Hiking in Lembeh
A guide to the wonderful plant life of Lembeh Island
Lemongrass is widely used for cooking throughout the whole of Indonesia
Guava, a fruit which is also used as a traditional medicine to stop diarrhea.
Papaya - It's fruit but the young papaya and the blossom are widely used as vegetable
Cassava. The roots of this plant will be used as potatoes and the young leaves of this plant are used as vegetable. Raw Cassava is slightly poisonous, make sure to soak the root and to cook it well.
Banana is used as a fruit; there are several different types of Bananas in Lembeh, both savory and sweet. The banana blossom, also known as banana heart, is seen on the right and is used as a vegetable.
"Daun Turi" is commonly used as medicine. Especially for pregnant woman, it is said to in-create lactation.
"Daun Sirih" leaves are poached in water and gives an antibiotic effect.
The Woka leaves are used for the roofing of traditional housing. One also can see it on the roof of our diving center and pool bar. Mid way on our hike we had a refreshment n the Village of Gunung Woka.
Gunung Woka means the Village on the mountain with the Woka leaves.
the root of the Taro plant is used in the same way that we would use potatoes
The Kaffir Lime leave has a very distinctive smell and taste. It's used as an herb in many traditional dishes
Cacao beans, the paradise fruit!
Finally we have proof that chocolate grows on trees, therefore chocolate counts as salad!
Kenari Nuts, the almonds of Indonesia!
Sweet potatoes, just as with normal potatoes you only use the root!
Left: "Alang Alang" is widely used for thatched roofs. When the leaves are dry and gets rubbed against each other by the wind the friction is so high that they can ignite bush fires, due to the rough surface of the leaf.
Middle: "Rotan Tikus" or "Ginto" is a material used for handicrafts such as the coaster in our restaurant
Right: Turmeric. The root and the leaves are used as an herb in many Indonesian dishes, but it also used as medicine for coughing.
Bamboo is an incredibly diverse and fast growing plant. It is used extensively in construction and furniture, and as seen on the left it is also used as a medium for cooking such dishes as "Babi Buluh" and "Ikan Buluh".
A small chili plantation in the middle of the forest.
Needless to say chili is the most important spice in Indonesia cuisine!
All parts of the nutmeg is used in cooking, the green outer shell, the brightly colored very beautiful parasitic plant known as mace that surrounds the nut, and of course the nut itself!
"Shy Leaf", touch it and you will see why it has that name!
"Wild Bread Fruit" is widely found in the forests of Lembeh Island.
The wood will be used for construction of local boats.
The ripe fruit contains seeds which after roasting is a delicious snack! of local boats.
Left: Mango, the candy of Asia!
Who needs chocolate when you have Mango.
Right: Daun Melinjo is used as a vegetable and the bitter seeds are eaten as a local snack!
Left: Kadondong, Helen's favorite fruit, but be careful, the seeds have spikes!
Middle: Coconut Palm, the tree of life! Coconut water is one of the best natural electrolytes in the world!
Right: Cotton grows wild on Lembeh Island!
Buah Nona, local fruit, nice and sweet!
Red Beans are used in curries & salads and it s a great source of protein.
Indonesians love sweets and also use this vegetable as a sweet
filling in cake such as the popular Onde Onde Goreng.
Left: "Belimbing Botol" is an incredibly sour fruit which is used for vinegar production.
Bellow: Pandan, an herb often used in Indonesia desserts and sweets.
Bellow: Pandan, an herb often used in Indonesia desserts and sweets.
Left: Pineapple as it grows in the wild.
Middle: Vanilla plants climbing up trees
Right: The bark of this tree is called "Kayu Manis", translated to English it means "sweet wood" but we know it as Cinnamon!
Left: Copra production coconut dried with fire!
Right: The village of Gunung Woka
Left: Jackfruit, with a sweet yet savory flavor the jack fruit is
certainly and acquired taste, we love it in curries and fresh from the
trees.
Right: Ants and many other insects and other animals inhabit the forests of Lembeh, these ants have made a home for themselves on a palm tree.