@rohan-d-souza
Will cross the city for a good kebab.
Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana (2021)
Two childhood friends rule Mangalore's underworld, until they don't. Raw and violent, and the background score is unforgettable. Turn on subtitles even if you know Kannada; the Mangalore dialect is thick.
Horsley Hills
A perfect day ride: wide roads out of the city, then a twisty climb to a breezy hilltop. Leave at dawn and you're back by dinner. Good roads, so it's a nice first long ride.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
A science teacher wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory. The friendship in the second half got me. Go in knowing nothing. Don't read the blurb, don't watch any trailers.
Manjummel Boys (2024)
A friend falls into a cave in Kodaikanal and the rest refuse to leave. I was holding my breath for an hour. Watch in a theatre-style setup, lights off, sound up.
Albert Bakery, Frazer Town
Brain puffs, mutton samosas and khova naan straight out of the oven. A Frazer Town institution for a reason. Go late afternoon when the fresh trays come out. The khova naan sells out first.
Russell Market, Shivajinagar
Kebab stalls, biryani joints and bakeries crammed around a market that's been there since 1927. Go hungry and in a group so you can try a bit of everything. Carry cash.
Indian Coffee House, Church Street
Waiters in white turbans and cummerbunds, a mutton cutlet, and filter coffee for less than a parking ticket. Don't expect wifi or speed. Bring a friend and an hour.
Rim Naam, The Oberoi
Thai food in a garden pavilion, the MG Road traffic somehow completely silent. The green curry was the best I've had in India. Ask for an outdoor table, and order the curry hotter than you think you want.
VV Puram Food Street (Thindi Beedi)
A whole street of vegetarian stalls packed shoulder to shoulder: thatte idli, gobi, holige, and a queue for everything. Go after 7pm when every stall is open. Don't skip the Congress bun from VB Bakery at the corner.
Agumbe ghat
Fourteen hairpins through rainforest, and the sunset point at the top is the one from every postcard. Time it for sunset at the viewpoint. In the monsoon, the road is slick, so ride gently.
