Alsaj Hotel

You can find us at the Tower View building in Vembayam. We are right there on the way out of Trivandrum. This hotel has been a landmark for people traveling through this part of Kerala for quite some time. It’s not a fancy five-star place with white gloves, but it’s clean and the food is always hot. We start early in the morning when the mist is still over the hills. The kitchen gets busy first, with the smell of breakfast starting to spread around. I’ve worked here for a while, and you see all sorts of people coming through the doors. Some are just stopping for a quick bite, while others stay for a few days if they have work in the area. Vembayam is a nice spot, not as crowded as the city center. We have a good view from the higher floors, which is probably why the building is called Tower View. We don't really go for all that modern marketing stuff. We just focus on making sure the rooms are tidy and the curry tastes right. Sometimes the power goes out and we have to switch on the generator, or a delivery is late, but we always find a way to make it work. It’s a busy life, especially on the weekends when families come out for dinner. We just like being the place where people feel they can take a break and relax for a bit. It is hard work, but seeing someone enjoy their meal makes it worth it.