NEWS FROM THE NORTH!

Stories from our family to yours...

THE HAIRY FRUIT - RAMBUTAN

Rambutan! Yes, it's the season for Rambutan for us! We grew this exotic fruit in our gardens, and we harvested a lot of them recently for our guests in the welcome fruit platters we set up in the villas. Their reaction? Well, let's just say that we have requests for more.

The red 'hairy' looking fruit, the thick skin, and the white fleshy fruit inside (almost like lychee), seemed strange for most of our guests but once they took a bite, the sweet and sour taste proved that looks - when it comes to exotic fruits - hide something precious. 

Rambutan is native to the Malay-Indonesian region and some other tropical regions in Southeast Asia, and it is closely related to lychee and longans - which you definitely have to try as well. The name "Rambutan" is derived from the Malay-Indonesian language rambut that literally means hair - thus the hairy fruit. In our gardens, they usually grow fruits between December - February, when the rainy season comes. 

Did you know that there are 22 different cultivars of Rambutan in Indonesia? Amazing right? Well, when you come back around December onwards, make sure to check with us if we have the "hairy fruit" available and give them a try!

 

MOJITO? NO, MOJI-TEA!

Remember the refreshing drink we served when you arrived? The sweet, minty, sour concoction that took that thirst away from you? Well, we wish to share a version of it that you can try at home. 

What You Need:

A sprig of mint leaves 

A slice of lime

A slice of ginger

One tablespoon of Palm Sugar (can be substituted with brown sugar) - you can add more if you like it sweeter

One tablespoon of Honey

1/2 cup of White Tea or 

Apple Cider 

Method:

Similar to making a mojito, muddle the mint, lime, ginger, and sugar in a jar or shaker, add the honey and white tea, stir to combine. Pour this fantastic concoction into a glass of ice cubes and top it off with the apple cider.

TIPS:

No white tea? No problem, this works well with the humble English breakfast tea as well. Fruity tea and peppermint tea can also be used to add flavour.

 

THE SEA JUMPERS

We often received emails or messages on our social media asking what one can do when staying with us. And one of our top picks of things you MUST DO in North Bali is definitely the dolphin watching tour. 

 

Who doesn't love dolphins? The amazing sea mammals with the smiley face and their playful manner never fail to amaze everyone we know. And the Lovina bay, merely minutes away from The Damai, is a natural habitat for the dolphins.

Departing early morning from the resort to Lovina - approximately 10 minutes away - to board the boats that will take you out to the bay to wait for two amazing things, the sunrise, and the dolphins! The way they jump playfully out of the water with the orange sky in the background is the best photo op to share with friends and family. And what better way to enjoy these majestic creatures than in their natural habitat? 

Want to find out more about the dolphin watching? Or do you need other recommendations? Just send us an email, and we will be more than happy to answer your questions.