Battling with Biters 2

There has been a lot of talk about vaccinations recently although this post is not about the measles debate it did make me think quite a bit about the ideals of social responsibility or lack of it, as it turns out to be.

I spent a little under two months living and working in the jungle, biters were a big problem (more of that later) especially sand flies, anyone who has ever had the misfortune to be bitten by one of these things knows that it can sometimes take months for the area to stop itching and aggravating and that’s not in extreme cases either, generally you would & should do all you can to keep these evil minute monsters away, add one of those bites to sun burnt skin and you're seriously in tropical hell!

I can’t tell you the amount of times I sat and watched people who had arrived in the no joke jungle without a drop; not one drop of insect repellent and then proceed to scratch the living daylights out of themselves, it’s unbelievable misery brought on solely by stubborn stupidity and maybe even a bit of laziness, now don’t get me wrong these biters at this particular place were exceptionally evil even with a thick layer of a well know wax repellent slapped onto my skin couldn’t stop all of them and sweet jesus there were a lot! but it stopped enough of them that I was able to deal with the ones I had while contemplating peoples stupidity.

And people are stupid.

If you are travelling to a tropical location expect to get bitten, why would you not? 

I know the general rule for mosquitos sand flies and anything else you can’t see but can fly into you leaving you with a bite so big it that hurts, is cover up at dusk & dawn but in my experience they are about all day every day that’s including night time.

For the battle with the biters you have to have a plan otherwise you will be in total misery.

Maybe it’s because I have such severe reactions to insect bites that I feel so strongly about people not wearing repellent and then complaining of such discomfort, I have no sympathy for them, none at all, although I do try and offer advice, especially about non toxic alternatives you’d surprised at how many people scoff at the idea of crunching some papaya seeds or dabbing fresh lime juice onto the bite or tea tree oil if you have it handy, these unassuming little gifts that mother nature has given us can greatly reduce the unbearable need to itch, trust me I know about these things! Some people unfortunately for them would prefer to sit there itching, scratching and moaning about chemicals in most store bought repellents then open up their minds to the safer alternative, maybe not 100% effective but still effective enough. Anything's better than what you’re currently experiencing right? Anythings better than taking a folk to your arm right? cos digging fork prongs into you skin for some sweet relief is perfectly ok?

Not the greatest photo but an idea of my reactions. This one a bite on the belly ;-(

A particular low point, stuck in the Jungle with a swollen foot & nothing else but an eye watering ointment for animals to treat me ;-(