Fish in the family's farms or in the surrounding lagoons/canals using traditional 'Choonda' (fishing rod). Learn to cast fishing nets in the Kerala style.

Learn Kerala cooking. Learn 'Parayil Duck Roast' and 'Karimeen pollichathu' from the family recipe book.

• Swim in the village pond.
• Watch the coconut climbers at work with the crop, which is picked every 45 days.

• Help with the feeding of prawns during the farming season

• Take a bicycle tour of the village. You can even walk through the village and soak up the ambience of the place.

• Learn the traditional techniques of making coir.

• Row in small country boats through the village canals. Visit other nearby islands.

• Take a 'serenity cruise' at sunset - a slow boat ride through the Kaithappuzha
backwaters and through the lagoons surrounding the island.

• Visit the 'Healing garden' on the family's estate, where many local ayurvedic medicinal plants are being cultivated and preserved.

• Visit the island's ancient places of worship. Known for their unique architectural styles, they include three churches built by the family, the oldest of which is almost two centuries old.

• Play badminton, volleyball, table tennis, chess and carroms. You could even join in a village cricket or football game.

• Do absolutely nothing if you choose to! You can relax on the 'Kulir Kallu' (a cooling stone) at one end of the house with a book, laze on a hammock with lots of tender coconut water to drink - or just contemplate with pleasure all the things that you are not doing!

Location:
Olavipe is 25 kilometers from the heart of Cochin city. It is an hour's drive from the Cochin International Airport and the tourist hotspots of Alleppey, Kumarakom and Fort Cochin.

Suggested sightseeing:
• Visit Cochin, the commercial capital of Kerala and a world centre for spice trace.
• Walk around Fort Cochin and soak in the ambience of the historical area.
• Visit the historic Synagogue on Jew Street and the antique market around it.
• Take boat trips around some of the beautidul islands in Cochin.
• See the Chinese fishing nets - still used the way they were centuries ago.
• Ayurvedic therapy on prior consultation and appointment.
• Houseboat rides through some of the most beautiful waterways of Alleppey.