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Mummy's Tummy-who got it? Mummy's Tummy-who got it?
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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 1 May 2007
Hindu1936's Avatar
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Question Mummy's Tummy-who got it?
This is sort of a poll. When riding through Africa, did you cook for yourself, or did you eat on the common? If you ate the food locally cooked i.e., small side stalls, etc. did you get the trots? Did you eat local and NOT get sick?

I am not writing a book. I am just trying to weigh the opinion of those who have experience to determine whether we should plan on doing most of our own cooking or risk it and eat at cafes, street stalls, etc. In Korea and Japan, I have no qualms about just sitting down at a sidewalk stall and eating whatever (except pondaegi) is handy. Never been sick. Did the same in Mexico in the early '60s and no bad experience. I have read a lot of reports about diarhea in Africa from a lot of readers and want to know if it was just bad luck, bad cooking, or the magic genie decided it was time you slowed down and let the bike rest.

Thanks for the advice, information, and input.

Joe
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Old 1 May 2007
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Cool
I reckon I've spent about a year in total in Africa, mainly the north and west. I've never taken any special precautions about where and what I've eaten and I've mainly drank the tap/well water. Result: only sick once in the stomach department, for about a week, I think from a crab curry. But the malaria's got me a couple of times.
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Old 8 May 2007
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HI .
I ussually eat from street stalls and never had a problem whatsoever. I drink tap water (*which most of the time is coming from a well ) and neither problem

From time to time I get the $hits .. but -as long as you are not in the middle of the desert - ITs bearable . Rarely lasts for more than a day and -in a way- It cleans you up

OBviously use your common sense . I do not and still alive .
The most dangerous thing I have ever eaten in Africa

The DEATH SANDWICH (tm)

we were so extremely hungry in a town in Niger (Nguimi) that the only food available were : French Baguettes already spreaded with mayonese !! . No refrigeration , just in the sunlight for a day , full of flies ! Even the mayonese jar was with a funny color ! and the spoon was obviously full of green stuff .

but -man- It was that ... or eating nothing at all .

so we took it ... getting ready for the worse...

and here I am . Still alive !

Have a nice day
Javier
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Old 9 May 2007
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Well now Javier, that sounds like just the sandwich i want to eat. Guess that reinforces our plan to always carry two days supply of dehydrated food. At our ages a good dose of the runs means losing underwear. Neither of us can run fast enough more than once a day to save dignity.

speaking of your name (we weren't but it is a heck of a lead in) you heard about the two vultures getting ready to board the United Airlines plane for Nigeria? Both of them had a dead possum under each arm. The flight attendant denied them boarding. "I am sorry Gentlemen. You are allowed only one carrion."

Thanks for the real encouragement. From what you an the other rider said, there really isn't a case of dysentery around every bush and we can basically eat most cooked food from the sidewalk stalls. It will make the trip more enjoyable to get a real taste of Africa.

Joe
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Old 9 May 2007
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I'll say one thing on this - don't eat Chinese in Mauritania - I've stupidly done it twice and paid for it; badly!!!

One tip - there are 'charcoal' tablets you can buy, they are far more effective than immodium (some German medics first gave them to me) ... Bayer make them as well as a variety of other companies. I don't travel without them now!

Kira
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Old 9 May 2007
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>>I'll say one thing on this - don't eat Chinese in Mauritania - I've stupidly done >>it twice and paid for it; badly!!!

Chineses in Muritania (specially Nouadbibou) are not meant for eating .

The restaurant is just a excuse so they can serve alcohol (actually is the only place you can enjoy a or a scotch..

and -from 6PM - onwards.... the food is also a excuse to have barely dressed chinesse waitress which not only fullfill your need with food.

So actually ,alll those chinesse restaurants are actually drinking bars and brothels . No one actually go there to enjoy the food at all.

20.000 Mauritanian Ougiyas / 60 Euros . , just in case.


Javier
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Old 9 May 2007
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Javier

Exactly why we went; it was Christmas day and an excuse to have a good time & have a 'drink'

It's the only time I've been really bad in Africa; India & other parts of Asia have caught me out several times ..

Kira
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Old 9 May 2007
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Guess it can happen anywhere. the sickest I have ever been was in Suwon after eating at MacDonald's--twice. different mac's, same result. we don't stop in Suwon now, but go on up to Seoul.
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Old 9 May 2007
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Take some Cipro with you. It's a hardcore antibiotic and will generally sort out any bugs in double quick time.

Ed
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