RETREAT WITH SHUFFLING DEALS

I caught a day in Hyderabad, washed clothes, cooked a few meals and the next day left at 4 am to fly into Mangaluru for a retreat with the girls from my IC group. We were to be 10 of us but just the six arrived, bright and bushy tailed. From the airport we drove into Hotel Sadanand, in Suratkal famous for it's National Institute of Technology (NIT), all clean and popular and gave hell to the steward. Slowly he became indulgent and smiled through his service. The way we were eating chutney, surprised that they did not get a bucket of the same. The neer dosas disappeared quickly as did the Mysore masala and the mooda idlis (longer version of regular idlis wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf). The unwrapping is exciting.
Then we drove to Kollur Mookambika on National Highway 66. Super roads with an engrossing scenery of tall coconut and areca nut trees and nestled in this forestery are some of the most beautiful houses with tiered roofs made of Mangalore tiles. Dark wood doors with wooden slats for windows and some of them are three cornered windows, so reminiscent of old houses. Many of these buildings are falling apart but they are still around. Some have probably converted them into new bungalows also tastefully constructed.
Then we crossed three rivers and all of them a deep emerald green, lined on either side with coconut palm and simply fabulous. This is a side of the country that I have not visited and so it took me by utter surprise.
I had only heard of handsome Shetty guys and gorgeous women. Did not see both but crossed Sunil Shetty's village Mulki and Kanthara famous Rishab Shetty's village Kerady. It was 10 kms off the road we took to Mookambika.
Having used a little influence here, we were allowed to park just outside the temple.  Huge queues did not deter us because a priest took us in and we were allowed to watch Mother Mookambikai for quite some time and then we decided to check into Sai Radha Heritage.
A beach facing resort, with lovely old fashioned  rooms, with stinky bathrooms. Minimalistic in style, everything else was made up by the presence of the Arabian Sea right at your doorstep. Well almost, but the balconies allowed one to enjoy the breeze, while the sun set lazily and the waves crashed thunderously. Plenty of crows cawed continuously.
The dining room was a bit of a walk in sand and that discouraged some of us from taking a walk, but the food was good. And the night stroll very reminiscent of stolen romantic moments.
These friends of mine love to play cards and they actually played for money and Sridevi and Renu won too. Asha, Pavani and Uma also played while I waited for sunset and had my drink.
The next day we drove into Udipi for darshan. Did not know you had to worship the Baby Lord Krishna from a small window. Those who think the crowd is too much, also can see him from outside, where they have three gaps on the wall. A beautiful temple, luckily it was not crowded.
Once worship was over we rushed to Mavalli Tiffin Room and had one of the most delicious breakfast. After my Banglore experience at MTR, I was quite reluctant, but was proved wrong. The waiter here also was very tolerant of our demands. We did a little shopping (would you believe it?). But these friends of mine love shopping.
And because Renu studied in nearby Manipal, she had fond memories of an ice cream shop called Diana. Unfortunately they were not open then, but the young lady there looked at us and said that she had 'gadbad' icecream, which was three scoops of different icecreams with dry fruits in them. Huge helping.
Finally we returned to the Sai Radha Heritage. Incidentally they have suddenly come into news because their heritage house was the center piece in the film Kanthaara.
A beautiful house, with Atthangudi tiles, red oxide flooring, an old staircase. It is probably like all houses, but because of the movie it has suddenly become popular. And this house is being given now only for shootings and functions.
But we had a wonderful time taking photographs and oohing and aahing over every single item. We preponed our return ticket to  the late night flight and so the girls relaxed and played cards.
I am the time keeper.