Rosemary, dew from Bedugul valley

rosemary

A perfect creatures on the planet earth is all best known as a human, perfectly human is created along with complete senses which start from eye, noose, ear and skin. These five sense has their own duty to protect their own master, human on this case, and will bring their master became superior among other creatures. Senses could be related with health and beauty, skin for example, is one of those senses that sensitive to any kind of touch action. Skin is coverage a human body almost 100%, maybe this is the main reason that since an ancient time a human always innovated to protect age of their skin. Now the skin predator which dangerously damage skin and causing death is mosquito, but this article will not mentioned further about mosquito, we will see about “Rosemary” and what contribution will it bring to save our skin.

Rosemary came from a Latin name; more about “dew from the sea” is its meaning. Just like other herbs and bushes, rosemary has a permanently stem with green needle leaves, and these leaves will contain a colored flower when its time to appear. Most of rosemary species are growth at Mediterranean region, of course will perfectly interact with Mediterranean climate, where open sunny area is a must for rosemary plant, soil with good drainage is best for rosemary cultivation and most founded in the soil near by the sea. Rosemary is easily cultivated through all the season and adaptable as perennial herb, but some varieties is avoid cold season. In Bali, we could also found rosemary plant being sold at Bedugul valley, means that rosemary also could be cultivated in tropical climate.

Rosemary is a member of Lamiaceae family or called mint herb family, as a member of these Lamiaceae, rosemary contain of several acid which contribute in culinary and medical uses. In suggested doses, rosemary compound will fit to human metabolism and safely use as ingredient in most Mediterranean culinary. Medical doses will suggest as antioxidant, acidic compound is believed could protect human brain from stroke and neuron diseases, this is also the reason of using small amount of rosemary dried leaves mixed with other herbs in making an herbal tea. Having an astringent taste and strong scent like Cajuputi leaves, causes a toxic impact in large amount of uses, several research found that large amount of rosemary oil may cause a coma, vomiting or respiratory diseases, and not allowed for pregnant or breastfeeding woman consumption. This bad reaction of body system caused of large amount uses is what we are discussing at first paragraph of this article. The effect of brain attack in a mosquito’s neuron system when they adsorb large amount of rosemary plant scent will bring us to protect our skin from mosquito bites, therefore people sometimes use rosemary plant applied into a skin as mosquito repelled. From all skin protected which is always innovated, what could be wrong if we use a green botanical plantation.

Rosemary is a simple plant for beginner gardener to start to know how reflected beauty of green botanical to a shape of useful human body protection. So when you plan to have a small garden, don’t forget to browse a story behind the seeds on your hands.

French Marigold, bring Eiffel Tower to Bedugul Valley

french-marigoldMeasuring road between valleys in Bedugul, cold temper already creep a body accompanying with roar of motorbike in the ears. Scenery left and right side being promised to erase boringness through the never ending road. Stopping at first point of turn over altitude road, precise side gate of Bedugul Botanical Garden, lays a local market named “Pasar Bedugul”. Resting place for such invest money resulted from being a worker of Monday to Saturday at nine to five, is here to be found. At this local market will be found agronomical commodity of a fertile land supported with a good weather, after looking around in this place, finally found flower shop that has an ocean of French Marigold to welcome every customer.

Name of Marigold came from a root of “Mary’s Gold”, usually related with a story of Virgin Mary in Christian way. Marigold famous all over a country as garden flower that easily grow and doesn’t hard to taking care of its plantation. Marigold just like a bushes plant, cultivated with a seeds which could be found as black seeds at the bottom of its petals. Growing with hard stem that could reach height between 0.05 – 2 m, Marigold has pinnate green leaves, rounded rays shape of flower colored with white till red. Marigold has many varieties depends on cultivation area and hybrid between its original variety. Hybrid of these plants showed with color of Marigold flower, shape of pinnate green leaves, scented of the flower, height of the stem.

One of its varieties is called Tagetes, many to be cultivated in America (Mexican Marigold), African Marigold that most cultivated in Africa, and French Marigold which is being top cultivated in France. These African and French Marigold are highly plant as garden flower in subtropical and tropical region in South East Asia including Indonesia (very known as “Kenikir”), Kenikir usually used as salad after quick cooked process. Especially in Bali, African Marigold taking role as local commodity know as “Gumitir” or “Gemitir” with height of stem reach half of a height of normal human body, rounded rays flower with yellow to orange color. Most founded at local market to complete the needed of these flower as ceremonial offerings, garlands, other traditional uses. Beside African Marigold there are also French Marigold as seen at the picture.

Commonly Tagetes planted as a companion planting for tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant or tobacco troupes. Appear as pioneer plant in the reclamation of disturbed land. Marigold leaves has strong scent, some could applied to remove warts, but other variety has no scent at all. As found in South Africa, Marigold scented turn to a basic scent of perfumes. Dried Marigold flower could add as food scented and natural food color through its yellow and orange color. In Mexico, small amounts is used for making herbal tea while large amount consumption cause hallucination effect and of course not allow in large amount uses.

When has a quick sight of this plant and flower, then bulb a thought that Marigold could not only has an esthetic value, but more than that appearing beauty. Marigold has an uncommon beauty uses as it look like. What is found above ocean of French Marigold at Bedugul local market could offer soul refreshment from stressful road of valley Bedugul. Maybe dream yearning of Paris as a city of love can be park a while and let an ocean of French Marigold will hypnotized you with a love from Eifel to Bedugul valley.

Bali Could Not Avoid Land Damage (Bali News Highlights, Saturday 23rd May 2009)

South Bali area like South Kuta and Jimbaran now became high orientation on tourism property development. Where every inch of this area are turned to be value land for sight seeing customer, local and foreign. Geologically this area covered by Limestone, fact that limestone could be welfare value for local neighborhood but on the other side it is bring bad impact to a landscape of Bali.
According to landscape photo of Bali which already published by Bali Post, a local newspaper in Bali, Bali will tend to minimize its land just because of irresponsible mining, beside there is no strict action from Bali government to react about this illegal mining. Some source reported that some area has already descending through limestone mining and has lower altitude then sea level, isn’t it bad?.
Imagine, if local people and government could work together as a team to avoid spoiled land, then Bali will not have any acne on its landscape.
Lets have a comment to save our green land.

Quick source : Bali Post, Saturday 23 May 2009.

BALINESE PISANG GORENG, DELIGHT SNACK AND DESSERT

pisang-kepokBali is not only a tiny island being blessed by God, but also respected by Balinese people to hold and keep its pride. To a modernization, Balinese people always open their arm, act to filter its bad impact then is further responsibility of all Balinese people. This condition will appear also in Balinese culinary note.

Including in Malayan region of east culture, Bali is also has a same culinary theme as found in Malayan region, such in Malaysia, Singapore or other region on Southeast Asian nation. All food ingredient that came from sea or land, mainly has same package depend on its community taste. One among many examples is Banana Fritters or in Bali called “Jaje Godoh” or “Pisang Goreng”, but Pisang Goreng is adapted from Javanese name for Banana Fritters. Pisang Goreng began spread its popular name in Bali when Bali is opened their land to modernization. Began its premier consumed, Pisang Goreng was known as simply deep fried battered banana. Then now Pisang Goreng has lot of garnish to be added to accompany its serving (e.g with palm sugar, chocolate, cheese, jam, even with ice cream) and became one of pastry point item placed in five star hotels menu. Realized for Banana fruit nutrition and combine with other good ingredient makes Pisang Goreng is a good and delight snack or dessert.

puncak-bagus-pisang-goreng1

When you visit Bali, don’t forget to visit “Puncak Bagus” in Wanagiri, there you will recommended to taste modern Pisang Goreng harmonized with original Balinese palm sugar, and you will feel like taste this patisseries above heavenly Bali.

BALINESE PISANG SUSU, MILK OF NUTRITION

pisang-susuBali is regions in Indonesian archipelago, whose people inside always keep its traditional look. People inside are love to balancing between modern and ancient culture in every life, including in agriculture plantation system. Collaboration between rice field and other green plant, also as banana plants is unique one to explore more. On this title of milk nutrition, it will be represented new knowledge about Biu or Pisang or Banana fruit that has strong nutrition as milk has, and could replace rice as a main raw food.

What could be milk when you drink it, first time reach your sense of sweetness it feels soft, mild and flash of enjoyable will come to your mouth. Flavor of milk is a sensation feel you will get when eating one of banana’s variety called “Pisang Susu or Biu Susu”, that’s what people in Bali called it. Pisang Susu is suitable to consume when ripe and appeared as yellow colour of peel, because sweetness of milk flavor will getting its maximal point on this condition.

If it could taste like a milk then it should has a power like a milk too, nothing doubt about it, because inside 100 g of a variety of raw banana fruit has all these nutrition: Carbohydrates (22.84 g), Sugar (12.23 g), Dietary fiber (2.6 g), Fat (0.33 g), Protein (1.09 g), Vitamin B1 (0.031 g), Vitamin B2 (0.073 mg), Vitamin B3 (0.665 mg), Vitamin B5 (0.334 mg), Vitamin B6 (0.367 mg), Vitamin C (8.7 g), Calcium (5 mg), Iron (0.26 mg), Magnesium (27 mg), Phosphorus (22 mg), Potassium (358 mg), Zinc (0.15 mg). This is quick look source from USDA nutrient database information.

Do read for above information, not only Pisang Susu could act like a milk, maybe there will be others variety of banana fruit could act as our main food. When you hungry and don’t have much time to prepare your breakfast or lunch, just grab one of those banana to supply your nutrition where you could get from rice, bread or a glass of milk.