Wednesday, November 15, 2023

07.11.2023 : Mumbai -> Mangalore

 07.11.23 : Mumbai ->Mangalore :

All 7 cousins from my father's side, 

  1.  Helen Tony
  2.  Kavita Salins
  3.  Vinoda Sathe
  4.  Ivy Soans
  5.  Winnie Klaiber
  6.  Philomena Khan
  7.  Angeline Martis
Planned together nearly 6 months ago to visit Mangalore and places around there for 10 days.  Philo was made the treasurer, to manage the finance and I was the coordinator for the trip.  Philo along-with her son Sajjad booked our 3 tier A/c tickets for 7th night by Mangalore Express.  All ladies were excited to travel together, leaving behind our parcels at home (husbands, children and grandchildren) and we had our freedom for next 8 days.

All of us were told to arrive at CST and catch our train.  Winnie and self came in Uber and planned to reach before 10 pm but we got caught in traffic at CST for 10 mins and we had hiccup to reach 18th platform and to run across with our luggage to 14th platform.  We reached the train just in time and we  got into the first compartment and the train started.  All our cousins were in panic since did not reach our compartment.  We had the headache to cross through 7 compartments with our luggages through the other travellers.  We got contact through Sadaf (Sajjad's wife)  and informed her that we have got into compartment and she informed our cousins who were relieved.  We were welcomed with open arms when we reached our compartment.



Then began our trip together, sitting and laughing and enjoying our sandwiches together.  We had bunkers together but toss was to climb up the top tier but did it and had a cosy night wrapped in blankets. 







Tuesday, November 14, 2023

08.11.23 : Mangalore

 08.11.2023 : Mangalore
In the morning, I got down at Madgaon station (Goa) and there I got chance to buy hot Bunse (sweet Mangalorean buns) and all were surprised to start our Mangalore breakfast with it. 

We passed our time playing cards (Donkey) and had fun.  We then played a game called Dumb Charade where we had to enact the word given to us with action but not allowed to talk or speak.  It was fun and scandalous to guess the words.  Earlier I had played this game with teams guessing Film names but this time it was with words only.

Our train was delayed by two hours, stopping at many stations, allowing opposite trains to pass.  Reached Mangalore station where my cousin Willy (my coordinator in Mangalore) was there to welcome us with Tempo Traveller our companion for next 8 days.  Loaded our luggages and travelled to Mangalore Beach Resort near Uchila Beach, which was nearly 1 hour journey.  We got two beautiful villas for ourselves. We dumped our luggage and freshened up to meet my cousins Bennybai at Kulshekar and then went to visit our cousins Flavy and her family at Neermarga.  

From there we moved on to Tannirbhavi, where Jessy's sister Mollie stays, which was 1 hour drive.  We were invited to Birthday Party of her son, Darwin.  It was a grand party arranged for us where 3 people's birthdays were celebrated.  Pramila, Bennabai's daughter, Darwin and Jessy's brother Ronnie's son.

It was fun filled evening with good food, music and dance.  We got to meet Jessy's family and they welcomed our full gang enjoy the evening.  It was nice to begin our stay in Mangalore.









We returned back to our resort, after visiting Tannirbhavi Beach, which was beautiful, well lit beach with no people around late night.  










 




Monday, November 13, 2023

09.11.2023 : Uchila Beach

9.11.23 : Uchila Beach
After late night, we got up late and went outside our place, a beautiful sight awaited of the sea shore ahead.  Our villa was one floor house, Philo and self was staying down and Winnie was staying alone in first floor.
After heavy breakfast, we were dressed in black and it was fun posing.  We all went across the beach, which was lonely and so clean and we had fun swimming and playing the water.  We did not venture into the deep.

We came back to our resort and there in the swimming pool, all of us jumped,  flashing and enjoying the water and also getting the sand off from our body.
                    
All dressed up and went off to fishy restaurant where we had our lunch of Ukada chawl and fish curry and fish fry.  It was yummy.  From there we went in our bus to Thousand Pillar Jainakashi Temple, Moodbidri.  Where we got to see  Panch Loha idol of Sri Chandraprabha Teethankara

Saavira Kambada Basadi (Thousand Pillars temple) is the most prominent of the 18 Jain temples in Moodubidiri town, Karnataka. The finest of these is the 15th-century Chandranatha Basadi, also known as the Thousand Pillars Basadi. The uniqueness of this basadi, is that no two pillars are identical. Official name is Tribhuvana Thilaka Chudamani temple. Jain tirthankara Chandraprabha is the main deity in the thousand pillars temple. Moodabidri is known as the “Jain Varanasi” of South India. 
Thousand Pillars Temple complex has 3 storeys and Seven Mantapas (porch-like structure). The ground floor is built in stones while the first and second floor are wooden structures. The Garbhagriha (inner sanctum) of the temple features an 8 foot tall idol of the 8th Jain Thirthankara Chandranatha Swamy, which is known to be made of the 5 different elements (Pancha Dhatu).




Thousand Pillars Temple complex has 3 storeys and Seven Mantapas (porch-like structure). The ground floor is built in stones while the first and second floor are wooden structures. The Garbhagriha (inner sanctum) of the temple features an 8 foot tall idol of the 8th Jain Thirthankara Chandranatha Swamy, which is known to be made of the 5 different elements (Pancha Dhatu)

There we drove off to Durga water fall.  Here the water force was not much as monsoon season was over.

Durga Falls Karkala. Durga village is a hilly terrain, a little away from Karkala taluk of Udupi district. As you approach the little hamlet in the lap of the Western Ghats, the vegetation turns thicker.
Durga Waterfall, on the course of River Swarna that originates in the Western Ghat, is one of the magnets that attracts nature lovers and revelers alike to the village. On the course of Durga falls downstream, Swarna river flows through a vast rugged rock expanse, offering a visual delight in the monsoon and the ensuing few months.  As the water makes its way through the obstructing rocks, it appears to dance with a snowy white hue. The pleasant burble offers a perfect background. Situated five kilometers from Karkala town, away from the hustle bustle, it is an ideal spot to unwind on a monsoon evening. 




StLawrence Shrine Basilica or Attur Basilica is a Roman Catholic church in Karkala, India. It was built in 1759 and is purported to be the site of many miracles


We learn that the Shrine of St. Lawrence at Attur – Karkala Parish seems to have been in existence even before 1759 A.D. History tells us that the Christians of this place too were among those who suffered captivity of Tippu Sultan from 1784-1799 A.D The parish church in those days was situated at a place about 7 kilometers away from the present church. Tippu destroyed it and took the Christians to Srirangapatna as captives. Those Christians who returned after freedom from captivity built a church with thatched roof on the way to Akre in the year 1801 A.D. under the leadership of a Goan Priest. In the year 1839, it was replaced by another building. It was about 4 Kilometers away from the previous one. This new building happened to be on the back of the present church and was facing west. Soon it became a place for pilgrimage. Pilgrims from all sides came to this sacred place and innumerable were the favours granted by the Saint. In 1998 the ‘Miracle-Pond’ (PUSHKARINI) was renovated in modern Indian Architectural style with facility for pilgrims to descend into the pond
  I

St Lawrence Shrine declared Minor Basilica :   It was a historic moment for Karkala and indeed for the entire coastal region and Karnataka state, as the highly revered St Lawrence Shrine was declared a Minor Basilica on August 1, 2016 by the Holy See.



 It was a hour drive back to our resort. We had to pack and get ready to check out next morning.



 









Sunday, November 12, 2023

10.11.2023 : Medikeri


 10.11.23 : Medikeri    


                 

After heavy breakfast of vada-idli sambar and pawa.                         Posing in front of our resort.    

Packed our bags and left beautiful beach resort and got into our bus.  It was two hours bus drive and we arrived Medikeri, a green green forest and vegetation around with hills. We were taken to Raja's tomb which was semi closed, due to repairs but we got to see one of the tombs.  It was stark naked tomb with no decoration.  Only the entrance had decorative columns.

Raja Viraranjandra Tomb : Medikeri 

Situated about 1.5 km from the  bus stand, the tombs of Veerajendra, and their wives, stand together and are exactly alike, Lingarajendra’s tomb was built in 1809 and Veerarajendra’s in 1821. The Islamic style central gilded domes and the corner minaret-like turrets, each topped with images of basavas (bulls), are prominent on the Madikeri skyline. The windows have handsomely wrought bronze bars set in sculpted stone.

The tomb built by Raja Viranranjadra to honour his General Biddand Bopanna (Bopu) who fought Tipu Sultan, was imprisoned and died fighting.
From Raja's Tombs, we drove down to Raja's Seat.  This small square Mantapa with a comanding view of cliffs and valleys.  Raja brought his consorts and entourage to enjoy the natural view 

Coorg Raja's Seat is a scenic viewpoint located in Madikeri, the headquarters of the Kodagu district in the Indian state of Karnataka. This historic spot offers a panoramic view of the surrounding valley, hills and the Western Ghats, making it a popular tourist destination.



A place to watch the sunset in Madikeri. It has a good well maintained garden with a lot of benches. There have a musical fountain show every day 

The garden was well maintained and had statues of various animals like Dinosaur, rhinoceros, elephants etc.  They even had gliding events, which Winnie participated and enjoyed.
We then drove off to our Vridavan Homestay which was one hour drive and it was dark when we reached there.  We were given two seperate rooms with 4 big bedrooms. We checked in and then freshend up.  It was cosy place, quite chilly.  


They cooked lovely dinner for us of fish fry, chicken fry and curry. We enjoyed lovely meal and went to sleep early.













 






07.11.2023 : Mumbai -> Mangalore

  07.11.23 : Mumbai ->Mangalore : All 7 cousins from my father's side,   Helen Tony  Kavita Salins  Vinoda Sathe  Ivy Soans  Winnie K...