Before I left for my 6 month backpacking trip beginning in Sri Lanka, I made it a point to look up how to avoid sickness in SE Asia. I Googled, I scoured travel blogs, I even skimmed a few forums. I read it all. Don’t drink the water, don’t use ice cubes, don’t even rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth. Don’t eat raw vegetables, only eat fruits with a peel, always wash your hands with soap. The list goes on and on. And I did it all.

For three days.