I have this weird problem of feeling nauseous while travelling
in the hills. This has been with me for as long as I can remember. My mom tells
me in my childhood I used to throw up in every darn trip in the hills and she
had to bear the brunt of taking me and washing me up! She had hoped it will be
okay with time as I grow up. But that isn’t the case. I still feel the same but
thankfully in a little lesser intensity!
But I have noticed this has never happened to me abroad, like
I have visited the Swiss Alps, the French Alps, Salsburg and some more heights
but never faced such a problem. Thankfully, I can’t imagine myself throwing up
at Titlis or Jungfraujoch and then invite some awkward glances from people!
This one time, me and Indro were visiting Connoor, and Ooty
to celebrate our anniversary – our third if I am not wrong. It was a road trip,
a pretty long one when you are in the hills. We had hired a driver because both
of us are not comfortable in driving through the hills.
Ooty is a beautiful place. It was cold in December but
bustling with people. After the mandatory Botanical Garden and Lake visit we
were driving back to Bangalore. I was already feeling dizzy with all the
driving for three days. We had a quick lunch at a restaurant before our descend.
Next day we were joining on work, all I wanted was to reach
home little early and have a good sleep. I asked the driver if there is a fast
but safe route to which he promptly said yes.
He drove slow, we at the back seat. The window on my side is
rolled down as I wanted to breathe in the fresh air. But gradually my head
started becoming heavy. With every turn, which were quite frequent, I was
sliding on my husband’s side. Things inside head and stomach were swirling like
as if a washing machine is on!
This driver was driving through bends – the dreaded hairpin
bends!!!
I was prepared with a sickness bag and a lemon! [Ohh, this is
a good tip, if you feel sick while travelling in the hills, feel nauseous any
time, keep a lemon/lime handy. The aroma of it keeps you better. This is tried
and tested, it helped even during pregnancy!!]
There were moments when I wanted to shout STOP THE CAR. But I
stayed calm breathing through the lemon. Indro understood I was sick, he
offered water like a good husband and asked if I wanted to halt for sometime.
But halting on a hilly road means problem for drivers of both the sides. So I
continued.
There was moment, when I thought I’ll tell them you go ahead
in the car, I’ll walk down!
But somehow the lemon kept helping. I was distracting my mind
to various things – people at work, cricket, blah blah. When nothing was
working I thought of sleeping, but that didn’t work out too.
I was praying inside this darn winding road should just end.
Guess what – I SURVIVED. I survived 36 hairpin bends while
coming down from the hill!!!! For me it’s like I have scaled the Everest! By
the time I was in plain lands I was much better.
But I have vowed never to visit Ooty again!
Do you get nauseous in the hills? Or have a similar
experience?
Until next time, Cheers!!
Meanwhile check out a yum Stew Recipe