26Mar Mangalore, India

Not even Barbara, the ship’s travel consultant said that she cannot expect much.

She has never been to this place for the last 15 years during her career on cruise ship.

Mangalore is located in the south east of India.

Cashew nut is the one of the biggest industry as well as tourist attraction here, yet it is not developed and known to the outside of India much.

That makes this place more exotic and not spoilt and we strongly hope that will remain as it is.

We were formed a group of 6 this morning to hire a van taxi at the pier.

Renee, Diane, John, Sky, Greg and I were all happy with outcome of the negotiation.

We visited 2 Hindu temples, historic St. Aloysius church and a bazar market.

Then, we were introduced to a very nice hotel for local gourmet lunch.

We were so taken by the Hindu Gods, chanting music, thick smoky scent, monks burning offerings and its worshipers inside the temples.

It has so much spiritual atmosphere around the Shiva.

Very friendly and smiley monks were also fascinating.

Photos and video taping is not allowed inside the temples, disappointingly.

Prayers were not supposed to be disturbed and camera flash and digital screens carried by insensitive foreign tourists can be quite annoying.

I was actually appreciative that they allowed us to enter their sacred place for prayer.

Ocean pearl hotel has many restaurants in different styles.

We were recommended to Coral restaurant where we found many tables are already occupied by fellow passengers from our ship.

They were all putting their thumbs up to us which indicates good food.

We let the restaurant manager Ganesh recommend us their specialty foods as none of us know much about Indian food.

Restaurant manager reminded us actor Omar Sharif with his black mustache.

We ordered two Naan Breads, one with garlic and the other with cheese as well as Poppadum.

Masala prawn, Honey chicken, Yoghurt dip, Biryani rice…

They were all spicy but not so hot but delicious.

We were all smiling when we returned to the ship with big satisfaction of having another good day.

And, tall five bottles of Indian beer King Fisher during lunch definitely contributed our happiness. ^^

Photos from the top;

Newly built Gokarnanath Temple with two black elephants at the gate

Sacred Hindu cow on marble floor

Shrine with humanized monkey statue kept in

In front of main temple entrance

St. Aloysius Church

St. Aloysius High School building

Traditional Hindu temple SharvuMahagauathi Temple Mangalore

Yummy lunch with cold beer. What can I ask more?

Cashew nuts in different flavors at the local super market shelf. Most of us had big grocery shopping today. Drinks and snacks for glass of wine in the cabin. ^^

Cows reminded us that cows are sacred animal in India.