View Full Version : Anyone been to Borneo - what do you eat!?
I am off to Borneo in 6 weeks and have just had all my jabs. Whilst this was happening I have been left scared stiff by the nurse as to what I can and can't eat or drink and the risk to my health, how do you know what is safe and whats not safe? I was told fizzy bottled water as thats harder to fake and no salad unless its been washed in fizzy water. Any tips?
I presume its similar to India in which case dont drink the water unless your sure its from a safe source (this will generally mean bottled) dont eat salad, unpeeled fruit etc that has been washed, try and stick to food you see cooked in front of you.
My borther spent a few months in borneo and had no probs.
It's easy to get safety fatigue in these places. My advice is to live on freshly cooked food, peelable fruit and bottled or boiled water/tea/coffee.
When you get food decide whether you think it is safe or not. Once you have decided it is probably ok - then tuck in and don't fret about it. Likewise if you think something is not safe - don't eat it.
AnnO'Neemus
22-06-2007, 11:28
I agree with Idaho that you can be too cautious. I figure if the locals are eating it and not keeling over then it's likely to be okay.
I ate street food in Thailand -- random curried stuff cooked up on an open air food cart in a market. No problems with that whatsoever.
And then we went to Bangkok for a few nights and stayed in a 5* hotel. I had the western style full English breakfast and the fried eggs gave me really bad stomach cramps and diaorrhea and vomiting.
Yet if you asked most people what they should avoid: street food or breakfast in a 5* hotel, they'd probably say street food.
Just be sensible.
Food cooked in front of you is always the way to go - those hotel eggs had probably been sitting there for hours!
Water is what you've got to be really careful with.
Brainaddict
22-06-2007, 11:47
I'm with the people who say don't worry too much. I ate streetfood in India and what finally got me was a vegetarian pizza in a tourist restaurant.
If you've got a sensitive stomach you may want to avoid streetfood and dodgy meat, but I really think it would unnecessarily cramp your style to be too worried about food. Be careful about water (and anything that might have been washed in dirty water) but don't worry too much about anything fresh or anything cooked and still hot.
The nurse probably thinks its her job to scare people - but probably she's never been to Borneo so don't let her paranoia rub off on you.
I am off to Borneo in 6 weeks and have just had all my jabs. Whilst this was happening I have been left scared stiff by the nurse as to what I can and can't eat or drink and the risk to my health, how do you know what is safe and whats not safe? I was told fizzy bottled water as thats harder to fake and no salad unless its been washed in fizzy water. Any tips?
I've been fed this bollocks when I had my jabs. Scaremongering of the worst kind, highly inaccurate and somewhat xenophobic. Like others on this thread, the only time I've been really ill abroad was from eating food cooked in a restaurant and from a posh hotel buffet (always avoid buffets ... I should have known this - it was free - but oh how I paid ...).
Street food is generally super fresh and delicious. Look for the oft mentioned good signs of a stall busy with locals for quality.
Look for the oft mentioned good signs of a stall busy with locals for quality.
Aye, ezpecially if all the local women and kids are using it
this makes me feel better, its good to get advice of people that have tried it. I have never been to asia and there is such a difference from the UK so i am bound to be apprehensive! Being bitten is also something that scares me, what can i do to stop this? Damn nurse filling my head with these thoughts!
this makes me feel better, its good to get advice of people that have tried it. I have never been to asia and there is such a difference from the UK so i am bound to be apprehensive! Being bitten is also something that scares me, what can i do to stop this? Damn nurse filling my head with these thoughts!
DEET based products are generally considered the best, but has associated risks. I followed some advice on another travel forum and took garlic capsules for a month or so before I went and while I was there (Thailand/Laos/Cambodia), and I *never* got bitten ( - or maybe I just didn't react to the bites ...). You only reek of garlic for couple of weeks, and then it wears off.
If you're going near places where leeches might be present, roll tobacco in the top of your socks. They hate tobacco, so this guide in the jungle told me. It worked, and the other trekkers I was with who scoffed at this preventative measure got leeched to fuck. In fact one lad I was with was so unlucky that not only was he covered in mosquito bites, attracted the attention of several leeches, he also got bitten by a bat! I always made sure I slept in the same dorm as him.
DEET based products are generally considered the best, but has associated risks. I followed some advice on another travel forum and took garlic capsules for a month or so before I went and while I was there (Thailand/Laos/Cambodia), and I *never* got bitten ( - or maybe I just didn't react to the bites ...). You only reek of garlic for couple of weeks, and then it wears off.
If you're going near places where leeches might be present, roll tobacco in the top of your socks. They hate tobacco, so this guide in the jungle told me. It worked, and the other trekkers I was with who scoffed at this preventative measure got leeched to fuck. In fact one lad I was with was so unlucky that not only was he covered in mosquito bites, attracted the attention of several leeches, he also got bitten by a bat! I always made sure I slept in the same dorm as him.
Ah good tips! thank you. I will have my malaria medication but the nurse said i still may be at risk if i get bitten by a mosquito so I DO NOT want to get bitten because I will worry I have got malaria constantly so i will try the garlic thing as an extra precaution! Ooh I hop I dont have the luck of that lad you were staying with. We are staying in the jungle area and doing some treks so there may be leeches? I know I seem I am worrying an awful lot but I'd rather be safe than sorry!
llantwit
27-06-2007, 13:31
Ah good tips! thank you. I will have my malaria medication but the nurse said i still may be at risk if i get bitten by a mosquito so I DO NOT want to get bitten because I will worry I have got malaria constantly so i will try the garlic thing as an extra precaution! Ooh I hop I dont have the luck of that lad you were staying with. We are staying in the jungle area and doing some treks so there may be leeches? I know I seem I am worrying an awful lot but I'd rather be safe than sorry!
If you worry about getting bitten that much, like with the food you'll get totally paranoid and won't enjoy yourself. You'd be very unlucky to get malaria when you were taking anti malarials and using a deet-based repellent, but you'd be very lucky not to get bitten at all. If you freak out over every bite or every mozzie you see, you won't have much fun or be much fun to be with. Just relax, keep it in perspective, and enjoy your time abroad. I'm well jealous. Love to go there. Have fun.
llantwit
27-06-2007, 13:33
Also - forgot to say... even if you do get malaria it's eminently treatable, and you won't die from it because you can afford the medication to get rid of it.
Malaysia Borneo is nothing like India. Eat what ever you like! Indonesia I'm not so sure of, never been, but probably similar.
The the ice is pure, just don't drink the water from the tap. Buy bottles.
I thought they were cannibals :eek:
Deet or no deet you are going to get bitten - relax!
Minnie_the_Minx
05-07-2007, 13:06
Vitamin B Complex (and eating marmite) is meant to offer some protection but I can't say I noticed a difference but my Singaporean friend swears it works
llantwit
05-07-2007, 13:07
eating marmite
I'd rather get Malaria.
Eugh.
Minnie_the_Minx
05-07-2007, 13:07
oh, and it might be an idea to take antihistamines for a couple of weeks before you go - should minimise risk of getting really bad reaction from bites
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