View from the hills

Even though I got a diploma in zoology 10 years ago, my marks were only average so I had to choose a different career - and that's when I began in tourism management. Since then I've worked for different aspects of the state-owned Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, as an information officer in Cochin and later as a guide.

Now I'm guest relations assistant at the Tea County Hill Resort in the middle of Kerala. I'm happy working here as it is the most beautiful part of India - they call it God's own country. Most of our guests come from northern India, from places like Gujarat and Bombay, but we also get foreign visitors here to visit the Hindu temples. The resort is set amid hills covered in tea plantations, so it's a great place to see the process of growing and harvesting tea.

Having said that, the first thing I drink in the morning when I get up at 8am is black coffee! Then I have a bath and a breakfast of dhosas, made from ground rice flour with coconut chutney. We eat coconut with most things in Kerala as they are so common in this part of India. There's usually at least one coconut tree in every garden.

I start work at about 9am. Sometimes it is quiet but when we are busy, I might help wherever I'm needed - in the kitchen, for instance. My job is quite flexible and involves some basic marketing, encouraging repeat business and taking reservations, but as a guest relations assistant much of the work is about helping our customers to enjoy themselves. That means doing my best to sort out problems and advising guests on the activities available.

I also handle guest complaints. The main ones from foreign visitors are usually to do with not getting hot water, which can be a problem as the large boiler we use is switched off for much of the day to save energy.

I take lunch at about 1pm and normally have rice with either a fish or chicken curry. I have tea at 10am and coffee at 4pm. I never drink alcohol.

The hotel offers an ayurvedic health centre. The treatment is native to this part of India and is a holistic form of healthcare which involves massage along with a detailed dietary programme. It is especially effective in treating arthritis, and I've seen many people benefit from it. The treatment uses no chemicals - only herbs and shrubs - and has no side effects.

While the medicine is a big attraction for our guests, so is the opportunity to go trekking in the hills with a guide. This is a popular pastime as the climate here is very cool (about 15ºC during the day), not like the humid tropical temperatures down on the plains. Sometimes we even get a little snow on the peaks.

I finish work about 5pm. In the evenings I read the newspaper (I don't have the patience to read a book) or watch TV. I really like to try to watch BBC World or CNN. I also like to play table tennis or cards. I watch the TV news at 10.30pm, and am usually in bed by 11pm.

Interview by David Tarpey