“What do you do at Rustic Holidays when there are no guests during the monsoon? No social networking, limited internet access, and no friends around—so what keeps you busy?” This is a common question we get asked!

Our monsoon season kicks off with a series of preparations to wrap up the summer. This includes ensuring everything is neatly packed and secured, covering items with plastic, and stocking up on firewood for the chulha. Then comes the time to tidy up the mess that has accumulated over the past eight months. And trust me, the mess is substantial! There’s always something scattered around—wood that’s been chopped, piles of sand, gravel, or stones. With such a large property, there’s always some construction work happening, big or small. Plus, there’s often an old tree that’s fallen either during the year or with the first rain, which needs to be dealt with. All these tasks that have been postponed must now be taken care of. In short, it’s our annual maintenance work. The goal is to have everything in perfect order when we kick off the new season at Rustic Holidays.

Alongside this, it’s also a time to witness the wonders of nature. The plants that survive the monsoon are truly remarkable. No matter how many trees you plant throughout the year, how much fertilizer or water you provide, nothing compares to the life-giving energy they receive from the first rains—it’s like they’re on an IV drip of pure vitality! So, we make the most of this opportunity by planting as many trees as we can. Over the years, I’ve planted various types of trees in the garden—some survive, some don’t. The main challenge here is the excess water and scorching sun, which some plants just can’t withstand. But we never give up. Overall, updating and maintaining the garden is an ongoing task.

In addition to planting smaller saplings, we’re also busy fertilizing our coconut, mango, and other fruit trees. We still have monsoon vegetables left to plant, but the turmeric is already sown, and the rice has been transplanted. We’re currently preparing for the next phase of planting, which is just around the corner.