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FEATURE
Gateway of the Lord Krishna. Hinduism, the
world’s oldest religion, has many stories all
with valuable lessons for the followers. There
were beautiful hand paintings in the shrine.
I have no pictures because as with many
places there were no cell phones or purses al-
lowed. Afterwards, we went to a busy bazaar
where you bargain for jewelry and there are
cows wandering about. The bumpy ride
home gave us all some extra steps on our fit-
bits.
The AAPI (American Association of
Physicians of Indian Origin) program that
evening featured the Central Health Minister
of India and the President of AAPI. The hall
was decorated with flowers and flower petals
arranged in designs. A lighting of the flame
to Parvati, the colorful sarees and men
dressed in silk jackets, I knew I was in India.
The Central Minister’s comments concen-
trated on the decline of infection, specifically of the trip. A stroll around the garden of the
yaws, whereas preventable diseases (diabetes,
heart disease, etc.) were not discussed. The
highlight of the evening were Rajasthan
dancing groups in ethnic costumes with
music, followed by dinner that was new and
delicious.
The trip to Mount Abu was a journey
back in time. Bumping along we saw primi-
tive farming, oxen used to bring water up
from a well, planting by hand, women work-
ing construction wearing sarees, little villages Mumbai, but it was no problem as Viet Do
with rubble in the streets and country hay
stacks out of a Monet painting. We stopped
for tea on the way and only had non-Western
toilets, a hardship for many of the women.
Up on the mountain monkeys dot the stops
wanting a handout. The Jain temples built in
the 11th Century are like no Western art.
They are intricately carved white marble pil-
lars and ceilings that defy description. Jains
believe all living things have value. They have
Buddha like Gods but their eyes are always
open. Our best lunch was an outdoor restau-
rant called Chacha Restaurant, vegetarian,
with great service. Dr. Shah had us all share
a special gift we have other than medicine.
Later on our way to town and Nakki Lake,
the Harpers went in a person drawn cart as
we passed a colorful Tibetan market.
A trip to Kumbhalgarh Fort, again on a
bumpy narrow road, allowed us to talk with
New Year Celebration Udaipur
one another getting to know our traveling
companions. This fort has a wall second in
length to the Great Wall of China. The wall
is very steep and the area inside has a great
number of temples. We left our bus and took
a jeep to one of seven great gates. After hik-
ing the fort and lunch we barely made it to
the Temple of Ranakpur. It is the most lovely
of the Jain Temples, with the most detailed
marble carving of the ones we have seen. For-
eign people, all of us really, but myself most
notably, had to leave by 5 p.m. Locals could
stay until 8 p.m.
New Year’s Eve Day showed gorgeous
weather for the city called the Venice of the
East, Udaipur. The city palace on Lake Pi-
chola is from a fairy tale — a ladies court,
carrier pigeons, an elephant fighting area,
enameled tiles, and a crystal collection. The
scenery on the boat ride was my favorite part
maids reminded me of the Alhambra in the
era of long ago.
It is an experience to celebrate New Year’s
in a country other than your own. I decided
to dress the part in a sari and bangles. Anu-
pama and her mother helped me get it all
straight. The resort had food stations and
music. It was a festive night.
An early flight to Chennai was delayed in
and I did a little shopping. Our hotel in
Chennai was serene despite being close to the
airport. The silk sarees, flowers, chalk paint- peace. I was able to learn more about the cul-
ings, fruit stands, and Hindu temples are full
of color in southern India. Our guide here
was full of rich stories as he drew out expla-
nations of Hindu religion for us. The trip to
Mahabalipuram, included the shore temple,
from the 8th Century, a UNESCO site.
There were also stone rathas carved in 600
A.D. The friendly people of Southern India
continued taking pictures with us, being cu-
rious about myself and Dr. Do, our Buddhist
monk. Despite a cyclone two months ago,
Chennai is a busy and thriving city, is also a
sister city to San Antonio.
That evening we had a joint meeting with
their medical society and Dr. Shah conveyed
Mayor Ivy Taylor’s kind words. He gave a
check on behalf of AAPI to help build a
school.
On our last day we were able to see the
M.V. Diabetic Hospital and finished with
site seeing. St. Thomas Cathedral, one of
only three cathedrals built over the remains
of apostles, is located in Chennai. The gov-
ernment museum has bronze casting of 9th
and 12th Century Nataraja and other Gods.
A trip to the Murugan Idli shop for a taste
of local flavor was Dr. Shahs treat to us. Eat-
ing off banana leaves with Prachi and our
group was a special memory. The fabric store
of my dreams was the Nalli Chin-
nasamichetta with room after room of color-
ful silk.
Our trip came to a close with a 3 a.m.
flight home. We left with new friends, new
understandings, time for reflection and
ture, country, and religions of the place some
of my patients call home.
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