Last week in Miraj!

Sleepy sheep on the sidewalk in Miraj

On our last weekend in Miraj, we took a tour of the area's religious sites.  We started in Sangli at the Ganpati Temple.  Ganpati is another name for Ganesh, the Hindu god of food fortune and remover of obstacles.  He has an elephant head and rides on a ratlike creature.  The drive there went very smoothly, which is unusual for India, until our driver tried to pass through a traffic circle and collided with a truck!  It was a minor fender bender but drew a very large crowd while the drivers argued over who was at fault.  The haggling resulted in our driver receiving 200 rupees or about $3.  Unlike the traffic, the temple was very peaceful with multiple shrines to Ganesh decorated in offerings of flowers and small piles of sugar and rice.  We checked our shoes at the door and tipped a few sari-clad ladies to make sure no one walked away with them.
Ganpati Temple

Shop selling flower offerings in Miraj

After the temple we drove back to Miraj to visit the Dargah of Meerasaheb Avalia.  A dargah is a shrine to a muslim saint and although it's a shrine to a significant person in Islam, Muslims and Hindus both worship there.  The shrine was surrounded by stalls selling offerings.  We were able to walk around the shrine and peer inside to view the beautiful glittery domed ceiling but were not allowed inside.  Our driver, whose English was very creative, told us only "gents" were allowed in to the Dargah.
Dome of the dargah

I am finally in dermatology clinic this week and enjoying it very much.  The clinic is open from 11am-2pm and 4-5pm and in those 4 hours the dermatologist sees 50 patients!  I have seen some really interesting, kind of gross cases, including pyoderma gangrenosum, leprosy and really large furuncles.  But, the majority of cases are tinea.  All types: pedis, manuum, cruris, corporis, capitis and on and on.  Apparently this is a big public health problem here because the fungus has become resistant to standard therapy.  In the dermatology clinic I have seen whole families covered in the typical tinea rash.
On that note, here are a few of the delicious things I have eaten in the last week:
My beloved jalebi, dhal and chapati

Dosa: Big savory crepe filled with potatoes

Chai break in the hospital canteen

Tomorrow we head to Mumbai on the night train, which should be interesting.  Stay tuned for updates on our journey and adventures in Mumbai!
Love, Aleze

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 21, 2018 at 8:37 AM

    Yessss a photo of your sweet mug with a mug of chai!
    So glad I got to keep up with your adventures and so excited to have you home soon!

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownFebruary 21, 2018 at 8:45 AM

    As a throw back to IMI have you diagnosed anyone with tinea manuum? (I couldn’t help myself)

    On a slightly less trollish note I am loving your blogs and following your adventures. Please bring me back some jalebi. I love you and can’t wait hear about everything!!!

    -Adrienne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. alezeFebruary 22, 2018 at 1:13 AM

      Hahahaha I am now very confident in my ability to diagnose every type of tinea in existence. Thanks for reading and can't wait to see you soon!

      Delete
  3. UnknownFebruary 21, 2018 at 9:54 AM

    Don’t come back with any resistant tinea! Glad you’ll be back soon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. alezeFebruary 22, 2018 at 1:14 AM

      I have been going crazy with the hand sanitizer, so no worries there! Can't wait to see your face!

      Delete
  4. Cecelia BrownFebruary 21, 2018 at 12:58 PM

    Aw sweet pie with chai--lovely travels to Mumbai, can't wait to see you soon.
    Much love--Mum xoxo

    ReplyDelete

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