Visiting Europeans Get a Taste of Mangalore's Culture, Cuisine

Prakash Samaga 
Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore
 
Mangalore, Aug 4: Travelling and exploring the world, of course, benefits young minds, however, deciding a destination and planning the tour is often time consuming.
 
Here is a method adopted by '41ers Club of Mangalore’ formed by Round Table members. The members, as the name indicates, are above the age of 40. These people plan the tour on ‘reciprocation’ method wherein their children travel across the world and stay with host '41ers' in faraway places.
 
This time 12 youngsters from different countries visited Mangalore and explored the city from August 2 to 4.

David, who is studying in a technical school in Austria found meeting people in Mangalore and observing their lifestyle very interesting, while Sabrina of Germany who has a farmhouse wherein 1000 cows are fed by her brother, feels one should travel across South India to know the country better and says she liked the way people showed mutual respect.
 
The 12 young ‘ambassadors’ visited Mangalore, exploring the city from August 2 to 4, all between the age group of 18 to 22 years, including boys and girls from countries like Germany, France, Austria and Belgium.
 
Narrating their experiences in Mangalore, Alexandra from Munich, Germany said that they had a wonderful time visiting places like St Aloysius Chapel, Kudroli temple, Albuquerque tile factory, Ripsons dance class, Achal cashew factory, Moodbidri's Thousand Pillar Basadi, Gomateshwar statue, and the artisans village at Pilikula.
 
Taibu from France was mesmerised by the lifestyle of the people in India, while 18-year-old Louis from Belgium, one of the youngest in the team said people in India are generous and kind. He said he liked Mangalore more than Mumbai as it is less crowded. Annie from Germany said, "Every state has a different culture and cuisine. This tour provided us some practical knowledge too - we came to know pineapple does not grow on a tree but is a plant."
 
Martin from Germany, another 18-year-old and standing tall at 6.5 ft, said he did not like the taste of coriander in Mangalorean food but relished rice, fruits and mango juice. He added, "Mangalore has less traffic comparatively and travelling was fun."
 
George from Austria he decided to join the group after his father told him that it would be a good opportunity to visit India under the ‘Young Ambassadors Programme’. What he enjoyed the most was the Mangalorean cuisine, both for its variety and its spicy taste.
 
Stephany from Austria feels comfortable in India as people here are more open. "People in Austria are kind of reserved but here they are a lot more outgoing and friendly."

Gauotye from France said he got to speak English while travelling across India. He was impressed by India's diversity in religions and religious institutions, but did not like the rain in Mangalore.
 
Symons from Germany, a 20-year-old who is studying business administration and Maxim, a 19-year-old from Belgium also expressed their pleasure in visiting places in and around the city.
 
Except for Louis who visited New Delhi last year, it was the first India tour for all of them. All the four foreign girls wore sarees and were proud of it.
 
Suresh Mathias, chairman of '41ers Club' of Mangalore who did his chartered accountancy in London said it was a great pleasure to host this programme. Marian Saldanha is the convenor of Mangalore Young Ambassador Project.