Explore the beaches and backwaters around in Kerala, India

Details

• 

  Description

  Please read the FULL listing:)-, before you contact me, please :)) , and ask me if you have any doubts or concerns.
  
  Hello Friend,
  
  Welcome to my home in the heart of the small but beautiful city of Kochi (Kerala, South India) blessed with off beat beaches and backwater lands around. Beautiful village regions and nature spots which give absolute silence are as close as 20 - 40 minutes away.
  
  You could help with any of the following, in exchange for Accommodation and home cooked Food and More:). This will be a beautiful Cultural Exchange!
  
  A - Teach FRENCH - I travel to France every year, doing massages to support my travel, and I really need to learn French and be better with it, especially with aspects related to massage. I already know many words and sentences in French.
  
  B - Teach / Learn MASSAGE - I work as a Travel masseur in Europe and massage supports my travel fully, to pay my International flights to train etc. I manage to travel once a year. I love to gain more knowledge, learn different styles, concepts and approaches to massage and improve my massage and my awareness.
  
  I have my own style which is quite different from most other prominent massages and should you like to learn my style, am also happy to share my knowledge. Lots of
  
  C- CLEANING - I can't find time and energy to keep my small place clean. You could help with the details. No need to lift heavy things and such :).
  
  D - COOKING - If you like to cook, you are welcome.
  
  I have volunteered myself in France and Spain, so I know how you feel and you will be a friend in my home, be assured.
  
  Kochi International airport is well connected with most prominent airlines/airports from around the world. If your flight arrive night or so, I could try and pick you up from airport in my motorbike.
  ------------------
  
  ABOUT ME:
  I am a simple human, living a very simple life, with an empathetic heart aspiring to be a free spirit.
  I like to Give Respect, Care, Love, Support and anything I can, without expecting it back.
  During my travels, I have always enjoyed the talks with locals, their wisdom, companionship and emotional support which helped me learn and change. Many of my hosts have helped me a lots and am happy to give back .
  
  Love markets, having tea from small roadside shops during bike rides, listening and talking, observing people.
  Not into parties / posh eateries or gadgets.
  
  Was a Pro photographer before, did exhibitions in Sydney and Nice. For 10 years, I helped running an internationally renowned Indian cultural centre, which so far is the best experience in my career.
  
  I work in Travel in India:: In France and/or where I travel, I do Massages to support myself. In the last 7 years all my travels have been fully based on massage and am so so grateful to it for helping me travel and see beautiful country sides in Europe. Many of my European and Russian hosts took my massage while I hosted them in the past, and later hosted and helped me find massages in Europe.
  
  I also organise some volunteering project in different parts of Kerala, working directly with poor schools, farmers.
  
  My partner was French and thanks to her, I was introduced into 'an India I hesitated to see or was ignorant about' and also to concepts - in which I believe - which are shocking to contemporary Indian morality. May I say that I am happy about the change I went through from a typical patriarchal, misogynistic, possessive, nationalistic Indian to now. still have miles to go.
  
  I am sure this stay would be a beautiful cultural exchange for both sides.
  
  I Like
  -to discuss Cultural aspects, Social issues / justice , International affairs, Human rights, movies and so on .
  Massage / Exercising / Photography - even if I don't take pictures anymore
  Football; I love FC Barcelona and Leo Messi.
  Love watching movies, from around the world.
  -------------------------------------------
  ''Capitalism will cut down the tree, if it can’t sell its shadow''
  -------------------------------------------

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Teaching

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  - You can live in my home and have home cooked food in exchange
  
  - Give Massages, free of course, introducing you into Ayurvedic oils, but an energetic & strong style though, not Ayurvedic. May I humbly say its my own style and you can see from the references that 99.999999% have liked it. Since massage is what help me to travel, am happy to give it. Many workawayers once they got it, wanted to learn :)-
  
  - I have a motor bike and if I can manage time, I can give you bike rides to the beaches, backwater areas or around the city itself, mostly in the morning, as my work starts after lunch time.
  
  - Am more than happy for conversations with you. I can discuss with you on almost any topic about India, even its multiple hard truths or about International affairs. I can recommend you books or movies, the latter we could watch together too.
  
  - I have a good collection of movies and tv serials from around the world.
  
  Later in the evening is when I expect to be fully free and it would be nice if we can spend some time together then. I really do not wish to be a hostel for someone who is an early sleeper.
  
  - If you like to improve your core health, I can help you with exercises.
  
  - I can give you expert travel advice for India/Sri Lanka/Vietnam as am myself a travel professional.
  
  - I can help you with photography tips.

• 

  Help

  You could help with any of the options:-
  
  A - Teach me / Learn from me MASSAGE - I am eager to gain more knowledge, learn different styles and different ways of thinking and approaching massages. After my work and dinner.
  If you like to learn a unique style of massage - energetique , then I will be happy to help you.
  
  B - Teach me FRENCH - Even some sentences and words would be good enough;
  
  C- CLEANING - You could help with the details. No heavy lifting and such :). ;you may pick the time you want to help out.
  
  D - COOKING
  --------------------------
  - I also organise some volunteering options in different parts of Kerala, in various projects from Teaching English to the poor/ farm work/ conservation.
  
  - If you are a professional artist/scientist/teacher etc and would like to share some knowledge with school or university students through interactions - all those who did such interactions had a very special experience, I can help you with that.
  
  -I should also be able to help you find opportunities for performances (dance/music) here, which could help you earn some income which will support your travel.

• 

  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Malayalam: Fluent
  Tamil: Intermediate
  French: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  French is what I really want to be good at, but Italian and Spanish also interests me a lot.. I just know a few words of both.
• 

  Accommodation

  My flat has only one bed room and a living room. You can sleep in the bed room (which has a fan). I will sleep on the floor. There is one bathroom, to share, which is accessible only from the bed room. I will not let my guest sleep on the floor.
  
  My flat is located on the 7th floor and there is a lift, but not guaranteed to work 24 hours, 7 days a week.
  
  I will make morning tea, lunch and dinner. I am not into breakfast :(- I mostly cook local dishes, from products I buy from the local market. Food will be simple, but cooked at home. You could cook your own breakfast and lunch, if you will be at home . There is a vegetable and provisions store just near by. A few minutes away there is also the big market of Ernakulam.
  
  I am not an expert cook, but will be happy to help you learn some of our local dishes, if you would like to.
  
  I work for UK hours, so our dinner and sleep is a bit late normally. You can sleep late for sure.

• 

  What else ...

  IMPORTANT
  
  - AM FORMALLY REGISTERED WITH THE INDIA GOVT FRRO(foreigners registration) AND I SUBMIT THE C FORM, ONLINE. PLEASE KEEP A XEROX OF YOUR PASSPORT AND VISA PAGE TO HELP ME DO THIS - There is a photocopy place right below the flat This is obligatory by law. I agree most people in India don't do this....
  
  - If you do not have any interest in the culture or life or host and cant spend some time for some conversations or exchanges with me, then please do not contact me. The best way to share is to share your time with me. Many buy things - without even checking with me, most of which am never going to use - thinking about thanking me, but I adore the time we can spend together, talking and listening and learning from each.
  
  - I am not into Yoga / meditation etc. But it is absolutely fine if you want to practice in my home....
  
  ABOUT KOCHI & visits possible:
  
  Kochi is made up of many islands, even if the main city Ernakulam is on the main land, there are many attraction within the nearby islands. My home is right in the heart of the city.
  
  You can explore the city, which has a nice market, the charming Broadway, and the leisurely Marine drive.
  
  Fort Kochi, the historic part, is just a 20 minutes ferry boat ride away and costs just Rs.6 one way.
  
  You can reach the Cherai beach in a one hour bus ride, means you could visit the beach every day if you want a swim in the warm water!
  
  You can enjoy a day trip to the beautiful backwater region of Alleppey, arguably the most beautiful nature attraction in India.
  You can make day trip to Athirappally waterfalls
  
  These day trips can be easily done with public transport and will not cost you more than Rs.300 per day (4 Euros)
  
  Lots of transport options available. Bus station, Railway, Metro, Ferry everything is just 3 - 20 minutes walk away.
  Lots of eating out options too.
  
  You could also take trips to Munnar, a tea county or Periyar National park or Varkala beach - spending at least 1 night in the place
  
  I am more than happy to help with your travel plans for India.

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  Can host digital nomads

  I have wifi for you, but it may not be enough if your work involves lots of data down/upload in a day. It is quite cheap to buy some extra data, should you require.

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

• 

  Hours expected

  Maximum 1-3 hours a day, 5 days a week

Feedback (13)