March 26th Day 80
Mangalore, India
After 1 day at sea we arrived in the southern port of Mangalore. It is a major port in India, exporting about 75% of its coffee and cashews. It is not a major port stop for cruise ships. There is really not much there and only about 12 cruise ships dock there a year. The city is trying to improve the area and encourage more tourist stops in the future. The climate is tropical and it was very hot, about 95. We did a “Mangalore Highlights” tour. First stop was the Kadri Manjunath temple. This was built about 1068, and is dedicated to the bronze deity Lord Shiva. It was Monday which is the day of worship here. We saw many Hindu people giving worship. With incense and fires burning, and bells ringing it was very interesting. We had to dress appropriately, which meant covered shoulders and knees, and we had to take off our shoes. We did get to keep our socks on though because the pavement was hot! On to St. Aloysius church. Inside is a series of paintings on the ceiling and walls by the Italian artist Anthony Moscheni. It is painted much like the Sistine Chapel, but on a much smaller scale. Very amazing and beautiful. Next was another Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva made of gold and marble. This was more modern, and built by a businessman for the non-Brahmins of Mangalore that were denied entry to Brahmin temples. It was fascinating to watch these people. They were teaching their little children what to do and for us we didn’t get hounded by throngs of sellers trying to ply their wares. Next we went to the cashew factory. This factory employs more than 500 workers with 95 percent being women. The company transports them to and from town and they have a free day-care center. Although the working conditions have improved, by western standards it is far from ideal. We are very fortunate. But I guess work is work, and as we toured, the women were lovely and loved to pose for pictures. Most of the manual work is in the shelling of the nuts. After they are roasted, they are cut open and extracted by a pick. They try to keep them whole since the bigger the nut the more money it brings in. The women cover their hands in coconut oil to protect them and dig in. They are paid by the kilo. The nuts are then graded and packaged. Surprisingly, there are 27 grades of cashews. Once again I will never look at a cashew nut the same way again. Back to the ship since we sail at 5pm. But alas…..I am coming down with a cold. Drat! Someone brought it back with them from their overland in China. Some passengers are dropping like flies and are very sick with upper respiratory infections. I was hoping to get a free pass, since I have been very good about eating right and taking my vitamins. My people patience level on this ship is once again tested. Early to bed tonight, since we have a tour tomorrow in Goa.
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