I hope you had good read in my part 1 Mangalore journey.
I got good sleep, woke up afternoon feeling hungry. Just like any other banglorean, I was used to Swiggy orders, just scrolled through it for 30+mins, dint order anything. I got all dressed up and started my day by having Poori Bhaaji (Poori Saagu) in veg hotel near to my hotel where I stayed.
In first to do list, I wanted to visit Beach. Ofcourse.
Again, just like Bangaloreans do, I searched for Ola and booked it. Even cab reached the pickup point and I sat. Twist in the tale, Driver wanted me to pay return fare even I'm only going from 1 way. Double the fare even in Ola. I cancelled it and looked for local auto.
As much as I remember, it was 250 or something, my first beach solo ride was to Thanirbhavi Beach, Mangalore. Auto Driver was Manglorean and was trying to be friendly, asking some personal questions. After half of the ride, I couldn't tolerate it anymore I texted my sister and video called her. She got my situation and it panicked everyone in home. I was worried whether I'm going right way as city was new for me. Plus, family expressions of why did they send me on solo trip. The thing about my family is that we don't have much topics to talk about apart from general questions. We never spoke for hours with each other.
At one point of time, I saw beach entry, as it was weekday afternoon it was almost empty. Driver said there's nothing to watch in first two sights of beach which I saw and convinced me that there is BeachPark of same beach🏖. I gave the money and started walking towards, he said he'll wait for me or come along with me inside. It was solo trip but never felt this scary in any of previous solo trips. If people have thoughts about clothes or behavior, I was decently dressed in t-shirt and jeans and I'm not the person who like talking especially to strangers. I strictly told him to go back and not to follow me in any case. (No, he was not trying to secure/protect. Just fake friendly stalker).
There's an entry fee of 20 rupees. I saw group of girls coming out of the park completing one of their friend's birthday. Park is really peaceful with all trees, sand, fun cute sculptures. You can see more of couples than nature who have come there for "privacy". I didn't disturb their spaces in any way and moved on.
I sat down at one space where I got me time. Then I see same auto driver following me by changing into different clothes. I got up and told him not to follow me, he said he just came to see the place. He didn't move forward until I started walking towards the beach.
At the end of the park, you can see Thanirbhavi Beach. It was pretty hot weather, almost skin burnt. I sat near the water for sometime, I saw peacocks, dogs, cute lil birdies for my company. I loved it❤. These kind of things makes me realize I enjoy my company than the time with others.
Lil personal yet sweet feeling was that, I collected few shells🐚 and pieces of it to create my name along with the person I started loving. It felt so good I couldn't control my tears rolling down that I was in love again (which I never thought I would be after first one). I listened to my favorite songs and sat quietly for sometime looking at beach and things around.
Booom! I realized that auto driver was sitting in one of the kutira (sitting area with a shade) behind the beach. I didn't wanted to stay there anymore, I looked around if I could go out of the beach in other ways. Other way to go outside beach was lil far from where I was sitting as far way I saw fishermen going. As I was aware of things around, I thought of going out the same way I came inside without looking at anyone. Just plug-in earphones and move out.
I saw Saalu Marada Thimakka carvings and room full of achievements by her. I was just taking a picture, again he said I'll drop you. Who would wanna go experiencing all those panic situations he created me in. I asked him to go and said I didn't want to go back to place with him. I looked for ola again, no autos or cabs available. I went out and took some other auto back to hotel.
On the way back to hotel, this driver told me that that idiot auto driver told this guy that I was his girlfriend and I was angry with him so I didn't go with him. How worse and angry I felt I wanted to file a complaint. I left it there as I was just tourist who would go back to her city in 2days and dint wanted to ruin other days. This auto driver was quite younger and was working for one of the firm in Bangalore, made me feel safe going back.
I saw one of the popular icecream shop called Pabbas. I had heard and had it in my checklist. I got down at the shop. This driver asked for my number if I need to roam anywhere else in the city. I didn't wanted to take any other risks, I didn't agree.
It's pretty big store in the city, I ordered for chocolate + sea salt caramel sundae. Only good thing which I felt good/satisfying that day.
I thought to go back to hotel by walk thinking it's not that far and exploring city well, it was quite a long distance back to hotel. At one point of time I had to take auto for 2-3kms because I was so tired of walking. I slept, woke up and slept again.
I wanted to finally go to temple🕌, I'm not the person who go to temple much in my city Bangalore. I booked cab after waking up really late that day i.e., 6th November 2020. It was close to 11.30 AM plus. To my luck, roads blocks which ever road I go, traffic everywhere. I somehow reached temple thinking everything will be closed. It was Friday, some wedding was going on. Few crowd in all ethnic wear. Temple was like fake gold paint, it was indeed looking artificial. I know that sounds harsh but check out pictures.
I went on full round of temple and took blessings of all God's and priests. I saw couple who were getting married in all pretty attire, it attracted me. Anyway I had few wishes, I took archana ticket and went inside following them. They went other way, me on other end. In same temple, there's other side with Shiva statue with lil water body. Animals statue kinda thing. I took some pictures and came out.
Cab driver was well behaved, thankfully. He hac given his identity card to call once I'm done with temple visit either to go back to hotel or other temple. I was feeling hungry I didn't have anything since morning. We stopped at a hotel nearby. I sat next to very happy couple who had come from other part of Karnataka as well. They were so sweet and cute it reminded me of my grandparents. I miss them and these cuties too.
Driver suggested beach as I wanted to check lighthouse. This time I had to be careful, I asked necessary questions. As it was noon, he said there wouldn't be much people there but he could wait for me. Not again. I said no, wanted to head back to hotel. He thought he would get good profit out of me with whole day trip. He declined as soon as I wanted to reach hotel and asked me to book some other cab. I booked auto, reached hotel front. There was shake factory (Milkshakes and juices). As I'm chocoholic, I sat alone sipping favorite choco shake in good cool AC (Doors were open), all safety measures ofcourse. It was much needed as Mangalore was pretty hot. I went back to hotel chilling, watching TV/YouTube etc, I love junk food. I'll always have something to munch.
Day of checkout. I packed, dressed well, Spoke to people who really close to me as I had enough time to speak with them. Finally!!!
Went to nearby shops to have tender coconut water (favorite), purchased my dad's order from blore: some pickle and some snacks. There was some popular cafe for family/general public, had milkshake and samosa.
Packed, bus was at night. There was no dat bus with all safety measures. My family back at home were obviously worried. I ☑checked out of hotel waiting for clock to tick 10:10 PM to leave to board bus. Don't forget the person who helped you and made you feel safe. I thanked hotel receptionist who helped me from day 1 of check-in until check-out and all day ready to deliver food at room-service. Very rare. God bless.
My family was in video call as soon as I left hotel walking alone until bus stop after 10PM night. I reached bus stop, still in call. Few 2 Wheeler slowing down, stopping by for sometime thinking as if I'm waiting for client*. Trust me, they were all there for the same, hotel in front of desktop was really fishy too. My family was always by my side. Bus came 20-30mins late. Again my family doesn't know what to speak much to each other, we don't have topics or questions to each other😉. I had booked sleeper next to lady but got to know she was lil older she settled in lower berth. I got good time to think about my whole trip, it was tuff and satisfying trip. I was very proud of myself for staying strong, ability to say NO when I wasn't comfortable with few things, talking to myself and about myself, wants and needs, prioritise people who are really important, work stuff, it just cleaned me and was sending me back home with clear mind set. I'm still happy with this trip for the person I became. It was like mirror which I was able to see after cleaning. Thank you Mangalore for both Safe and Scary feels.
Thank you for reading until end, I hope the journey was felt. 😇
