water and snakes...!

halema

I know you should not drink the tap water but is it safe to brush your teeth with? I just read that you should boil the water even to brush your teeth?! RE snakes, they are my No1 pet hate so 2 speak, has anyone ever come across one on their travels?

picklepak

Yes, you can brush your teeth and even gargle, just don't swallow... or laugh and have it shoot up your nose.

I came across a teenage-sized python in Goa; some locals had caught it in the rice fields (it was about 2 or 3 metres long). But no other snakes, hope to see more.

halema

I think l'd pass out if l saw one! I don't mind these snake charmers, l saw a few in Tunisia but otherwise l hope not so see any on my travels!

Sounds about right re the water, l didn't fancy boiling water or using bottled water just 2 brush my teeth!

angelika

I always brushed my teeth with the normal tap water. Never had any problems.

@halema: you are not alone! I'm so afraid of snakes... I even changed the roadside when I saw these snake charmers comin' away. After some time they already knew me and start laughing and changed also...


btw: I never saw a snake in its natural environment in India (but I'm going to Australia in 5 weeks, and aaarrrrrgggghhhhhhhhh)

bijapuri

you prolly know this, but-
Cobras are extremely intellegent, and will flee humans if given the chance

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Alan D

During the time I've been in India I've seen very few wild snakes - pythons at Bharatpur bird reserve, but I know where they hang out and a small dead snake at Hampi (possibly a Russell's viper, a highly poisonous species) which one of the locals had probably killed.

As you're probably not going to be working in the rice paddy fields or cutting sugar cane during your visit to India you probably won't see any snakes. The monsoon season is the worst time for snakebite when snakes are flooded out of their normal living quarters. Because of the rat populations in some of the larger cities, especially Mumbai, there are snakes which are in turn the prey of mongoose. I've seen plenty of rats and mongoose in Paharganj in Delhi but as yet no snakes. You'll be lucky (or unlucky) to see a single wild snake during your travels in India.

Watch out for the little creatures in the water though (amoebas) and the mozzies!

jaz

Alan D

Excuse me for my ignorance but what the hell are amoebas??

bijapuri

amoebas are what goes into your belly in Delhi when everything turns smelly

Andy S

Saw snakes in fields in Karnataka and in Tamil Nadu, I spent 3 months looking then saw a few in a week, wouldn't have thought it would be a major concern. Surely the roads are more of a danger to our health.
:-)

timmy

I've lived in Sydney for seven years and have yet to see a snake outside of the zoo or organised event.

Having said that, 12 out of the world's 15 most venomous snakes are found here, although not all in the same place, and Australia is pretty big.


(apologies for getting a bit off-topic)

angelika

... 12 out of the world's 15 most venomous snakes are found here...

thanks timmy!!!

Alan D

Obviously, jaz, you've never come across these small beasts. Basically there are two types of parasite you should try to avoid - Entomoeba histolytica which causes amoebic dysentery and Giardia lamblia which causes intestinalis. Both are transmitted through contaminated water or food and are often spread by careless personal hygiene and food handling.

On my last visit to India I managed to pick up the Entomoeba histolytica parasite. This didn't show any severe symptoms and was only diagnosed in UK after my wife had been diagnosed as having two bugs, one of which was histolytica. No problem, the doc then prescribed flagyl which finished it off.

Giardia lamblia seems to be more prevalent in India and is picked up in the same way but is more easily recognisable - symptoms are sulphurous smelling diarrohoea and "eggy" burps.

On my next trip to India I will definitely not be drinking tap water and I'll be a bit more careful about where and what I eat. Not that this may prevent me from getting it again. A large element of luck or fate is involved and all we can do is try to lengthen the odds.