June 22nd marks World Rainforest Day, an event celebrated around the world aimed at highlighting the importance of rainforests and raising awareness of these most vital natural resources.
You might be surprised to learn that one particular place, the stunning Kerala ‘jungle’ on India’s Tropical Malabar Coast plays a pivotal part in the evolution of Green Team Interiors, because, it was here that the seeds of an idea about our plant-based business was sown.
It is my pleasure to reproduce here, the journal entries from our company founder Ruth Neal, I hope that you enjoy reading this fascinating extract of a journey that not only lead to a completely new company, but also to a completely new way of doing business.
A Kerala Journey – Ruth Neal
‘’The road climbs up into the mountains negotiating many hairpin bends – monkeys play at the side of the road. A jeep and a bus have collided – not surprising as the road surfaces are awful and the bends sharp.
At Vythiri we leave the road and head onto a rough track. Bringing back memories of childhood outings in the family Morris Oxford, the old Ambassador copes surprisingly well with the rocks, ruts and bumps.
But the car can only go so far and soon we and our bags are transferred into a four-wheel drive truck. We opt to stand in the open back. A half hour spine-jarring journey brings us to a halt in the depths of the rainforest. It is staggeringly beautiful and so majestic that words escape us. We just look in amazement drinking it all in.
Lunch is served in a rustic open sided restaurant overlooking a small river with a natural pool. The water is so clear. Everything here is in sharp focus, dazzling in its purity. We lunch well on pappads, rice and a selection of vegetable dishes presented on huge banana leaves. We are served a refreshing drink of raspberry coloured herbal water which we are told has health giving properties.
Time to go to our tree house – we have chosen the most remote of the tree houses. Carrying just our daypacks, we don leech socks and follow our guides uphill. The guides will bring the big rucksacks later. We are overwhelmed with the scale of the rainforest. Huge Ficus trees reach upwards, their magnificent canopies forming a green ceiling to this living cathedral of trees.
Finally I spot a structure balanced seemingly precariously in one of the trees. This is to be our home for the next few days. My excitement turns to fear as I realise that the only way to get to the tree house is across a rickety rope bridge suspended 100 ft above the rainforest floor. Gingerly, holding my breath and trying to stem the rising panic, I finally reach a series of about 10 steps constructed from what looks like cardboard.
The welcoming girth of the Ficus tree is my goal. I am almost hyperventilating as I stumble towards the tree trunk, wrapping my arms as far round it as they will go. Taking energy and calm from the tree, my breathing slows and my heart rate settles.
A large tin truck sits in the corner of the main room. We are told that we must put our belongings in the trunk at all times. We are confused, surely security isn’t an issue here? Oh no, not a security issue, just nosy acquisitive giant squirrels!
We sit in silence watching the trees. From our eyrie in the sky we have a real bird’s eye view. I am suddenly aware of my breathing. I take another deep breath, feeling the pure oxygen coursing through my body. I breathe again, and again, and again. I am so excited. I know that Oxygen bars have become popular in London and I can see why. But this has to be better. Much better!
A feeling of calm has descended.
A low droning heralds the evening cicada chorus rising to a clashing orchestral crescendo before total stillness descends. The light goes quickly here.
With darkness come strange noises rendering sleep a distant dream. A star twinkles brightly through the rattan blinds, there are sounds of branches creaking and cracking, something exploding with a smack onto the roof of our tree house. Our guide later tells us that some of the trees in the forest bear fruits which open at night, catapulting the seeds into the night air to germinate where they land.
The morning brings a gentle lightening of the sky. The jungle noises which had abated slightly in the depths of the night start again. The rising song of the cicadas, the shrill trilling of strange birds and the howler monkeys shouting, whistling and, yes, howling.
This is a very special place. We feel hugely privileged to have been able to spend a short time here, to honour and respect this magical and precious environment. We realise how important it is to continue to preserve these places, to halt the destruction of the rainforest and to protect the wildlife who have made their homes in the forest. We are honoured to be invited to plant a tree to mark our visit.
To avoid contaminating the rainforest we are required to use herbs and spices as soap and shampoo. Red sandal and turmeric for face wash, something that smells like cumin for shampoo and another for washing the body. There is a “telephone” shower, not heated of course but fed purely from the mountain stream. It is freezing. A flush toilet completes our “en-suite” bathroom – this is without doubt the best loo with a view.
The shampoo leaves my hair feeling soft and healthy. There is no mirror so I can’t see what effect the turmeric and red sandal face wash has had.
I don’t suppose the howler monkeys care, though it does sound like they might be laughing at me!’
Postscript
Reflecting on our short time in the rainforest it is no surprise that this is where the idea of starting our own interior landscaping business was conceived. Green Team Interiors Ltd was born 6 months later.
Post Postscript
Almost 24 years later and the picture of the tree house and the rather terrifying rope bridge sits on my home office desk. A handy talisman to remind me that even when faced with the most challenging situation, I can do it!
Ruth Neal
May 2023
