Solid and Liquid

I was lucky enough to try those delicious organic pineapples in two ways in the past days. The first was the classic sliced method, great at breakfast or after a meal, thanks to the fruit's great digestive properties. The second was in juice form, with Ketut adding a bit of ice and her magic touch to create an amazing and unforgettable 'cream of pineapple'.

The Healthy One

This post is focused on my sister Debby's favorite fruit, the Pineapple. Just passed a few days in a special valley where there was an outcrop of organic Pineapples. Eating them reaffirmed this yellow fruit's motto 'Healthy and Delicious'.

A few of the great properties of 'the Pineapple' from www.kingoffruit.com.au :

• The Bromelain enzyme is generally found in the stem or core of a pineapple and helps to digest food by breaking down the protein particles within it. Promoting a healthy digestive system, it’s great for a natural detox and has also been known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting properties.
• Pineapple is low in calories, sodium, saturated fats and cholesterol while being a rich source of fibre, so it’s the perfect weight loss food – have a look at our healthy pineapple recipes for some tasty and nutritious snack ideas.
• An excellent source of Vitamin C and other antioxidants essential for collagen synthesis, Vitamin C also helps to maintain the integrity of your blood vessels, skin, organs and bones.
• Increasing your daily intake of antioxidants is also great for boosting your immune system, which means you’ll be able to fight off colds and flus during winter.
• Pineapple is also known for its high level of manganese. The Manganese mineral is an essential element for energy production, while protecting your cells from free radicals. It helps your body use key nutrients including thiamine and biotin, keeps your bones healthy and helps synthesise fatty foods.
• Pineapple is also a rich source in Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene, which helps your immune system, eyesight and protects from free radicals; Vitamins B1 and B6 which are good for energy production and the breakdown of sugars and starches in your digestive system; copper, which helps red blood cell synthesis; and potassium, which assists in controlling the heart rate and blood pressure.

Live Coffee Flash

Just a taste, will need to do a coffee week on this blog sooner or later, out of respect, as this trip and even more the blog's name was inspired by its prime Hawaiian version.

The Fish Market

Woke up early in the morning to catch a glimp of these beauties.

Tuna

Barracuda

Red Snapper, Look at that tooth.

Tiger Shrimp

The sun rises, the sun sets.

The Fruit Shake

Tamarillo, lychee, and banana.

Earth

A very special moment was when I tried my first ever Salath fruit. I'm hooked. Easy to peel, with a taste resembling apple mixed in with honey, and a texture that resembles fennel. Could be very interesting added in a salad with a touch of olive oil, or put in a crudite dip together with carrots and celery. Yeah, just like you do with fennel. Apparently their sweetness depends on whether they grow higher or lower on their tree. Will try to get an image of them in the wild soon. By the way, Salath means Snake's Skin in the local dialect.

And now to the special coffee Indonesia is famous for. The Kopi Luwak. From Wikipedia: Kopi luwak (Indonesian pronunciation: [ˈkopi ˈlu.aʔ]), or civet coffee refers to the beans of coffee berries once they have been eaten and excreted by the Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) and other civets.^[1] The name is also used for marketing brewed coffee made from those beans.

Wikipedia goes on to say that many industry experts say that it tastes bad. Well, it surely didn't taste bad yesterday, actually it was very very, very good and spurred on a great conversation with the other two people I tried it with. 

 A big thanks to Daryn for the gift.

 

The Indonesian Islands

Landed in South East Asia and have begun viewing and chewing the local produce.

Fish and Fruit at  Ubud's market place.

A Green Banana tree. These bananas are delicious.

Musical Entry

Music is an integral part of the Kona Space project. Not a place, but a space, where positive vibrations help create. Like a Bob Marley song...

                                          

In Salento

Came down to the eastern most point of Puglia (and Italy) to pick up my precious girlfriend Valentina before heading back to Rome, and then to Indonesia. Everything around here evokes the sea that brushes its shores and provides the air with that unique smell anyone who has been close to the Mediterranean will recognize instantly.











Here some classic shots from this area of the Mediterranean. A view of the Ionian Sea from the coast line, and a hut made of stone, in local dialect 'Caseddhru', used by the farmers to store materials. And of course the Olive trees.

Above is a local pasta specialty called 'Sagne'. The ingredients? Flour, water, and as Valentina's grandmother who made the batch in display explained, hands.

All Roads Lead To...

Rome, the Eternal City, where I'm stopping by to spend some time with my family on my way to South East Asia. Found inspiration in a wonderful Sicilian 'Etna Rosso', a red wine produced on the Mount Etna by the Benanti family.

Day 1

So i guess this is both an inward and outward welcome to my blog. I thought it fair to include a couple of images from the city that has inspired me to make this upcoming journey.

Leaving today for Italy, and then off to the start of my Pacific adventures, where hopefully i'll discover some great things that one day i can share with people right here in New York City.