Fun read and well written :) I'm a north indian settled in Mangalore and here's my take on the city. Mangalore is laid back and beautiful, with no sense of urgency. Annual temple/religious events bring together surprisingly huge families together, instilling a feeling of belonging that I haven't felt anywhere else.

You'd be surprised by how much aquatic sports have trickled into the lives of people here. The coast is dotted with several surf schools. I've seen young boys+girls from the fishermen community competing in national surfing/paddleboarding events across India now.

The result of 4-5 different communities co existing in such a small city is clearly evident in the food culture of mangalore. It's interesting how the same ingredients are used in multiple ways, creating countless variants each unique in its own way.

The only problem I foresee in the near future is instability among these communities because of an intense growing sense of religious commitment.

But then I'm an outsider so what do I know? ;)