Though not my favorite section of the Lonely Planet, I always make sure to read the "Dangers and Annoyances" column before venturing to a new place. I feel like it's better to be prepared and a little paranoid instead of regretting it later. I have to admit that I've been very lucky in these departments over the years, and I'm very thankful for that fact... However, this past week has definitely been a big challenge. Buckle up folks, this is not going to be a fun post!
My first encounter with the "Dangers and Annoyances" was a bite on the base of my spine. What exactly bit me is still undetermined, but it is most likely a spider. The bite itself was only slightly painful and over the next hour or so swelled up just enough for me to notice it. I didn't really think anything of it until I got a glimpse of it in the mirror. Instead of a little red bump as expected, there was a small squarish black thing. Weird. Still, by bedtime it hadn't grown so I wasn't too nervous. I slept fine until around 1am when I woke up because I was itchy all over. I mean everywhere, my toes, my elbows, my back, my stomach, my cheeks... It was so bad that I decided to try to shower in case there was something on my skin. It didn't help. I spent the rest of the night trying to sleep and realizing I was successful when I woke up with bloody nails from scratching! Eeekk.
As it often is, in the light of day, I thought that I had been exaggerating the whole thing. But as the morning wore on (after some urging from my mother) I realized that I really should go see a doctor. My now a rash had appeared on my lower back, red and bumpy and itchy. Off to the hospital for me! I went to the General Hospital of Hue and that visit in and of itself was stressful. Add in a spreading rash and you can imagine that my heart rate was pretty high. In all fairness, the people working in the hospital were very friendly and helpful. I was entrusted to a first nursing student who brought me to the emergency department, they referred me to the dermatology department who then sent me up to the foreigner's department where I got a new escort. With her we visited a few other departments before ending in the skin and allergy department where I got my final look from a doctor. (Doctors in all the departments checked out my rash before sending me somewhere else, I was very happy that it was in a spot that was easy to show!)
By the time I got back to my hotel with many pills and creams, the rash had swollen and taken over my upper back and arms. The drugs made me drowsy so I put on some gloves and slept. I did this for a couple days, and the rash slowly got better. It's not swollen anymore but it's still around even today, about a week after I got bit!
Now, if all that wasn't enough, I was hit once again by the "Dangers and Annoyances" in the form of my laptop. On the day I was leaving for Hanoi, all was well. I was checking my emails when all of a sudden my laptop just decides to shut off. The battery was full, it was plugged in, but no, no power. Hum... The little lights on the outside wouldn't even turn on. Worrisome. Still, I was scheduled to leave for Hanoi so I packed up and headed to the airport.
Hanoi. I actually really enjoyed the city, much more than Saigon. The roads and small and crowded, but the traffic is a lot less daunting. There's a beautiful lake in the Old Quarter, and I had a nice walk around it after dropping off my laptop to some dodgy guys with very little English skills. Perhaps I was still a little loopy from the allergy medication I was still on, or perhaps I got a little to comfortable leaving in a safe city like Hue, but I was definitely not on top of my game. I was getting a weird feeling but was unable to pinpoint why. Then I knew, bam! Another hit from the "Dangers and Annoyances" the top pocket of my backpack was raided and off went my wallet and cellphone! Arrrgh... That certainly put a damper on things and made me very paranoid! I spent the rest of my time in Hanoi double and triple-checking everything and worrying at what else might go wrong...
Still, it seems that bad things come in threes and that the universe is done with me for now. I also want to say that being in Vietnam made some things much easier. For instance, in Canada I would never have been able to fix my laptop for the great price of 30$ (which I'm sure was double if not triple the "fair price", but for once I was glad to pay a tourist price). Moreover, if I had needed to see specialists back home, we all know the deal with that. Referral, waiting list, referral, waiting list, etc. Even though I'm sure the doctors in Canada would have actually done more than glance at my back, I was happy with the quick service! As for the theft... well, even I can't put a positive spin on that!
I'm off to Cat Ba Island now, in Halong Bay. I'll hopefully get some kayaking and snorkeling in and perhaps even some climbing! Good times ahead, I've earned it!
My first encounter with the "Dangers and Annoyances" was a bite on the base of my spine. What exactly bit me is still undetermined, but it is most likely a spider. The bite itself was only slightly painful and over the next hour or so swelled up just enough for me to notice it. I didn't really think anything of it until I got a glimpse of it in the mirror. Instead of a little red bump as expected, there was a small squarish black thing. Weird. Still, by bedtime it hadn't grown so I wasn't too nervous. I slept fine until around 1am when I woke up because I was itchy all over. I mean everywhere, my toes, my elbows, my back, my stomach, my cheeks... It was so bad that I decided to try to shower in case there was something on my skin. It didn't help. I spent the rest of the night trying to sleep and realizing I was successful when I woke up with bloody nails from scratching! Eeekk.
As it often is, in the light of day, I thought that I had been exaggerating the whole thing. But as the morning wore on (after some urging from my mother) I realized that I really should go see a doctor. My now a rash had appeared on my lower back, red and bumpy and itchy. Off to the hospital for me! I went to the General Hospital of Hue and that visit in and of itself was stressful. Add in a spreading rash and you can imagine that my heart rate was pretty high. In all fairness, the people working in the hospital were very friendly and helpful. I was entrusted to a first nursing student who brought me to the emergency department, they referred me to the dermatology department who then sent me up to the foreigner's department where I got a new escort. With her we visited a few other departments before ending in the skin and allergy department where I got my final look from a doctor. (Doctors in all the departments checked out my rash before sending me somewhere else, I was very happy that it was in a spot that was easy to show!)
By the time I got back to my hotel with many pills and creams, the rash had swollen and taken over my upper back and arms. The drugs made me drowsy so I put on some gloves and slept. I did this for a couple days, and the rash slowly got better. It's not swollen anymore but it's still around even today, about a week after I got bit!
Now, if all that wasn't enough, I was hit once again by the "Dangers and Annoyances" in the form of my laptop. On the day I was leaving for Hanoi, all was well. I was checking my emails when all of a sudden my laptop just decides to shut off. The battery was full, it was plugged in, but no, no power. Hum... The little lights on the outside wouldn't even turn on. Worrisome. Still, I was scheduled to leave for Hanoi so I packed up and headed to the airport.
Hanoi. I actually really enjoyed the city, much more than Saigon. The roads and small and crowded, but the traffic is a lot less daunting. There's a beautiful lake in the Old Quarter, and I had a nice walk around it after dropping off my laptop to some dodgy guys with very little English skills. Perhaps I was still a little loopy from the allergy medication I was still on, or perhaps I got a little to comfortable leaving in a safe city like Hue, but I was definitely not on top of my game. I was getting a weird feeling but was unable to pinpoint why. Then I knew, bam! Another hit from the "Dangers and Annoyances" the top pocket of my backpack was raided and off went my wallet and cellphone! Arrrgh... That certainly put a damper on things and made me very paranoid! I spent the rest of my time in Hanoi double and triple-checking everything and worrying at what else might go wrong...
Still, it seems that bad things come in threes and that the universe is done with me for now. I also want to say that being in Vietnam made some things much easier. For instance, in Canada I would never have been able to fix my laptop for the great price of 30$ (which I'm sure was double if not triple the "fair price", but for once I was glad to pay a tourist price). Moreover, if I had needed to see specialists back home, we all know the deal with that. Referral, waiting list, referral, waiting list, etc. Even though I'm sure the doctors in Canada would have actually done more than glance at my back, I was happy with the quick service! As for the theft... well, even I can't put a positive spin on that!
I'm off to Cat Ba Island now, in Halong Bay. I'll hopefully get some kayaking and snorkeling in and perhaps even some climbing! Good times ahead, I've earned it!
Oh dear, Aki! That's so rough! :( I really hope things turn around for you...
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