There is a stretch of land between the airport and Mangalore town that is so verdant and beautiful that it never fails to bring a lump to my throat. I get off at the bridge to inhale the fresh, earthy fragrance that I have missed so much.
“Wouldn’t it be lovely to buy some land here and set up a home-stay? We could build a couple of beautiful cottages and have our own boats to ferry people across”
“It would cost some. And who would want to come here?”
“The same people who go to Kerala. The landscape is similar, just not marketed right.”
“Hmmm, you would have to be prepared to cook. And travel less.”
The ever practical, dream busting R. Why can’t men have dreams that aren’t always populated by skimpily clad women or things with four wheels?
My daydream gets pushed to the back of my mind, seemingly forgotten. But I know it will recur, and this conversation replay with minor variations the next time we cross this bridge. I also know that it will remain just that…..a daydream.
The Urge To Wander 
It looks so beautiful there, Madhu. I know exactly what you mean about men being too practical. 😉
Can be maddening sometimes 🙂
I love it! And it sounds like a worthwhile dream to me. 😉
I’m so glad you joined in the challenge, Madhu–thank you!
Nah, giving up travel and my hard earned freedom would not be worth it. But it still tugs at my heart 🙂
It’s always nice to have a dream of diversion.
You must! If this is a dream it will not leave you till you make it happen!
Oh, I have several dreams going on at the same time! My primary one is to travel and giving that up would be hard 🙂 Still, I feel some strange attraction to that place.
travel is very high on my recurring dream list 🙂
Sounds wonderful and a place I’d love to visit one day.
The infrastructure isn’t as well developed as neighbouring Kerala, but it is essentially the same coast and landscape. Different language(s) though.
Dear Madhu, this post struck such a chord with me! For many years I had this same conversation with my husband–mostly daydreaming about a seaside cottage to escape to (where I would have to cook only for my own family). But the one practical consideration we always came back to was that we love to travel and discover new places together, and we know we would feel obligated to return to our property instead of traveling. At this point in our lives, we have to make a choice, and travel always wins out. Still, it’s fun to dream. I never take a Washington State ferry without collecting all the real estate booklets to peruse–the kids now know what I’m looking for, and they do it too, reading aloud descriptions of the choice properties. “How about this one, Mom?” Again, just for fun. We dream of escape, but I love where I live, and when it comes right down to it, travel is a temporary escape, and the only one I really want.
Despite the strong pull I feel to return to my hometown, I know I will not survive there for long. And giving up travel will never be an option. But, like you say, it is fun to dream, and maddening when R doesn’t play along. I think he tends to panic that it might be for real this time round 🙂
Hah! I have learned to issue a warning to Thom before the kids and I do some dreamstorming so he can relax and just enjoy our imaginary little walkabout.
I don’t know—this one makes me sad. Though I am always looking and wondering about living other places, even walking in my own neighborhood. 😉
I get all sentimental when I visit Mangalore. I would have to give up too much to follow this dream. Not sure it would be worth it 🙂 Thank you for the comment Riba
I understand. Ah, but to be able to take more than one path, eh? 😉
I am glad that “travel will never be an option” for you. Dreaming to live in such a poetic place is so romantic though.
You missed out the ‘Giving up’ at the beginning of that sentence 😀 Yeah, I am an incorrigible romantic. R keeps me grounded!
I did… guess I was reading it with my own wishes. Keep traveling!
Hi,
Love the photo, what a beautiful looking place. You should never give up on your dreams, you just never know. 😀
I know, just might end up there! But right now it is too much effort and travel takes priority. Thanks Mags 🙂
Whenever Phil and I go somewhere beautiful, we always dream of setting up home there….it is our way of having a small part of it while we are there. For us it’s Folkestone, on the Kent coast; we eye up a different holiday cottage or flat for sale every day. It is lovely to dream 🙂 And sometimes dreams are realised, aren’t they?
I am not entirely sure that I want this dream realised Kate. “Home” always has that effect on me, but I know deep down that we would both not be happy there, right now. Perhaps some day….
I had a good chuckle over your exchange with R… Men. So typical! 😆
He is my sounding board and takes that role very seriously 🙂
I agree, Kerala and Mangalore are so similar in terms of food, beautiful coast, landscape, and weather. I perfectly relate to your recurring dream…..
Thanks Shaantz 🙂 You said your parents lived in Bangalore. Are you originally from Kerala?
Yes Madhu – I am from Kerala. As an army brat, I traveled all over India until we finally called Bangalore home. Dad passed away a few years ago and Mom is in Bangalore. I’ve been to Mangalore several times from college and later – loved it and found so many similarities to Kerala cuisine, the coastline, and the friendly people (like you and me – haha). The red tiled roofs of the houses are exactly the same in Kerala and Mangalore. Enough of my banter I guess. More to follow….
Look forward to hearing the rest 🙂
Yes, Kerala has some breath taking scenery – not marketed well. If you can spare the cash and put up with the hassles > go for it, I would suggest.
This is in Karnataka, bordering Kerala, and not as well geared for tourism. We don’t really have ‘spare cash’ and the hassles seem overwhelming, but I too think it is a great business proposition 🙂 Not sure we want to commit ourselves to starting something at this stage in our lives though.
It is so amazing to me how there are places in the world like this for each of us. And how we each dream our dreams. Sometimes dreams are what we need to keep us moving forward with the everyday.
So true Angeline. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I know of these recurring dreams! Maybe one day there won’t be any variations but a persistent “this is the place”! Maybe. Till then we can all take advantage of your beautiful wanderings!
Who knows….maybe! Thank you Marina, appreciate your taking the time to comment 🙂
“Why can’t men have dreams that aren’t always populated by skimpily clad women or things with four wheels?” – Loved that!
Having a dream might actually make people envy you!
Why would anyone envy other people’s dreams? I usually join my friends in a ‘dreamathon’! We sometimes traverse miles in the course of one evening 🙂
a paradise – you should paint it …
Wish I could Frizztext 🙂
The dream is usually better than the reality! 🙂 I was going to build a tall box house like the stone houses in Europe. I even had a builder to start designing it. I laugh when I drive by the local college and see the one they built just like mine! It’s huge, of course, and is an administration building, but the concept is the same. I would have hated the stairs to climb anyway. That’s the way of dreams … they should remain dreams. 🙂
I agree George…..despite my romantic notions, I know in my heart that this lovely place is better preserved in my dreams 🙂 Appreciate the visit and comment.
Ah … a perfectly described life!!!
Not sure how the reality would pan out 🙂 Thank you for the visit and comment.
Never give up dreaming! Dreams take us to magical places and will always be there.
Oh, I dream lots Carol! Its when it comes down to doing something about them that I chicken out. Except when they are about travel 🙂
“Wouldn’t it be great if we…” I say this all the time. It doesn’t get me far. I’m trying to practise contentment, but it doesn’t come naturally.
Nice to know there are a lot of people like me 🙂
Your dream sounds lovely. I have a similar recurring conversation with my husband Lance that starts out with…”This town needs a sushi restaurant…we should open one!”….and quickly gets shut down from there, usually due to the practical fact that we are miles away from a source of fresh fish…;)
Can see how that could be a problem 🙂 Appreciate your stopping by Rufina.
Great work Madhu ,:)
Thank you Jake. Not sure why the ping backs don’t show up on your site!
A big thank you for showing our country in a very beautiful way. I really feel proud, when someone tries to show the brighter side of our country. And I am glad, you did that for all of us with this post. Mangalore is a beautiful place and you are right, It will be lovely to buy some land at that place. It will be so peaceful.
Thank you Arindam.
Madhu, this is a stunning post, dear mate! Well, Mangalore — here I come, someday! And, thank you for your visit and comment on my blog. Keep in touch! Love the photos on your blogzine. Cheers.
Thank you Shaheen. Let me know when and I shall take you on a guided visit 🙂 Love your blog too. Not one to be rushed through though, shall return at leisure to absorb all that wisdom and beauty 🙂
oooh! What a nice dream!!! Do it! Do it!!!
Too lazy at this point in time, would hate to be tied down. And R knows that 🙂
Yeah, I hear you! 🙂 But it’s still a nice dream!
Bwahahaha! Is this the same person wailing about you traveling? I think it was about drinking instead of sight-seeing.
Sorry, but this comment went right over my head Rommel!
Hehe. I’m not so sure myself either. I was thinking it was your blogpost where another person said something about how much you travel, and that he/she wants to do seomthing else other than going places.
I would love to build a cottage and float around in one of those boats! It looks so peaceful! Great photo!!
Thank you Victoria! Appreciate your stopping by to share your thoughts.
Wishing you many more dreams and their fulfillment too!
Agree Madhu. Though Kerala is my hometown and I love the place…i haven’t been to any of the popular destinations nor did I plan. Not because I don’t want to but may be it too crowded and there are better quiet places. I love Mangalore and as you said it….I wish to buy a small piece of land…….keeping my fingers crossed.
Vannie
well we thought about startign a homestay too last year. We were exploring Mangalore and Mysore but then the thought of being confined to one place changed our mind.
I still wish to buy a piece of land with plantation crop some day..:)
Madhu, what a beautiful piece! Strikes a chord deep within and moves one immensely! I truly understand this: the days gone by: beautiful, endless, so full and yet so empty, and no matter how many years pass, So alive! What a fabulous writer you are! Didn’t want this to end..wish I could read more..
Very similar to the river canals in Kerala. The canals on the east coast are much narrower. Loved the photo. You bring me many happy memories with your photos of India.