Helpful Notes
A few points to help your stay in India.
Food
The range of food and the tastes is enormous and you should not be afraid to eat in the humblest of places...the food is invariably fresh and tasty. You can ask for your food to be more or less spicy according to your palate. Remember that if you eat in a beachside restaurant, of which there are many, be prepared to wait especially if there are a lot of customers...the extent of kitchen ware is limited.
I regularly eat in local, open-fronted hotels (hotel = local cafe!!) and enjoy the limited range of food on any one day...but far less expensive than at beach restaurants. For a treat, I go into Trivandrum to one of a few excellent hotels (proper hotels) for an evening buffet...eat what you like for about R300/- to R400/-.....with a couple of soups, a range of fish dishes, a wider range of meat and veggie dishes, at least 10 or more salads and then, my favourites, an extensive dessert table. Kumari will advise you.
Swimming
The enticing warm Arabian Sea is not far from the house and the advice of the lifeguards should be regarded as there can be undercurrents. An alternative is to pay for a day’
Hair Dryer and Iron
There is a dryer and an iron in the house and also a full length mirror just so that you can check yourself over before going out.
Eyes & Teeth
From personal experience, I can fully recommend that if you need new specs or have dental problems, then use the services of the excellent facilities in Trivandrum. Kumari, the housekeeper will advise you and make arrangements on your behalf. Recently, one friend had no less that 10 crowns fitted and was delighted with the speed and efficiency of the service.
Malaria
Kerala is a non malarial zone and despite what your doctors advise, you do not need to take the terrible tasting malaria tablets. I am still going strong without taking them for many, many years.
General Health Check
In December 2008, I had an Executive Health Check at a local hospital including x-ray and full check of the vital organs all for about £35. It was a brilliant service and I had a full consultation with a doctor and a cardiologist. Worth spending a morning having your own personal MOT.
Travelling Around
The main ways to get about are by auto rickshaw, taxi, local buses and trains. Of course, it is possible to rent scooters (I have bought a new model, Honda Aviator and absolutely love it) and motor bikes (Royal Enfields for the enthusiasts). Buses cost a mere R9/- to get the 16kms into the city centre and beat anything that Alton Towers can offer in the way of thrills and excitement.
Trains
Another wonderful way to travel around - 4 1/2 hours to Cochin (Ernakulam) for around R120/- 2nd class. Great food is always on offer throughout the journey. Another good place to visit is the city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu with the wonderful Meenakshi Temple
Suggested Trips
Obviously, the first thing that most people want to do when visiting my home is to relax and so a few days on the beach and wandering around the many 'interesting' footpaths is the best option.
Then, perhaps you might be interested in such things as a day trip to Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India - stopping off at a most wonderful Palace en route; a day trip up into the Western Ghats through the tea plantations to Ponmudi; a half day trip to Neyyar Dam and its lion reserve, elephant sancturary, crocodile farm and a ride in a speed boat on the large lake
Trips further afield include overnight stays in Cochin (Dutch Palace, Synagogue); an overnight stay on a rice boat (romantic!!!); visiting the wildlife parks at Munnar and Peryiar.
PLEASE DO NOT book any trip before you leave home…there are always ways of booking (usually through our housekeeper) and it is much, much cheaper than through UK or other western travel agencies….and much of the money stays in the west rather than helping the local economy.