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Temple Tour

3/4/2014

1 Comment

 
On a lighter note, I got the opportunity to go visit a few on the nearby Hindu Temples.  My Tucson friend joined me which was wonderful because she served as a translator and guide.  She practices the Hindu faith giving me insight to the rituals and significance of the temples, offering, etc. The first temple was located in the hillside overlooking the city below.  We arrived as the priests were performing one of the daily rituals which included providing offerings, food, and then cleaning the God.  Once that was complete we were allowed to enter and visit the God.  The God was stunning presented in all gold, covered with flowers and radiating in the candle light.  The God was smaller than I expected, only about 12 inches x 12 inches.  The ritual was performed, a blessing was spoken, and it was finished with giving us coconut water poured in our hands to drink.  I felt awful but I did not drink the water, I dabbed it on my cheek!  That just seemed like a raging case of bacteria to expose to my gut to since I am not used to the local bacteria here.  After visiting the God we went outside where my Tuscan friend lit a fire and placed it outside the alter.  We then walked three laps around the alter to solidify her prayer.  She prayed for health and strength for her Dad who is hospitalized. I have to say I admire the spirituality, devotion, and dedication of the Hindu faith.  The faith of the followers is inspiring. 

We finished our evening with a trip to the local street market. This was fun for me because it gives me the opportunity to see a piece of the local life. Where do the people go to get shampoo? Where do they do their grocery shopping and get their hair cut, the everyday events of life.  There was the main dirt road lined with fruit venders, retail shops, and moto repair shops. There were children, chickens, and pigs running around amongst the locals doing their every day shopping.  It was the hustle and bustle of the village.  I even did a bit of shopping myself. 
The Temple on the hillside.
Painting on the wall while waiting to go inside to see the God
View of the second temple from high up the hill.
1 Comment
fatih tufan link
10/11/2014 12:45:27 am

Hello,
I have read your letter to geriatric patients and found it great. I shared the text with internal medicine residents, geriatrics fellows and academicians. I would like to translate it into Turkish and publish it in a local journal. Do you mind if I do so. How can I obtain a permission from you?
Yours sincerely,
P.S. I could not find how to get in contact with you because I do not use face or twitter. So I left a comment here.

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    Author

    My name is Meg and I am currently a Geriatrics and Palliative Care Fellow at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.  I started this blog several years ago as a way to remember and talk about what I experienced while studying abroad in Rwanda during the summer of 2009.

    The blog has now continued and still serves as a way to let my friends and family know what I have been up to and a way for me to open up.

    Disclaimer: The contents on this site represent my personal opinions, views, and experiences.  They do not reflect the views of my employer or sponsor program.

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