) trip I DEFINITELY recommend insurance. Any travel abroad situation, I’ll probably recommend insurance and there’s one thing you’ll want to know:

• Many volunteer and tour groups make you prove insurance before buying or on the day you show up. Some activities may require it as well. 

So, which travel insurance should I get?

I took out insurance through World Nomads the top agency in the travel industry. I paid 211 for just under 3 months when I backpacked India, as I only had 200 in my budget so decided to cover myself only part of the trip. Not the best idea. I’ve heard horror stories of not being covered, and it’s best to cover yourself the day before you leave to the day you get back.

Actually, a blogger just BROKE his back and had to be life-flighted. They wrote about how travel insurance was a life saver for them. Read the story over on the popular blog, the Planet D.

If you’re really hoping not to buy insurance, I get it. I know what it’s like to want to cut costs. You probably think you’re okay under your parents insurance or your employer. The reality is, you’re not.

Maybe you have it on the mind that where you’re headed is really inexpensive and in the case you get hurt, you can afford the care. That could be true.

You have to figure out how expensive health care is where you’re headed. Almost all countries have unaffordable health insurance (most of Europe, North American, South America, etc) In Asia, it’s more up in the air in somewhere like India but definitely necessary for say, Japan.

An example when insurance didn’t actually help:

I’ll be the first to admit for small things it’s not all that useful in a very inexpensive country. I took out travel insurance for three months in India, for a total cost of 211 dollars. I was hospitalized for food poising, and I was sick for one month straight with Dengue Fever. Dengue causes severe and strange symptoms. By the time I was diagnosed I had been to multiple hospitals that treated me by prayer, incense, and pills. I had rashes, hives, Delhi belly, UTI, migraines, severe nausea and vomiting.

On the positive side, it only 60 bucks all together counting the cab rides to the hospitals AND the treatments.

On the negative, I was sick for a month and insurance meant nothing. I didn’t meet the deductible (or even come close) to get reimbursed. So basically I got severely sick, had medical insurance, and it was still didn’t get me the money back.

Had I gotten far more sick (which is very possible with Dengue) I could have needed that insurance and I was SO happy to have that piece of mind while I was in and out of the hospital.

I go in and out of policies and sometimes am uninsured while figuring out my next move. At all times, I am under my parents health insurance because I’m under 26. I still get my required vaccinations. I choose to do my preventative care here in India where it’s cheaper even so rather than at home.

Why you need insurance (while traveling):

A kidney infection that causes hospitalization will cost you 1,000 dollars in India. A broken leg having surgery will cost you 2,000 dollars.

There are sad stories of travelers in India, which one might consider the least expensive place to travel and avoid buying insurance, who needed extensive care and had to be life-flighted home. They’re going to be tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Private care in India is expensive.

So, I’m using India as an example because I’ve seen my friends go through these scenarios. India is a cheap place to travel, so if these are the prices here, you can imagine what they would be elsewhere.

When making your decision you have to decide what’s best for you. But if you have the money to go abroad, then you should absolute take that extra shift at work, or save that extra $200 bucks so that you can buy adequate travel health insurance. It’s not something you’d regret!

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

The post Should I Get Travel Health Insurance? first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Should I Get Travel Health Insurance? appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

After planning your trip, telling your angry parents you’re leaving, and booking the flight, you might remember that you should check which vaccinations you need for where you’re going. Vaccinations for travel can be expensive and unnecessary so it’s important you do your research. I’ll help you.

I was vaccinated like crazy when I got into nursing school. I’ve been checked for TB like 50 times, and I’m still always relieved when it’s negative. When I travel I disregard many recommendations, but I’m going to share the basic immunizations that I have, the ones I chose not to get, and why. This is not my nursing recommendation (which is get them all); this is my practical backpacking opinion

REMINDER: You also do NOT want to forget getting travel insurance. Vaccines, obviously, can only protect you against so much, and no vaccine is going to protect you if you break an arm rock climbing. I always recommend World Nomads because it also covers tech gear. Click this link to get a quote and read my full World Nomads Review to see what’s specifically covered, and what’s not.

Vaccinations for Travel

I’m breaking this up into a few different categories. Reminder, I’m American, so this stuff is more specific to the US and may be different if you’re from another country. Always double-check with your doctor.

Vaccines you probably had as a child:

• Hepatitis B
• MMR
• Polio
• Varicella
• Pneumococcal
• Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis

You should follow up with your doctor to make sure you don’t need boosters of these. I actually called my pediatrician’s office to get a copy of my records because I needed them for school.

**For some countries booster timings are different, for example tetanus is 10 years in the US but here in India, for the same dosage, they say 3 years maximum.

Extra vaccines I got because I think they’re important:

• Gardasil (against HPV)
• Annual Flu shot (only while I was in the US)

Beyond those, the only vaccination I got specifically for travel:

Yellow Fever

You must have proof of this on your passport to get into Uganda. I really wanted to add information specific to countries that have special requirements for entry, but the list was entirely way too long.

You need to look up that information from your countries equivalent of the U.S. State Department, it’ll be the same place you go for travel advisories. In most instances, if you send off your passport to get a visa, and an extra vaccination is necessary, that will need to be included in your paperwork.

they’ll stamp your needed vaccination right into your passport.

Others that are recommended for my travels so far I have not taken are:

• Typhoid
• Rabies
• Malaria pills
• Japanese encephalitis
• Meningococcal
• Hepatitis A

From the World Health Organization, WHO, although a little outdated, it’s the most recent I could find and still serves it purposes.

Doctors are always really bummed/worried/confused when you don’t get these injections or prescriptions for preventative pills. You, as a responsible traveler, need to make the decision yourself. Some injections will cost you up to 800 bucks, no joke.

Other fun tips for your health while you travel

Some illnesses you can’t get unless there is an active outbreak in the area.

Read up and see if you need to vaccinate (for example Japanese Encephalitis) before departure.

Pack a small medical kit.

In case I end up sick due to not listening to doctors, I am luckily a nurse, and like all of you I know how to look up tropical illnesses online (I still didn’t self diagnose when I had Dengue). There are not yet vaccinations for dengue, just use your bug spray to prevent mosquito bites. I pack a tiny little medical kit with me.

As for Hepatitis A and Typhoid, I just wash fruit/veg with filtered water.

The longer you are out of the country and immersed in another, your body will begin to adjust.

Use bottles and filtered water for drinking

I brush my teeth with the water everywhere I’ve been, but it’s pretty much common sense where to use bottles water for drinking. Even my pets drink filtered water.

Don’t panic!

If you do get food poisoning and have become severely dehydrated, don’t jump to the worst conclusion. Head to the clinic for a few hours of IV fluids and you’ll probably be fine!

Don’t just brush off malaria.

I’ve discussed in another post that I don’t take medication for malaria prevention, and that’s another one you’ll have to make a decision on.

Ultimately, you must decide which vaccines you need and don’t need.

You have to decide what’s best for you and what’s in your budget. Even if I were a millionaire I don’t think I’d get any more vaccines unless the country forced me to.

For cheaper vaccination options, look into the countries you’re visiting

Injections are much cheaper where I am now, India, so I can easily get more vaccinations if another country denies me entrance without a particular one. So, on that note, remember when you travel it is an option to vaccinate in your destination at a less expensive cost.

Pretty much off topic, I want to add this interesting fact: when you fly into India they spray you down on the plane so you don’t bring pesticides and viruses into their country. But, when I fly back into the States from India, nobody sprays me down. India wins that one! and the other 5 countries that require it.

Pin for later!

The post Which Vaccinations Do You Really Need For Travel? first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Which Vaccinations Do You Really Need For Travel? appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

So usually when traveling these are the things I take. But, I will say sometimes I don’t take any because I am a bit irresponsible and because I travel in Asia often, I can afford to buy this stuff as I need it.

 5 Items in My Travel First Aid Kit:

1. Band-Aids. Just bring a few for the occasional blister or cut, not a whole space-sucking box.

2. Cortisone cream for bug bites, mysterious rashes, bed bugs, scabies, hives due to finding out you’re allergic to all kinds of new things… You will be shocked by the number of mysterious rashes you get while traveling. I don’t think it’s gross because I’m so used to it, plus I’m a nurse, I’ve seen grosser! Actually, I have a weird rash on my leg now, possibly from a tick I pulled off but you never know!

when you say in places like this, you’re bound to get some kind of rash

3. Birth control. A pill, condoms, whatever it is you use. Guys need to do this as well; it’s not just a female responsibility. Tip: If you use popular pills like Yaz/Yasmin, OR generics that you don’t mind interchanging- it is about 8 dollars over the counter in developing and third world countries that sell birth control. Once you quit your job, keep in mind you won’t have medical insurance to pay for your pills.

4. Benadryl. Not just for allergies, but as a sleep aid. Tip: You can buy anything over the counter if you choose the right counter. Just be safe with drugs like Xanax, Valium, and Ambien. Don’t drink on them.

5. Neosporin for cuts and other abrasions if you know exactly what they are. Tip: Keep in mind; contrary to the belief of the child in you, it is not safe for everything.  If you put this goop on a rash that’s contagious it’s just going to spread it around making the rash bigger.

5 Things you’ll notice I don’t have in my bag:

1. Tylenol/Paracetamol because I don’t like to take them. If you use these often definitely bring some, and if you need more buy them cheaper abroad.

2. Malaria pills. I really hate to take a pill every day because it feels unnatural, plus the side effects are not nice (craziness, weird dreams, sunburn). This is a controversial topic and you are better to trust what you doctor says. I have many friends here in India that have had malaria multiple times and act like it’s a stubbed toe. At the same time, I treated more cases that I can count in Africa, and I’ve seen babies die from it. Bottom line, ff it’s caught early you will be okay. Personally,  I believe the research that says the anti-malarial pills can hide the real symptoms. I’ve had dengue fever and from what I’ve been told, that’s much worse in symptoms so I’ll take my chances.

3. Imodium. Here’s the thing you must remember: if it’s coming out and its not normal, it’s better out then in. Try not to take anti-diarrheal meds. If you are really sick and dehydrated you need to go to the hospital and get fluids. This has happened to me multiple times. I just love foreign hospitals…

Thailand, 4 hours on fluids, plus pain and nausea medicine… total cost: 120 dollars (compared to U.S. cheap, but compared to India, it’s a fortune!)

4. Laxatives. If it’s not coming out try to change the diet or the amount of stress you’re dealing with. Your body will be out of whack while traveling and it’s best not to induce diarrhea.

5. Ciprofloxacin– chemists want to give this out like candy. I used to eat it like candy. Every time I got a case of Delhi Belly I was taking a cycle of cipro. Guess what? Now cipro is like candy in my body and it doesn’t work at all for me. On top of that, most bacteria in India are now resistant to cipro. It is also best to go to a doctor, get a stool sample, and find out what bacteria you have. Take a pill accordingly. Cipro is for Lower GI infections, and I’ve seen people taking it for sore throats!

More Medical Tips for your Travels:

Any pills you need abroad you will find, the pills just may have a different name.  If you are going somewhere expensive take what you need for seasickness, headaches, allergies, antacids, etc. But, of course, they are SO much cheaper in developing/third world countries. I get 10 Ibuprofen for 10 Rupees (that’s 16 cents).

typical Indian chemist

Taking more may lose you money in the end.

The problem is when you take all the supplies you could possibly need, they are at your hotel, in your bag. You are out and someone gets cut, steps on a nail, or worse. What do you do? Go to the nearest chemist and buy when you need. Now you’ve bought everything twice. Not good! For items I didn’t list above, it’s best to wait until you need it to buy it.

Don’t think just because it’s not your home country that the doctors don’t know what they’re doing. BUT don’t think that chemists know as much as our pharmacists; sometimes they hand you medication that makes absolutely no sense. This might be because your English description makes no sense to them or because they weren’t trained properly.

For minor complications, skip the doctor fee and go straight to the chemist (marked with a green plus sign). You don’t need prescriptions to buy medication in most countries abroad.

Also use the book they have to read what the pill is they are selling you. 

 

 

The post Your Travel First Aid Kit – Advice from a Nurse first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Your Travel First Aid Kit – Advice from a Nurse appeared first on Hippie In Heels.