A little hard to find, but with help from the locals, our rickshaw driver soon found the place and we were greeted by the wonderful Joslin. What a great host he is - full of information and suggestions as to where to go and what to see. Also, having studied Conversational English at university, we were able to have some lovely discussions with him on a variety of topics (Indian culture, English culture, education, religion, food etc etc). The room was fairly big, the hot water was plentiful and the air conditioning worked very well. Also, Wi-Fi was available in the room, which was a bonus.
The food was amazing, and freshly prepared and cooked every day by one the local ladies (by local, I mean she lives about 20 yards from Heritage Haven !). We stayed here for seven nights, and we had a different breakfast every day (always traditional Keralan) and at dinner, I cannot remember a dish being served to us twice, such was the variety (again, traditional Keralan, made with local ingredients). The homestay is about a 6 - 7 minute walk from the excellent Marari Beach (make sure you turn left at the big white cross as you reach the beach - the right side is not so nice) and within a couple of minutes walk, there are a few shops selling basics, as well as a sewing place, a barber and somewhere to get manicures and pedicures done.
Also, Joslin can advise you which temples to visit and when, so you can see real traditional dancing and ceremonies, not just the ones laid on for tourists.
So, to sum up, this is an excellent place to visit for a few days or even more, just to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. Joslin is an excellent host who will look after your every need and will ensure you have excellent food. (PS, beer can be available if you let Joslin know). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!
