We went to the Ayurvedic Doctor, located down a back road full of potholes. We passed the first domestic cows I had seen. There was an empty lot with a trough where they were sitting out, and there were two "farmers" milking the cows. Around the corner was a milk spot, where I imagine they sell very fresh milk.
The doctor proceeded much like a western doctor, asking some questions, taking some vitals, looking in my eyes and throat, and then prescribing some medecines, only they were herbal medecines, and I am to take them for 5 days. They are supposed to boost my immune system and alleviate my allergies. I'm also supposed to avoid alcohol and meat and eat many cooling foods for the next 2 weeks. Dolly got a blood purifying potion that is similar in smell to cough syrup. We tried asking questions about Ayurvedia and what the medecines are, but all we got was "Ayurvedia means 'science of life'" and "the medecines are herbal medecines". We were hoping for some education around Ayurvedia and our conditions and treatments, but in that respect we left disapponted. On the drive back the auto driver took a detour through a Muslim neighborhood, and I saw some cows being kept that looked like eating cows - along with a few beef shops.
Today and tonight we are in a hotel to get some space and time on our own. We are in a 3-star hotel, which is nice - the room is on the small side, but the bathroom is clean and stocked in a western style (shampoos, conditioners), there is central AC, a shower with hot running water, and the bed is big and comfortable. We had a buffet lunch at the restaurant upstairs, and it was an "expensive" buffet (720 ruppess - about $15 for the two of us, including tax and 2 bottles of water). They had a variety of foods, from salads to deserts, and even though it was Indian food, it was the most Western meal I have had since I've been here. I had (tandoori) chicken wings, along with spicy fruit salad, lamb vindaloo, chicken briyani and only a little rice.
Right now there is a movie on TV and in one of the dance numbers we recognized many of the locations from Ramoji Film Studio where we visited a few weeks ago.
The doctor proceeded much like a western doctor, asking some questions, taking some vitals, looking in my eyes and throat, and then prescribing some medecines, only they were herbal medecines, and I am to take them for 5 days. They are supposed to boost my immune system and alleviate my allergies. I'm also supposed to avoid alcohol and meat and eat many cooling foods for the next 2 weeks. Dolly got a blood purifying potion that is similar in smell to cough syrup. We tried asking questions about Ayurvedia and what the medecines are, but all we got was "Ayurvedia means 'science of life'" and "the medecines are herbal medecines". We were hoping for some education around Ayurvedia and our conditions and treatments, but in that respect we left disapponted. On the drive back the auto driver took a detour through a Muslim neighborhood, and I saw some cows being kept that looked like eating cows - along with a few beef shops.
Today and tonight we are in a hotel to get some space and time on our own. We are in a 3-star hotel, which is nice - the room is on the small side, but the bathroom is clean and stocked in a western style (shampoos, conditioners), there is central AC, a shower with hot running water, and the bed is big and comfortable. We had a buffet lunch at the restaurant upstairs, and it was an "expensive" buffet (720 ruppess - about $15 for the two of us, including tax and 2 bottles of water). They had a variety of foods, from salads to deserts, and even though it was Indian food, it was the most Western meal I have had since I've been here. I had (tandoori) chicken wings, along with spicy fruit salad, lamb vindaloo, chicken briyani and only a little rice.
Right now there is a movie on TV and in one of the dance numbers we recognized many of the locations from Ramoji Film Studio where we visited a few weeks ago.
Hey Seth!
Hows your communication when interacting with the doctor, cab drivers, ect... going over there? Dolly mentioned different dialects, are there dialects based on geographical location and/or socioeconomics? Are they dialects or truly individual languages? Will dialects significantly change when you move to your next location? I've enjoyed every post... keep them coming!
Megan
Basically, I speak English. Many people in this area speak at least some English, so I can find items in a store, place simple restaurant orders, etc. Signs - street signs and are almost all in English. Also, the more educated a person is, the more likely they are to speak English. The doctor had decent English, and the cab drivers often have none.
The other dominant language in this area (Hyderabad) is Telgu, and some people speak Hindi. Where we are going, English will be less common, there will be little to no Telgu, and Hindi will be the main language, so my very weak Hindi skills will have to improve (though the doctors we will be working with do speak English).
Just how bad are your allergies over there? Be careful that you don't have a reaction to the herbs. I once had a really bad reaction to herbal tea.
My allergies have been fine. I have been able to take some yoghurt with no difficulty, and have been sampling the different dals, and tolerating them pretty well. Possibly, I don't notice mild irritation as much due to the general spiciness, and possibly the food is just fresher, especially the yoghurts. Gluten remains a problem, though thats not an actual allergy.
I am really amazed to hear / read about beef shops. I will have to stop telling people that there are no beef sales in India. Do they have beef on the menu in restaurants?
Jas.
I have not seen beef on the menu anywhere, but I have not looked too closely. I have seen a restaurant's web page advertising "international snacks", including burgers. The beef stores and cows were in a Muslim neighborhood, which I think is the key to finding beef.
Pork, it seems, is rarer than beef, and I think thats because many Hindus are vegetarians (and think of pigs as dirty), and Muslims are forbidden from eating pork, so there's not really any market... although the Internet tells me that there is a place to buy pork here in Hyderabad, and I have heard they raise pigs in tribal areas. Which makes sense because they're easy to keep and raise, and they taste great.