We took these old boats ,called Kettuvalloms, and went to work on them as would a craftsman. With some imaginative tweaks to these vessels we converted them into stately floating homes to cruise the placid waters of the vast and captivating Vembanad lake. Made from natural materials these spice boats are powered with solar energy and vegetable oils to reduce their impact upon the lake. The crew of these boats are simple fisherfolk, men who know these waters from their early years. However they do more than just pilot these behemoths, alternating between navigating the waterways, preparing meals for the guests onboard and generally keeping things ‘shipshape’. Their smiling faces speak of a culture that is famed for its accommodating and amiable ways. This is indeed spontaneous hospitality, or what we term ‘hospitality from the heart’ , a common CGH Earth feature.