| For the first time traveler to India, eating can be one of | | | | it's a five star hotel, you're right to eat anything, as it's |
| the main sources of fear. | | | | all made for foreigners to eat, but if you're in a little |
| "Will I get Delhi belly?" | | | | roadside stall in the middle of nowhere-ganj and all the |
| The answer is a resounding, "Most likely!" but don't let | | | | patrons are local, then play it safe or you could ruin |
| that put you off traveling in the most ridiculously | | | | your holiday. Also, never travel to India without |
| magical country on Earth. | | | | comprehensive travel insurance, you don't want to find |
| Ok, back to the banana. Here's how you should eat a | | | | yourself really ill with no-one to call. |
| banana in India. Hold it by the stem with one hand while | | | | Regarding getting Delhi-belly as a first time traveler to |
| you carefully peel it with the other...so far it's just like | | | | India, here's the consensus. Most people do in fact get |
| eating one at home. But here's the important part-you | | | | sick in their first week, if they're eating at even |
| must ensure that if you've touched the outside of the | | | | reputable local restaurants, more certainly if they're |
| banana, you don't then touch the part you're going to | | | | eating from roadside stalls or drinking anything with milk |
| eat. | | | | or yogurt where the local electricity supply is unstable |
| Why? What might make you sick is not the banana | | | | (that's everywhere, by the way). But with the dozens |
| itself, it's the germs in any tiny water droplets etc on | | | | of repeat travelers I know personally, none of them |
| the outside of the banana. So with any peelable fruit, | | | | have ever been sick on a subsequent visit, except |
| just be sure never to touch the outside then the | | | | maybe for a cold here and there. |
| inside-it's a little tricky with oranges, but there you have | | | | It's like your body just needs it's Indian baptism, then |
| it. | | | | you're fine. It's baptism by both fire and water, you |
| For the same reason you should not accept salads in | | | | could say. But it's well worth it, as once India gets |
| restaurants, or the free glass of water they give you | | | | under your skin, not to mention through your digestive |
| with your meal. The salad would be great, but the | | | | system, you'll never be the same. |
| water it's washed in may make you wish you were | | | | And another thing about bananas-they can be deadly |
| dead. In some of the restaurants which cater | | | | in more ways than one. Don't eat them in front of |
| particularly for foreigners, they may tell you they have | | | | hungry urban monkeys or you may have a nasty fight |
| 'filter water' which would then be OK for you, so this is | | | | on your hands-did I mention travel insurance? |
| not a blanket rule, but be guided by the surroundings-if | | | | |