Surprise day in Mangalore

From Mangalore and Goa

From Mangalore and Goa

From Mangalore and Goa

Another long day of travel coming from Kerala up the West Coast of India to Goa. After an overnight train, we had an 8 hour "layover" in Mangalore. Now, Mangalore isn't much of a tourist destination so we tried to scour the guidebooks to find something cool to do to fill the time. It is about 100 degrees here now and walking around a town and shopping was about the last thing from our minds. Mangalore is known in India for some good surfing, so Me, Mel, Randi, and Luku decided to hop in an auto rickshaw and head to a beach about 10KM away while the rest of the group decided to face the concrete jungle of the Mangalore shops.
Well, we got to the beach and let's just say it wasn't what we had hoped for. Sewage drains emptying into the water and human shit literally all over the sand. It was my first time in India where I actually dry-heaved (and those of you that have been to India, you know that's a big deal considering the state of the toilets here).
We read in the guidebook about a great 4 star hotel that has a pool, but they charge people 100 Rs ($2) to enter and another 100 Rs for an hour of the pool use, so initially we weren't going to spring for it (hey Americans, laugh now but when you're on a budget and an ENTIRE meal costs 100 Rs you think twice about blowing double that on a one hour pool visit). But we decided to sack up and was that the best decision of the week? YES.
First, the pool was gorgeous with great cool refreshing water. Second, there was NO ONE there, so we had our own private amazing pool. Third, and the real kicker for us budget travelers) was that the guy came over who was in charge of the pool and basically told us that he was cool if we stayed way longer than an hour (it might have something to do with 3 western women in bikinis, but hey we were happy). He also told us that along with using the pool, we got free sodas and a free lunch of sandwiches. HELLO jackpot!!
Then, a bald eagle decided to bathe itself in a pool of water next to the pool, about 5 feet from us.
Just like India to start the day off with the rank smell of shit in 100 degree weather, and end it in a crisp, cool, private pool staring at a bald eagle while eating a free lunch.