As you cruise along the main canal of Alappuzha town, the road meanders towards the Punnamada Boat Jetty Road, leaving behind the usual commotion of the town. Another curvaceous swing into about 2 kilometers on the left, and you are greeted with a charming old house on the right. A red berry tree provides an effusive welcome in the winter season, with its ripe fruit ready to be plucked and pickled in traditional Kerala style. The archaic house of over 75 years old is home to Tony & Swapna, along with their young son and a bustling quorum of four more members. This vibrant wholesome family is a pleasant breather from the otherwise neo- nuclear families of India.
The red coloured cottages, christened ‘Dazzle Dew’, are a pleasing respite amidst the grass in the front and the numerous shades of green at the back of house, where the 3.5 acres of cardamom, coffee and spices plantations begin. The cottages have been creatively constructed with interlocked bricks and minimal use of cement. Both the 2 roomed structures have all modern facilities of AC and TV, but have retained some traditional elements so as to be architecturally congruous to the ancestral house in the vicinity. The most artistic feature is the open roofed bathroom, for an exclusive showering experience under the moon or the sun, depending on the time of the day. Mosquito nets fixed atop the bed, provide for an aesthetic and practical requirement in the luscious area. In fact, individual electric bats to ward off mosquitoes often end in playful battles amongst the cottages.
Meals can be served in personal verandahs or more persuasively in the common restaurant where guests can share experiences over a delightful Kerala meal. Continental or North Indian food can also be prepared if one has had their fill of South Indian food. Tony and Swapna’s amicable style has helped them carve out great ties with countless travelers, beyond the confines of language and nationality.
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