Kumarakom Lake Resort

Living and working out here in Kumarakom North is mostly about the water and the weather. Our place is right by the backwaters, so we see the traditional boats going past several times every day. It is mostly quiet here, except for the birds in the trees and the occasional loud motor from a tourist houseboat passing by. The humidity is pretty high in this part of Kerala, so we are always wiping down the wooden furniture and making sure the rooms do not get too damp. It is honestly a lot of work to maintain a big place like this right on the edge of the lake. We have several local guys who just look after the gardens because the plants grow so fast in the sun. Sometimes the paths to the guest rooms get a bit muddy when it rains heavily, which happens a lot, but we try to keep them clear as much as we can. The kitchen staff is usually busy with the fresh fish that the local fishermen bring in every morning. We do not really do anything flashy or modern; we just try to keep the rooms tidy and the visitors fed. You can hear the water lapping against the shore at night, which is actually quite nice if you are not used to it. Most of the staff comes from the nearby villages, so we all know each other well. It is not like a big city hotel where everything is stiff and formal. Here, we just go about our day, fixing things and talking to people.