News

KERALA

06
Mar
BASIS REISEN - Indien sehen, erleben und geniessen

Winter Blues? Come Grab a Pocketful of Sunshine!

A warm slice of sunshine in the deepest, darkest, coldest, dead of winter. Wouldn’t we just KILL for that! Well, before we get into the nitty gritty of How to get away with Murder, let’s explore a saner option – step into some sunshine!! Hold on to your horses, I ain’t telling you to go around the city with a thermometer either!

OK let me get straight to the point before you go off on a quest for Little Miss Sunshine. Introducing your very own Place Under the Sun to get a the pocketful of sunshine –  sunny, sunny Kerala.

Why Kerala?

 

The warm sun on your face, green lusciousness as far as the eye can see, wind in your hair, just the right doze of sea breezes to do wonders for your health (the glow on your skin, I tell you!), and all-natural food fresh off nature’s basket of bounties.

Need I say more? Probably not, but let’s hear it from the experts. The National Geographic magazine listed Kerala among the top ten travel destinations under its “Paradise Found” list. Doesn’t get more authentic than Nat Geo on travel, does it?

Kerala has always been known for its beauty and as a retreat from this Mad World. Winter here is the most pleasant time of the year. It is the perfect weather to get in your dose of Vitamin D and take in all those happy enzymes that only sunshine and nature can bring.

Precious Vitamin D

We aren’t just shooting out a feel-good tale of sun and sand and rainbows and unicorns here. Good old common sense and no-nonsense science agrees – you do need some sunshine in your life!

The NHS lays it down: “We need vitamin D to help the body absorb calcium and phosphate from our diet. These minerals are important for healthy bones, teeth and muscles. A lack of vitamin D – known as vitamin D deficiency – can cause bones to become soft and weak, which can lead to bone deformities. In children, for example, a lack of vitamin D can lead to rickets. In adults, it can lead to osteomalacia, which causes bone pain and tenderness.”

The same article talks about the lack of this vital nutrient in cold climes like the UK: “In the UK, sunlight doesn’t contain enough UVB radiation in winter (October to early March) for our skin to be able to make vitamin D.”

The verdict: Chase the Sun!

Chasing the Sun at BASIS

At BASIS, we have noticed that winter is a popular time for our guests to come a calling. Many of our customers love the beautiful weather here and schedule a 2-3 week stay with us. There’s a host of things that are on offer (apart from the very alluring prospect of sitting Under the Kerala Sun). We have specialists in Ayurveda who you can consult and have an ayurvedic treatment started off with. 100% natural organic home cooked meals, tours that show you the best portions of Kerala, and the opportunity to get up, close and personal with Nature – this is what we have to offer. Here are some wonderful comments from our guests who have stayed the winter and have loved it!

 

“Vielen lieben Dank an alle, die diesen wundervollen Ort zu dem machen, was er ist. Diese spezielle Energie hat mir sehr sehr gut getan. Jeder Einzelne hat dazu beigetragen, dass ich tiefgreifend verstehen, fühlen und von innen heraus Heilung erfahren durfte. Dafür bin ich sehr dankbar. Vieles kam auf, hat sich präsentiert und verabschiedet, sodass ich mit weniger Last weiter fliegen und tanzen kann.” – ALEXANDRA

[Translation: Many thanks to all who make this wonderful place the place it is. This special energy did me a world of good. Every single person did his/her bit to ensure that I could deeply understand, feel and be healed from inside. I am very grateful for that. Many things came up, presented themselves and said goodbye, so that I can fly and dance on with less weight. – ALEXANDRA]

“Danke für euer herzliches, liebevolles, fürsörgliches sich Kümmern vor und während meiner Ayurvedakur. Ihr habt mich ruhen, schlafen, lesen lassen, wenn ich es brauchte. Danke auch für die spontane Rundreise und alle anderen Ausflüge.” –NADJA

[Translation: Thanks for your warm, loving and attentive care before and during my Ayurveda-treatment. You gave me the time to rest, sleep, read, when I needed it. Thanks also for the spontaneous round-trip and all the other tours. -NADJA]

Hope to see you soon too! Call us to book your next winter stay right now and get incredible deals.

Here are some pictures from some of our guests who enjoyed this winter with us.

17
Dec
BASIS Beachside at Kerala India

Holiday with a Cause

I was more than ready for a holiday; but I didn’t exactly have a definite place in mind. I had been hearing a lot about Responsible Tourism and Eco holidays lately and was definitely intrigued. So after a bit of web searching and asking around, I found something that fit the bill to a tee – the BASIS resort, and boy was it all that I had asked for.

The chain of resorts is part of the BASIS program; BASIS is an acronym for Bio Agriculture & Social Improvement Schemes. I had read up their website, and was fascinated by the amazing things being done there. Sustainability, hobby agriculture, waste water management, tailoring and art schools for local women and children; I wanted to be a part of it, if only for a short while.

And to be honest, I wanted to check out for myself if the “real Indian experience” slogan on the website was really true. What with all the gimmicks of mass tourism, this might have been just another tailor made Indian experience. With the intent to find out, and of course hoping to enjoy myself, I booked my stay in the resort as part of a group tour, packed my bags and got going.

Aboard again!

Air Asia should give me frequent flier miles really! But yes they do offer the cheapest flights in India. So I took a flight from Bangalore to Kochi and a short flight later, there I was in God’s Own Country. The resort director, Theresa had told me that they would arrange a pick up if I would like. You could opt for that or ask them to book a bike for you, which we did – a 500 cc Royal Enfield Classic! It was a pleasant 2 hour journey, and I couldn’t get enough of the lush greenery and the well maintained roads.

Bikeride Kumily India Kerala BASIS

Cruising along

Home Base – Sreekandamangalam

 

BASIS Resort in Kerala

Sreekandamangalam

BASIS is a group of three resorts, one in Sreekandamangalam, the second in Kumily, and the beach resort in Thaikkal. First stop was Sreekandamangalam, and it was much better than I had imagined it to be. I was greeted by the hostess Leelamony, and instantly became part of her family.

BASIS Leelamony with Sowmya

Leelamony is convinced I am family. I’m in wholehearted agreement!

Every nook and cranny of the resort was a lesson in sustainability; the aesthetically designed and naturally ventilated rooms that were a cool haven from the hot weather outside, the waste water treatment, the homegrown veggies in every meal, the genuine non commercialized efforts to help improve the local society, down to the bottled plants that were a lesson in upcycling. I am going to be writing a LOT more about those things you can be sure.

traditional indian food kerala meals

21 dishes in this traditional Kerala meal!!! Fresh, homegrown and cooked with love

The ayurveda massages were absolutely unique. The massage studio was a well ventilated room right next to a stream. It was raining outside when I had my first session; listening to the pitter patter of rain on the terracotta roof, caressed by the cool breeze redolent with exotic flowers, and under the expert ministrations of Mallika, the masseuse – blissful would be an understatement!

 

Ayuveda Massage at BASIS India

Mallika and a very relaxed guest

 

I was a bit surprised that there was no intercom, but the hospitality was so impeccable that I never felt the lack of it.

BASIS Mountain

 

BASIS Mountain Stay in Kumily

Kumily resort with the Ayurveda nursery

The “BASIS Mountain” resort in Kumily was another treat. As promised in the itinerary, we were driven there quite comfortably, through winding roads and breathtaking scenery. There was where I met the host Matthew Moozhiyil. Such a larger than life personality I have never seen! He just envelops you in his energy; every time you speak with him, you are left zinging with the vibrancy and dynamism of someone completely dedicated to living life to the full. Giving back to nature what rightfully belongs to her is his role and mission in life and BASIS is his stage. You will be hearing much more about him too.

Dr. Mathew & Leelamony Moozhiyil

Mathew and Leelamony Moozhiyil

If Sreekandamangalam was a lesson in preservation of Nature, Kumily is a celebration of her triumphal progress. The beautiful landscaping, the wide open architectural design, the creative use of Nature’s best resources, the ayurveda nursery, and the constant development, all come together to create the pulse of the resort. You cannot help but be drawn into its energy.

Waterfalls in Kumily Kerala India

Nature Unleashed

Teaplantation at Kumily Kerala India

Tea estates dot the landscape on the way to Kumily

 

Beach

The beach resort, oh the beach resort! Nature unleashed in all her glory; unbroken stretches of golden sand with no food stalls to mar her beauty, no steamer boats to break the rise and fall of her waves, no other sounds to disrupt her symphony, and no room for worries that can disrupt her harmony. I cannot begin to describe the absolute tranquility that is in offer at this place. Untouched by mass tourism, this beach resort is the real deal.

BASIS Beachside at Kerala India

Paradise

The Indian experience

I was intent on writing about how today’s tourism paints a very tailor made picture of what India really is; The stereotypical India is a view of the slums, or a bunch of exotic snake charmers and gypsies doling out folk songs, so I was prepared for the drama. No such thing here, fortunately. What guests saw was the real India, the India of progress, the India that proudly showed off the unparalleled beauty of its unique flora and fauna. Guests aren’t shown poor helpless country folk who beg for alms; what they see are the timid but strong men and women of the country who are working hard towards bettering their situation and who are proud of their achievements.

Johnnys English Academy Kerala India

Mathew’s protégé – From Sreekandamangalam to Germany and back

Verdict

Preserving the true essence of what is in man and nature, while giving both the freedom to grow and evolve is what BASIS stands for; and being part of it, even for a while was a privilege! I really enjoyed my stay and would highly recommend it.

Serene Nature BASIS Kerala India

For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.