From our guest book
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| “I really lost a piece of my heart here with all of you!” -Bianca Dauber from Germany | “…different wonderful moments and thousands of heartly smiles with us.. - Claudia & Wolfgang Germany |
“One can spend a lifetime here” - Prabhat Verma India |
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| “…the place is only half the experience we loved- the people were and are the other half. -Lincoln Harris and Madelene Pearson Australia | “One can really introspect one’s self” - Jayshree and Ashutosh Sanghvi India | “Our stay here has allowed us to re-connect as a family, as people!” Hans, Ako, Akira + Gyan Switzerland |
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| “Thank you for the wonderful stay- indeed an experience to be remembered” -Yumi and Romi | “It says a lot for a Hotel to be the only guest and to feel so comfortable, so welcome….” - Nicole Wiener Germany |
From our mail box
Dear Sir:
After visiting some of your properties, Coconut Lagoon and Marari Beach, in 2000 with my husband who, unfortunately died in 2003, I thought I should ask Ayurveda to help me to recover some of my lost happiness. I came to know about Kalari Kovilakom in 2005 through an article in the French press. Then I spent 15 days in this wonderful place.
At that time Swaswara was to open in 2006. I then decided to continue my ayurvedic experiences and booked Swaswara for one month treatment. In view of the results on my mind and body, I realized that I should go back in 2007, and then in 2008.
I am now back to France after my third one month stay in Swaswara which I simply call Paradise. I wish I could express my feelings but, very simply, I just found a family with the whole team working there : Anjali and Sam, the Front Office, the doctors in Ayurveda and the staff, the staff in house keeping, the restaurant, the kitchen etc.... They are all my brothers, sisters, children and grandchildren. I had great pleasure in offering a meal to the whole staff and had lunch with them in the mess on my birthday 9th January. I knew that 2 years before, they just made my life so happy, organizing Xmas, New Year and my birthday party. They are just GREAT. I know my opinion is shared among the majority of guests. Some of them were also coming back for the third time. Why ?
When talking to the staff, they all seem very happy to work with Anjali and Sam and realize that there is not any other hotel where Management is very close to them. Most of them come from Kerala, which means far from their respective families but they enjoy working in Swaswara where, like me, they found a family.
Regarding the property, the rooms, the restaurants, the ayurvedic treatment every place is Clean, Green and Healthy which is what you wish to offer to all your guests. Isn't it ?
Please convey my feelings to everyone in Swaswara. I am already planning to go back in November 2009.
With best regards,
GIN PROUST , France
Hi Anjali,
Back to the grind am I, after a beautiful holiday. Benita had asked me to write something on your guest book and I told her that I'll be sending a mail for the same. Here's what I wanted to write of my experience in SwaSwara.
A Tribute
"SwaSwara" - Discovering your inner self. The meaning of the word would not make much sense till you experience the hospitality at SwaSwara. Back in Mumbai, the nostalgia saddens the heart. Flashes of so many incidents comes in, as I close my eyes. Starting with Chidambar's tour of the property and his taste of the wild trees and fruits, to the smiling Ruchir's yoga sessions, the always "keen to serve" Benita, Dorathy & Narendra at the reception to the service of our singing Pramela at the restaurant, the chefs with their tasty, mouth watering dishes, to the well versed Ayurveda doctors, Dayanand & Shobha, the many unseen backend staff, who made sure that nothing missed out in our comforts, to the housekeeping staff who kept our bed spreads in order, the tales of Anjali, who sits on top, to the only potter in Gokarna, who is keen to share his knowledge. Nothing seems to fade away from our memories as I regard this as one of my best holiday experience in terms of hospitality.
I start wondering what motivates the people working at SwaSwara. Its when I saw how the staff enjoys work with pleasure and activities that I realized what I have been missing in life. Probably, people like us live so deep in the mechanical city world that we have forgotten what it is to stay close to nature and enjoy life. Quite impressive were the concepts of rain water harvesting & bio fuel generation as we, in the city, take too many things for granted.
At the end, I wanna thank each and everyone out there for making this holiday a memorable experience... Even though we spent just five days out there, the nostalgia remains and it would take a very long time to get over it.
Mathew Daniel , India
Dear Sir
My nephew Mr. Naresh Shahani had arranged our stay at Swa Swara. We have returned a few days ago after spending five wonderful days. I would like to congratulate you and all the persons responsible for the entire idea of creating this type of a heaven in India. The entire concept is executed with vision, skill and excellent taste. The complex is maintained very well. The hospitality and friendliness of each and everyone at Swa Swara is to be experienced to be believed. The Yoga teachers (we have been doing Yoga for many years) were very knowledgeable, friendly and encouraging. The food was excellent and the Chef has many delightful recipes. Bird watching was great fun and the Potters wheel is such a hit that we decided to install one at our week end home We even had an evening where the guests entertained others and after a little reluctance the guests did enjoy giving their own performances. The absence of the idiot box and a wonderful reading room added to the tranquility and sereneness. We enjoyed helping the staff cleaning up of the beach.
All this would not be possible without the staff who are trained brilliantly. Lastly, it would not be proper to end this note without saying a few words of praise for Ms Anjali Tolani who brings a different depth to the concept of hotel management. She was there morning and evenings in the dining area speaking to the guests on various subjects; she was there at the entrance to welcome new guests; she was there when the guests departed; she was there cleaning up the beach with the staff and she was there to play volley ball with the staff to keep the bonding. In short she was there and everywhere.
We must congratulate you for thinking out of box and employing an MBA without experience of Hotel management for this role. We think it was a brilliant decision and has paid of handsomely.
During our stay we have noticed that all the guest looked happy and comfortable. There is a certain class to this place which five star and deluxe hotel complexes do not have.
Once again our very best thanks for making our stay so comfortable.
Best Regards
Prem & Nipun Sheth, India
Dear Sir
I just came back home and starting the routine but with a really new energy ! To be honest I have to tell you it was one of my most pleasant trips in my life. After traveling to 21 countries and some of them more than once. I am experienced enough to have some clear points of comparison. I am grateful for the lovely place & people. After six days and nights it was not easy to leave ,at all. I not only enjoyed the facilities and classes but meeting such a great people there. Meeting a Swami in a resort was as strange as the book titled "the monk who sold his Ferrari"!! After attending his first class I found him a real caring teacher. Besides every other joy that I found in Swaswara to release a tired body I found a lot of food for mind and soul through Swami ,too.
There is a lot of points that I want to share :Architecture: The whole area is very heart warming and welcoming. The usage of very natural and local materials in their best shape & design is appreciable.The feeling inside is that u don't need even to go out! At the time of arrival I requested the reception to give me a good sea view place. I didn't know that they were laughing in their heart ! they knew how beautifully designed the rooms were to have a special private view!!!
All details in the room also made obvious how life could be made truly beautiful .
The BlueDome experience was excellent. Maybe because I come from the land of domes . It was so calming . And one can feel the vibrations of energy very clearly. I spent hours every day there and even a lazy person like me was encouraged to go there and perform Yoga asanas. Actually Kirit the Yoga teacher took lot of efforts to make me continue.
Ayurveda Center Was as exhilarating. The standard of cleanliness was very good. the girls(Soumya & Rasheena) were very silent & focused through the massage . It seems a small point but it really makes a difference specially when u don't understand their talks. I felt spoiled by them.
Kitchen & restaurant staff It seems that I liked every thing . Because for all subjects I have one word 'excellent' including kitchen management. Naranjuth and his team really didn't let me feel that I am dining alone . I found a better name for Chef . Chef of Joy instead of Chef Joy!!! We had a cultural exchange . I taught him one iranian veg dish . And he showed me Four . Very fair!
But as I said the whole spirit of Swaswara was more related and integrated when I was talking with Swami. I had the pleasure of his company and during this times I was just trying to understand him. As Mr,Jose said it is truly an experience. Yes. You can not place it in the pictures.
I am going to invite some friends who might be interested in where I go in India! I was inspired at Swaswara, to combine some of my pictures and small texts. If u look my pictures there you can feel how relaxed and peaceful I was. No need to talk . The following pictures of sunset and sunrise are self
explanatory. And at last the friendly behavior of Angali as a lady manager was quite impressive .
Her attitude added to the feeling of being at home.
From now on I have this new experience to hang on to when I am tired and bored of daily life .
With best regards
Shahrzad Esfarjani , Iran
Namascar dear Anjeli,
Been back home nearly two weeks and my heart and my soul are still in the clouds, I had such a wonderful trip in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and of course my four days in Swaswara were just beautiful and so full of marvellous memories. Hopefully I will be back some day, maybe visiting Karnataka first and then a week - since I was told it is the bare minimum, but when I see what it did to me in just 4 days I am not sure I will dare 7 days !!! Only joking...
By the way what is the best time to stay in your paradise ?
Would you please kindly give my very best regards to the doctors, to Kerit, to my lovely little guide - the girl from the shop and just blow a few kisses all around.
My comments on all the hotels I stayed in have been posted on Trip Advisor and are on as of today. CGH earth is getting full marks, so much so that Trip Advisor made sure it was me writing the articles !!!
You are a great director and I hope you will stay in Swaswara for a long time. Your baby has come out wonderfully, by the way the brochure is great, very special, I am giving it tonight to a very young friend of mine and hopefully she will be your guest sometimes this year.
It was a real pleasure meeting you, if you ever come this way please look me up, you always will be welcome to stay with me - guest room provided !
Peace and love,
Yolanda Kiener, Switzerland