Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
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Community
The homestay is an integral part of the local community and supports the community by sponsoring local events both religious and sports oriented. The Homestay also promotes local events like the Carnival, Christmas celebrations, the local church feast, the harvest of paddy and the harvest of fresh water fish at Corjem lake by organizing special packages for guests to witness these events.
The hosts are involved with an NGO called TARA Trust which has a mission of educating, empowering and enabling the underprivileged, especially children and women, to improve their lives. They volunteer with TARA Trust and distribute brochures about the Trust to guests. There is a collection box for TARA on the homestay premises, the funds of which are used for TARA projects.
The hosts help almost all guests plan their itinerary based on their special interests. The hosts guide them to the local restaurants, shops and activities. The efforts include taking the guests to visit the local bakery, go fishing and for rides with the local fishermen, watch paddy being harvested, watch fresh water fish being cultivated etc. This gives them an idea of rural life and its self sustaining nature. Guests are encouraged to use the public bus which stops at predetermined times in front of Arco Iris or throughout the day about half kilometers down the road. They are also encouraged to use the local ferry.
All of the homestay staff is local. Preference is given to women. All of them take personal pride in the homestay and its upkeep. The hosts have a background in Operations and customer service and personally train the staff on the Customer Service aspect.
All our kitchen requirements like vegetables and grocery comes from the local Curtorim market. These are also used for guest’s meals. Bread and milk is also provided by the local baker.
The Carpenter, Electrician, Plumber, Welder, Mason etc are from either Curtorim or one of the neighboring villages. The hosts use the same persons since they are now familiar with the family and share a great rapport.
Environment
The homestay uses only CFL’s to reduce the consumption of electricity. The hosts have also reduced the use of air conditioners to the bare minimum and wherever used, the appliance is of 5 star energy conservation rating. The same applies to other domestic appliances. Everyone is encouraged that use of lights and appliances is kept to the minimum and switched off when not in use.
Rain water is stored in a well and this is used for watering the gardens. The Homestay has showers and the hosts encourage the use of buckets for bath since less water is used this way.
The grey water is directed towards the gardens. The hosts inform all guests of the laundry scheme. The sheets and towels which are placed aside for a wash are changed is explicitly requested. Otherwise, as a rule, towels are changed daily and bed linen every third day.
Natural fertilizers are used for the garden. The guests staying at Arco Iris can spot The Indian Jackal and innumerable birds. There is a bird box and a bird bath as well as a lake adjoining the property. The bottom half of the property is untouched to encourage growth of natural flowers, The hosts plan to develop a butterfly park there in the near future.
A “Khamba” composter is used for kitchen waste. The garden waste is composted in a pit in the garden. All paper and plastic waste is sent for recycling. The Homestay office is paper free and uses recycled stationary. The hosts also work from home.
The hosts have organized workshops on snakes through the forest department where their guests and neighbors are educated about snakes and how they are important for our environment.
The homestay is a 120 year old home which has been restored to its original condition over a period of 3 years. During the restoration local material like late rite stone, local matti wood etc has been used. The hosts have also ensured that all the wood, tiles, pillars etc has been retained and either used in its original form or deployed in alternate ways. The old doors have been retained and polished, the old pillars have been used in different areas while new late rite pillars have replaced them, the old stone grill has been redeployed, old doors have been used to carve the dining table, old door frames have been used to make book and crockery cabinets. The old well has been restored and now occupies pride of place.
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