Help with housesitting and care for our pets in Mysore, India

Details

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  Description

  We've recently moved to a new house. I'm Stephen from the UK and been living in Mysore for 17 years. Manjula, my Indian wife and I set up the homestay.
  
  We offer accommodation and guided cycle tours. We're now based in Gokulam the centre of yoga in Mysore. We live in a wonderful city with lots to do. We love our life here and meeting the rich mix of guests from all sorts of backgrounds that come to share our home. It’s just fifteen minutes from the Palace at the centre and a short distance from gorgeous countryside. it's great having workawayers to also share our home. The team now includes Sowbhagya, Mailis, our dog Luka, and our cat Billet-Doux and the continuing support from Sarvesh..
  
  Manjula, my wife who founded the Bed and Breakfast with me, unfortunately died, seven years ago and in line with her wishes we continue work with with our community. Manjula's had many difficulties in her earlier years and so wanted us to help others in a similar situation. We have therefore supported young people through our reflective space, creativity events and educational sponsorship.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Teaching

  Light gardening

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  Help with Computers/ Internet

  House & pet sitting
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  Interests

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Sustainability

  

  Pets

  

  Culture

  

  Self development

  

  Charity work

  

  Gardening

  

  Drawing & painting

  

  Animals

  

  Camping

  

  Cycling
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We've been the top bed and breakfast in Mysore for over ten years but closed while I’m away. Check the reviews. One of the main attractions was the Indian/English couple that set it up. We continue to provide that same insights into the culture and idiosyncrasies of India We hope to provide the opportunity to gain insights into India and life in and around Mysore. It’s an open house with guests from around the world. The experience and skills gained will depend on your interests but might also include developing a business, local history, (academic interests in education/sociolology, culture. anthropology) understanding more about India (ha ha - there's a challenge) and relating to different people. There are cycles for you to be able to use. We can help you get to know the area really well. We’re based in a popular yoga area. There’s lots of cultural and spiritual activities.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  I’m away for the next few months and looking for someone, or a couple to look after the house, the dog and cat while I’m away. It’ll not be open to paying guests but Sowbhagya will be here and some friends may come to stay. Fancy an adventure. We can also be creative to design something to fit our local community, the needs and interests of the workawayer and ourselves. . Previously : we’ve designed something specific. Anything’s possible. We created a project specifically for Willian (he’s from Brazil!) aka Spicy Bill. He was our very first workawayer. He stripped the cycles we use for our tours, we’ve then had them repainted, he then rebuilt and helped maintain them. On his last day he immersed our Ganesh in the holy river as part of an annual ceremony.
  
  Once he made initial contact we designed a project that responded to his interests and skills, that’s how we like to work. We’re flexible and up for a workawayer to suggest new things. Others did a spot of decorating and generally helped around the house. We’ve also created a summer holiday camp for a nine year old (she’s twelve now) and holidays with a boy we sponsor who’s now 18. We love having workawayers. We’re open and flexible but to be fair all round. Share your ideas.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  One of the bedrooms in our bed and breakfast. It’s sharing our home with a kitchen, two lounges, garden and outdoor sit out on the roof terrace. Full breakfast is included only when we have guests and is usually mushrooms, toast, scrambled egg, etc. If there are no guests mainly muesli, fruit salad. Sometimes we’ll have Indian breakfast. Meals are not provided. We’re a vegetarian household.

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  What else ...

  Mysore is a city of a million people that still manages to feel like a town. It’s a popular tourist destination in itself for heritage with many many Palaces and temples and great instructional buildings, and yoga and much more. Further afield there’s tons to see and do: Srirangaptnam island, temple towns, Tibetan settlement, national parks, hill stations.... getting no around is easy. We have cycles available here or on the island, our own trusted drivers ( at a cost) with cars or auto rickshaws. International airport is 3-4 hours away at Bangalore.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We're a Bed and Breakfast and often have guests who will use our wifi to keep in touch and work.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  Luka

  Billet-Doux (4 years)

  Ginger, small, is very friendly, when we see her ….

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