Visited the Backwaters of Trivandrum last Sunday. It was a very expensive trip (in more ways than one). Sitting in a Jeep stuck in one position for 3 hours either way is not a pleasant way to spend your weekend.

The Backwaters had an oldstyle-kampong-by-the-river feel. We took a 3 hour boat ride around the place. I'll post the pics as soon as I retrieve it from my camera. Everybody does everything in the water swim, wash, pee?(oh gawd I hope not, I'm pretty sure our laundry service comes from the Backwaters).

Me and Conner took back an expensive souvenir though. Viral Fever. Trivendrum's Viral Fever is like a punch to the gut. It's pretty scary, the fever comes and goes. You can tell when a fever is going to start up.

Unlike a normal fever where the heat from your extremeties saps slowly to your torso and head, Viral Fever drains the heat from your arms and legs so violently, they go numb, you are left shaking and shivering. When enough heat is gathered, you run a nasty high fever (40 degrees).

I swear Viral Fever is a fiendishly clever little Devil. Everything is aimed at draining as much bodily fluids as possible. If you try to rehydrate, it uses an assortment of tactics ranging from sweating to runny nose and sore throat to diarrhoea.

Monday was the final exam, had to face it all woozy. Tuesday was a project day. Around 3 o'clock, I decided I needed a doctor. When I arrived at the resident doctor's office, Connor was already there all stretched out with an IV drip in his arm.

Although I hadn't recognized the symptoms of Viral Fever, I suspected dehydration. I had taken great pains to keep myself well hydrated. I didn't need an IV and was given some medication before being sent back to the hostel to rest.

Everthing this week appeared to be conspiring against me. When I reached my room and was about to drift off to sleep, I was awakened by the Hostel staff. The TCS section in Calcutta wanted to interview me. And so, for only the second time this week, I did something important while being half-dead. I had a 2-day MC, but I knew our group was behind schedule for our Java Project, and so today I gritted my teeth popped more panadol and went to work. Project delivery on Thursday, I think we can actually pull this off. I just need to pop more panadol.

I noticed something else, the mosquitoes didn't bother me anymore. Those picky eaters wanted only healthy blood.

Connor used his MC fully. Wish I could too...sigh but duty calls and I must answer.

Viral Fever has taught me something though...you don't want to fall sick without insurance here. Healthcare is ridiculously expensive. Just bought me some coverage. It won't help with major things but it should be enough to handle minor problems.

Oh...I've just been accepted to the Calcutta section of TCS. I'll be working on an Enterprise System in C# for a Japanese MNC. It's something I'm good at, but it's almost useless back home. Every company in Singapore just wants Web developers in .NET. Oh well, I'm pretty sure I'll be learning alot there, but I not quite sure the experience will help me find a job in Singapore.