malaria and other nasties

I start taking my Malarone tablets tomorrow. I’ve not taken them before so I hope I don’t suffer any adverse reaction. I know people have had trouble with other anti-malarials, but this one should be fine. Besides, the trick will be to keep arms and ankles covered and protected. Deet’s not the best thing in the world for the environment, but it’s one of the best options we have available - especially if (as my dreams would have it) the mosquitoes are as large as angry winged grapefruit.

The BBC has given me a nice medical kit to take with me too - it looks professional and frightening in equal measure, if you ask me - a comforting reminder of all the nasty things that can befall you on a trip. That said, I’m not anticipating anything truly awful: I’ll be in a city, and when I’m in the jungle it’ll only be for short periods of time. Long enough to go totally Kurtz? Let’s hope not.