Enjoy a sunset cruise every evening on a vallam (country boat) out in the open backwaters. The sights, breeze, sounds and smell of the late evenings are indeed very soothing. If you are lucky you can also catch the moonrise.

Take a canal cruise through the narrow and winding canals on a vallam or motor boat and catch a glimpse of the unique backwater villages.

For bird watchers the backwaters and the farm offer ample opportunities for sighting kingfishers, woodpeckers, egrets, cormorants, herons, crowpheasants, snakebirds, teals, etc.

Ask for a cooking class from mum and learn the nuances of the local cuisine.

Do a farm walk with any of us and learn about farming below lake level as well as the different crops cultivated. Do check out toddy tapping.

Walk around the island along the outer dyke. This may take a little under 3 hours and covers a distance of approximately 8 kms. You could also walk in the village and the market, across in the mainland.

Do a wider sightseeing and exploration trip of the countryside on a bicycle. A sketch of the region can be provided and you get to enjoy the coconut groves, paddy fields, canals and villages that blend into each other. Most of the roads in the mainland are flat with little or no gradient.

For the adventurous try swimming in the backwaters in front of the villas.

Visit the Ayurvedic Centre opposite the property for consultation. Try out rejuvenating massages to proper Ayurvedic treatments for various ailments spread over weeks if need be.

Try fishing (rods available), or, if you are lucky, check out if you can spike scampi at night.

Visit the St. Mary’s parish church at Vechoor. This is an old church with a history dating back to over 500 yrs.

Visit the local temples which are in plenty, the Vaikom Siva temple being the biggest and most famous of the lot.

Visit a very old Nair Tharavad (household) - ‘The Kaimals’. The household has a history of over 400 yrs- their old wooden house being a testimony of this. The family temple, the old palm leaf manuscripts, the temple art of ‘kalam’ drawing (for which only natural and organic pigments are used) and the tallest Snake God statue are the other attractions there.

Watch the hundreds of fireflies in the farm at night. You might just mistake them for the stars.

The property also offers an ideal setting and is inspiring for serious writers and artists.

But, if you are the kind who wants to just relax and cool off, sit on the verandah or under the trees and dream or observe the passing backwater life or catch up with your reading. You could also star gaze into the clear pollution free night sky.

Finally you could engage the family members and just chat about anything and everything