I Never Imagined Building Something Outside Technology
For most of my career, technology has been my world.
Building systems.
Creating processes.
Using AI.
Solving business problems.
If someone had asked me ten years ago whether I would one day create a nature retreat, I would have laughed.
Yet today, I’m building exactly that.
Not by leaving technology behind—but by using technology to bring a completely different dream to life.
This is the story of Vayl Arik.
It All Started With My Father
Long before I entered the technology industry, my father was the biggest influence in my life.
He introduced me to computers and technology when I was young.
That curiosity eventually became my career.
Today, I probably know more about technology than he does, but everything started because of him.
Professionally, he wasn’t in technology.
He is a civil engineer.
His work took our family across different countries before we eventually settled in India.
A Journey Home
My father was born in Kollad, a beautiful village in Kottayam district.
When it was finally time to settle permanently, our family first moved to Chennai, where he established his civil engineering practice.
Several years later, we moved again—this time to Kochi.
Although Kochi became home, our roots remained in Kollad.
Whenever family functions happened there, we had nowhere to stay.
That eventually changed everything.
Building a Family Retreat
My parents purchased a small property in Kollad.
The location immediately stood out.
It was peaceful.
Quiet.
Surrounded by greenery.
Most importantly, it overlooked vast paddy fields.
On the fifteen-cent property beside one acre of paddy fields, my parents built a one-bedroom cottage on stilts.
Every detail had a purpose.
My father designed the structure.
My mother, an interior designer, created the interiors.
The entrance opens toward the paddy fields.
The balcony captures sunrise over the greenery.
Large sliding doors make the living space feel connected to nature.
It was never intended as a business.
It was simply our family’s escape.
When Life Changes
Years passed.
As my parents grew older, visits became less frequent.
Eventually the cottage remained empty for most of the year.
The caretaker maintained the property, harvested fruits from the trees, and looked after everything.
The place still felt alive.
But it wasn’t being shared.
One Conversation Changed Everything
Earlier this year my parents suggested something simple.
“Why don’t we open it on Airbnb?”
At first, I thought only about generating some income.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized this place deserved a bigger purpose.
Not just accommodation.
An experience.
Technology Helped Build a Nature Escape
Ironically, technology became one of the biggest reasons this project exists.
AI helped me research:
- Homestay regulations
- Kerala tourism requirements
- Guest expectations
- Interior improvements
- Marketing strategies
- Brand development
- Website planning
- Pricing
- Operations
Technology didn’t replace the human story.
It helped tell it better.
Why We Chose the Name Vayl Arik
The name comes from two Malayalam words.
Vayal means paddy field.
Arik means near.
Together they describe exactly where this place exists.
Near the paddy fields.
Simple.
Meaningful.
Authentic.
Stay. Gather. Unwind.
Everything about Vayl Arik revolves around three words.
Stay.
Gather.
Unwind.
These aren’t marketing phrases.
They describe why my parents built this place in the first place.
Today they guide every decision we make.
Looking Ahead
We don’t want to become another loud destination.
Instead, we want to remain a place where people reconnect with nature, family, and themselves.
Sometimes the best journeys begin far away.
Sometimes they begin exactly where your family started.
For us, that place is Kollad.
For you, we hope it becomes Vayl Arik.
Leave a Reply