Jungle Journal 7 ~ Summer 2009

     

WILD FRUIT

By Sam Raphael -- Jungle Bay's owner and your host

As I impatiently tear open the thick purple rind of this succulent fruit my mind reverts back to my Caribbean childhood which literally revolved around wild fruit, especially the mango. Defining seasons by winter, spring, summer and fall made little sense to us because the temperature never changed. What changed was the availability of mango. So as kids we appropriately defined the time of year as before, during or after the mango season.

The fruit in the backpack was just delivered to me with the care of eggs from an extinct species. It carries the same first name but not much else of my first love, the mango. Mangosteen is a unique south Asian fruit that is fast becoming the rage among healthy snobs “in the know”. Some health experts claim that the nutrient rich fruit is rich in antioxidant and anti disease properties. The taste is sweet and tangy and citrusy and peachy, or it tastes like heaven! One succulent bite explodes like delicious dynamite making my mouth contort in all sorts of directions, eventually settling on a big smile. Yes…the earth was have been created by an intelligent divine force. How else could you explain mangosteen!

While I enjoy another fabulous mangosteen I will take you back to my summer days when mangoes were in season. The day would start with a scamper to pick up sweetest mangoes that had fallen from the trees overnight. We didn’t have refrigerators and the concept of fruits and snacks from a grocery store was not yet invented so we spent our days scavenging the tried surrounding the village for “wild” or uncultivated fruit like papayas, tangerines, goose berries, mamie apples, geneps, guavas, various plums, star fruit, bananas left fallow and of course more mangoes. I often look back at my childhood Caribbean summers and lament the misfortune of today’s youth trapped between cell phones and video games with Mc Dees and CocaCola instead of delicious mango and coconut water.

Times have changed in the Caribbean however Dominica is fortunate to have retained an abundant variety of “wild” fruit. Yesterday I was accompanied on my daily grueling work out hike up Paix Bouche (“Shut your Mouth”) hill by some guests. They were amazed that on the way down we stopped and samples some delicious star fruit, guavas, avocado and of course mangoes found along the roadside. Whether initially planted by humans at an earlier time of by birds flying overhead the island is teeming with an array of tropical fruit. There is a saying that one cannot want for food or water in Dominica. Indeed the multitude of wild fruit contributes to the islands sense of abundance.

The next time you visit us at Jungle Bay be sure tell your guide that you want to sample whatever “wild fruit” they can find. If you are lucky you might get to sample the “miracle berry” that makes everything you eat afterwards taste sweet or maybe you might get some mangosteen, especially if I am not around to gobble them all up.

Samuel "Sam" Raphael enjoying his fresh mangosteen!

FEATURE VIDEO FROM THE NEW JUNGLE BAY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Victoria Falls

Videographer & Editor: Jesse Ducourtioux

Getting Saucy with Fresh Dominica Condiments

Special Feature on Nature Isle Tropic Gourmet

The idea of the Nature Isle Tropical Gourmet was derived from all the natural ingredients in Dominica, the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean". This tropical island is known for its natural beauty - rivers, waterfalls, virgin forests, volcanoes, sulfur springs. It's also renowned for its fantastic fresh island tastes of tropical fruit, vegetables and spices.

Nature Isle Tropical Gourmet was formed to share the delicious flavors of the island with the rest of the world. They aim to consistently deliver all-natural, healthy, tropical gourmet specialty condiments which appeal to the senses and satisfy their customer's sophisticated dining needs. Recipes come from the kitchens of the owners' grandmothers who crafted tasty dishes from the spices, fruit and vegetables which are all available in Dominica's fertile soil. These recipe's were 'all-natural' long before the term was coined. Their gourmet products offer the authentic taste of the 18th century, colonial cuisine perfected through the ages.   They tease the taste buds with flavors of freshly harvested fruit that has been hand-picked after having bathed in the early morning dew and drenched with Caribbean sunlight each afternoon. Nature Island Tropical Gourmet delicately blends these fruits with spices, completing this gastronomical experience.

The company has been a National Association of Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) member since 2002. Nature Isle's Tropical Fruit Chutney has been member-tasted and recommended by the American Cooking Club. The condiment company has partnered with Jungle Bay to provide a Nature Isle Vacation Getaway Package! See their website for details. And for a limited time offer, with the purchase of three condiments you can add a fourth for free!

JUNGLE BAY NOMINATED AS TOP RESORT

The World Travel Awards 2009 named Jungle Bay as a nominee for top reports in Dominica.

The Jungle Bay family thanks all the travel agents and travelers who voted!

FRESH GINGER ICED TEA RECIPE
A refreshing summer drink by Joanne Hilaire, Head of Food and Beverage Services

Ingredients

4 cups water

1/4 cup fresh ginger root grated

1/4 cup lime juice

sugar or honey (optional)

Method

Peel the ginger root and grate finely. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan or hot cup. Once it is boiling, place the ginger in a jug and pour hot water over it. Cover it for 10 minutes. Strain the tea. Add lime juice. Sugar or honey can be added to taste. Add more water if the ginger flavor is to strong. Chill and serve over ice cubes with a garnish.

JUNGLE BAY WEBSITE LAUNCHES IN FRENCH & GERMAN

This month the website for Jungle Bay is launched with a language facelift as the site is replicated in both French and German. The French website can viewed at www.junglebaydominica.com/index_fr.cfm  and the German site is: www.junglebaydominica.com/index_de.cfm. Jungle Bay's adventure and spa services are also enhanced for German and French speaking guests as printed materials such as menus, daily activity programs and even communications with the reservations department are offered in both languages in order to assist with trip planning and a more enjoyable vacation experience.

Click on the flag for the German version of Jungle Bay's website

Click on the flag for the French version of Jungle Bay's website

UPCOMING EVENTS

Island Adventure Fitness Boot Camp - November 21st to 28th 

Special Thanksgiving Boot Camp!

Due to popular demand, we are offering our 3rd Island Adventure Boot Camp program at Jungle Bay this November. JOIN US on the Nature Isle to experience an active Caribbean Holiday that includes hiking to hidden waterfalls, discovering secret beaches, coastal pools and mineral springs, snorkeling unique reefs and more. Compliment your exhilarating outdoor adventures with massages, yoga and Pilates sessions, Caribbean cooking class with nutritional tips, cultural dance lessons and much more! Certified coach Michele Fulkerson will be your personal trainer to keep you highly motivated on this trip of a lifetime.  Let us show you how much fun it is to get fit! CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

Artists Retreat: Rainforest to Studio with Robert Hite - January 9th to 16th, 2010

Cultivate artistic insight on this week-long retreat featuring sketching and photography excursions to some of the most stunning vistas and nature in the Caribbean. Draw and photograph the rich biodiversity of the rainforest punctuated by waterfalls and natural pools, volcanic craters on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, and UNESCO World Heritage national park areas. Excursions are supplemented with afternoon sessions in Jungle Bay's large airy studio, allowing artists at all stages of development to refine their craft in a supportive group atmosphere. Join renowned artist Robert Hite for this trip of a lifetime.  Book early, Space is limited! CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

CLICK HERE for the complete Jungle Bay retreat calendar.

JUNGLE BAY CARE CLUB

By Anthea Robinson -- Jungle Bay's Head of Housekeeping Services

The Housekeeping Team has continually devoted their love and attention to Jungle Bay Resort & Spa.  Having escalated to an almost 100% rating by guests for exceptional service and care of the guest rooms from the inception of the resort; the housekeepers are now ready to spread their love and care to others in nearby communities and eventually round Dominica. In a true spirit of goodwill, the newly formed Housekeeping Care Club had its first care giving moment in December 2008, where at that time; they made Christmas stockings and stuffed them with treats for the Delices pre-schoolers.  Each member of the club was responsible for decorating locally made stockings and donating items of their choice for the children. It was a wonderful initiative on their part and well received by the eager preschoolers, who excitedly dressed in sun shades, blew out balloons, and rolled out an unending trail of candy and toys from their Christmas stockings. 

The latest care giving initiative included preparing a hamper, which was presented to Mr. Isidore of La Roche, Delices. A total of nine members of the housekeeping team visited the 73 year old gentleman, who has braved living on his own even after he lost his sight from making coals traditionally.  Mr. Isidore never ceases to amaze me; besides roasting his own coffee; collecting water from a nearby underground water source and visiting friends over rugged terrain, he still ventures on fetching wood from his land, digging his own coal pit and is quite capable of pulling his own coals; needless to say he makes cooking sound like chicken feed. He does get help from neighbours, I must admit, but he has grown used to getting by himself and does little to bother anyone out of their way. A delighted Mr. Isidore having received his hamper blessed us in true spirit with all good wishes.

With such encouragement and good feeling the team is eager to continue its charitable work. Projects include the elderly and very young alike; there is no discrimination. Eventually, the Club hopes to incorporate projects to help themselves and organize social events to keep the team alive and in operation.

Some of the projects that these very talented women are taking on include embroidery and crochet with the hope to eventually revive traditional methods of basketry, mat making, quilting, etc. Members of the Club will share their own experience and skills with each other. As a reward for excellent service, the staff is allowed to work quietly on projects in their spare moments at work.

Though informal, this group headed by the President, Treasurer and Secretary; all elected from the group and supported by the General Manager. Eleven housekeeping team members including the supervisor have embarked on making a difference and are eager to work in support of Jungle Bay's philosophy.

The team hopes to self-finance their simple but effective projects, however, contributions are always welcome and will go a long way towards helping the Jungle Bay Care Club to grow and be successful in spreading the love on so that others may follow. 

For more information email: anthea@junglebaydominica.com

"It is the simplest deed in like that amounts to life's fullness"

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