Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Cooking holiday in Kerala, India, independent reviews
 Reviewed 4 Apr 2009 by Robert Gregson |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Although my main reason for taking this holiday was the Cookery School I found that the outings and visits that were included in the holiday were fascinating and inspiring. I found the early morning visit to the Elephant Sanctuary at Kodanad was truly breathtaking. To see the baby elephants, in particular, being bathed in the river by their caring keepers was wonderful. Even better was that it was so un-commercialised, and the few people watching were transfixed, and everyone had huge smiles on their faces. Equally inspiring was the visit to the Aranya project at Munnar, where the disadvantaged children of the tea-pickers had been trained to work with textiles, dyeing, shibori, and other techniques, and their sister enterprise which was making hand-made paper products. A very humbling experience, enhanced by the welcome we received, and the quality of product we were able to purchase at extremely low, by Western standards, prices.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
When booking the Cookery School I would check with Jacob in advance how many other guests have registered. There were three on my course, which was fine, but there is always the possibility of just one person on the course. Jacob goes out of his way to compensate for this, but I felt that I needed other people, and I gelled with the couple who were on the course with me. One other factor is the weather. Mid-March, when I visited, is very hot and humid, we did have some rain in the evenings, which cooled everything down, but if I were to return to Kerala it would be in January or early-February.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Absolutely. Jacob uses local people for the auto-rickshaw trip round the local neighbourhood, for taxi services, and we visited local enterprises where we able to buy good local goods. Jacob does not accept any pay-offs from these people.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I sandwiched my holiday with a few days on either side in the Fort Cochin area. This enabled me to see a different face of Kerala, and I would recommend that the Cookery Holiday, which was excellent, be combined with another view of Kerala.
| Reviewed 16 Jun 2008 by Bridget Crossman | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There were a few things - going down to the river to watch the elephants being bathed; the ferry boat ride with Mr Baby, who was at least 70 years old! Also cooking and eating the communal evening meal each night - especially one evening in particular when we had half of our cooking lesson in candle light as the power had gone off. The best bit probably was going to the textile and paper making factories.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Do not go here if your idea of a holiday is the Hilton. This is a homestay, but you get very nice, well equipped bungalows, with very nice bathrooms. However, as mentioned above, the lights do go out periodically, which to us lent an air of romanticism to the holiday, not detract from it, and there is no air con and perhaps no hot water at times (but who wants to have a hot shower when it is over 30 degrees C?!) Jacob is thinking of putting in a communal satelite TV, but I hope he doesn't. They joy of the place is the peace and quiet and no other tourists mobbing about.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Absolutely! All the taxis Jacob uses are local, the tuk tuk man, the locals painting their trucks, the mahouts washing their elephants, all doing these things not for tourists to take photos but because it is what they do. The trip up to the tea plantation also takes you to a paper making factory and textile factory who employ disabled local people who are all really proud of their jobs. They recycle and use everything to make the paper - including elephant dung!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
A really nice, very relaxing week's holiday; though perhaps better as part of a longer overall trip to India/Kerala in order to appreciate even more how nice it is to get off the beaten track. The vegetarian cooking was amazing.
Read the operator's response here:
The power situation will be improved by providing back up but we are waiting a bit to put most appropriate power back up which suits our property. The hot water at the moment is based on solar water heater. This also will be backed up with an energy efficient system. By the way candles are plenty. A TV at the communal area is not going to happen, but we are planning to create another area where people can use a small audio video library. There we may put a satellite connection, if some one needs, but it is not going to affect the general ambience.| Reviewed 28 Nov 2007 by Fiona Lanc | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Really enjoyed seeing all the crops & spices growing & looking at the small, local workshops, such as the lorry painting. The elephant training centre is unforgettable!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Trust Jacob & ask him if there's anything you want to know about - he's very, very helpful & knowledgeable. He wants visitors to learn & understand more about his country but also hopes to learn from his visitors about what they enjoy & find interesting so that he can help his business to develop on the right lines.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. The Pimenta is in an area of Kerala which is outside the main tourist areas; use of local transport & labour to help with cooking & room preparation brings helps the local economy. Visits to small workshops & just walking around in the locality, meeting people is low key but very satisfying. Local people can see the success that Jacob is making of his enterprise and are now asking questions in the hope they can also, perhaps, do something similar. Jacob doesn't believe in taking commission from shops etc so doesn't take you to places he has a personal interest in, unlike many unscrupulous individuals! He takes you to places that give an experience & interest.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent - would love to visit again (for the intermediate cookery course!!). I have already passed details onto two other people.
| Reviewed 5 Oct 2007 by Gay Heit | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The best part was just feeling very comfortable and relaxed for the time that we were there. We were greeted with big smiles and felt very at home from the moment we arrived. And of course the pineapple juice!!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Definitely take the 7 day rather than the 3 day cooking course/adventure. I couldn't imagine having to leave after just a few days. You get the opportunity to see more and do more and settle in a bit.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It was definitely an eco-friendly holiday. We got so see life as the locals do and were taken to places that regular tourists would never see. Because of that people seemed friendlier and more open to us because they are not used to seeing foreigners.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
An excellent way to spend a week in India and you can be as busy or relaxed as you choose. I learned so much not only about Keralan food but about the plants and sustainability as well. It is much better to do the activities that come along with the cooking than having to seek them out yourself at another time. And we loved the newly renovated bungalows!