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Syam had gathered and prepared the palm leaf pieces, which are a palm frond, with the individual fingers separated and cut down to the tender pieces. Step by Step, Syam showed us how to create a woven bird, somewhat like the natural world of Origami. In Indonesia, palm frond decorations are made for every event, including decorating temples, for ceremonies, and as decorations for events or family fun. A wide variety of palm frond decorations are made and were made for us throughout the week to provide festive decorations.
Cooking Lessons
One afternoon we were very lucky to be the recipients of a cooking lesson from Chef Bobby. Setting up all of the ingredients on deck, along with a deck barbecue, Bobby took us through step by step as he made several Sambals, and also a sate, wrapped around lemon grass. We all participated, mixed and, of course, the final and best, ate the results.
Cooking Lessons
Sambals, considered the outcome of a marriage between African and Southeast Asian cuisines, are a integral part of Indonesian cuisine. Usually including a sweet, sour, spicy and herbal element, along with garlic and onion, Sambals vary widely between areas of Indonesia and, of course, between whoever is preparing the Sambal as everyone has their favorite mixture or combination.
Spa Treatments
Silolona Spa Experience
Indonesia is a land of natural herbs, spices and beauty. The culture plays close attention to what we now call “Spa Treatments”. Massage with herbal body scrubs has long been a part of local culture. Another afternoon, a combination of natural body scrubs were packed into a picnic basket for us and off to the beach we went, along with our tea caddy, with green tea waiting to be brewed after our scrub, with cinnamon and star anise.
Silolona natural body scrubs, cooling wash cloths, and hot ginger tea
After settling in on the beach with our towels and tea caddy, we opened the picnic basket to find coconut serving shells filled with fresh avocado and ground coffee, fresh shaved coconut, and ground coconut, green tea and white tea powder, ready to be mixed with mineral water. We, or course, mixed and tried them all, with the provided shell spoons, exfoliating all of our limbs and faces and then allowing the green and white tea to dry and heal our skin from sun and salt. Once dry, we swam in the clear ocean waters, letting all wash off of our bodies, leaving clean, soft glistening skin. Back to shore, we relaxed and hydrated our bodies with hot green tea, before returning to Silolona, relaxed and scrubbed.
