Bird's Nest - A Delicacy

Bird's nest soup is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine quite popular in China and Hong Kong. Chinese believe that the natural collagen in bird's nest is good for the skin and keeps it looking young. Some also consume with the belief that it has aphrodisiac benefits.

For the first time I tasted bird's nest soup in a Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong. I quite liked the texture of the soup, continued there after without hesitation, thinking that bird's nest is name of a Chinese dish.

Actually these bird's nests are built by Swift birds with their saliva. These nests are in the shape of a cup. These are harvested, cleaned and cooked as a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. These bird's nests are quite expensive as well.

During my latest visit to Indonesia, I had the opportunity to capture a video of cleaning process of such white nests. Here it is:

(Video captured with Samsung Galaxy Note)

Bird's nest originated from Indonesia and today, Indonesia is one of the major exporters. Currently commercial production of these bird's nest are now undertaken in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam etc. Hong Kong has overtaken China as the major importer of bird's nest. 

When you are travelling to Hong Kong, China or Singapore don't forget to taste this dish. You will like it. 

Now the key question is to whether bird's nest is considered a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian dish. Since it is not meat or egg, in my opinion vegetarian's are good to go. Willing to hear other views.

Coffee Luwak

First a fact - Indonesia is one the top coffee producing countries of Robusta variety of coffee beans.

During my recent visit to Indonesia, I was intrigued by the term 'Kopi Luwak' (Coffee Luwak).

In a coffee shop 'Coffee Luwak', there was a poster containing a rat like animal with coffee seeds. The animal is known as Luwak or Asian Palm Civet.

These Luwaks eat the better coffee berries in a coffee farm and excrete the seeds.

Did I hear some one say 'ewwww..'?

Never mind, let me continue the story - such seeds are collected, washed, processed, roasted and powdered to make a cup of delicious kopi.

Kopi Luwak is produced in small quantities and hence one of the most popular varieties of coffee from Indonesia and most expensive.

Indonesians believe that when the coffee berries/seeds are inside the intestines of Luwak, they absorb enzymes and get more nutrients and flavour. Apparently such processed (not a variety) coffee is expensive and exported widely.

When you visit Indonesia, you decide if you really want to have a taste of this special variety of Kopi Luwak. Not me!

Batam, Indonesia - Travel Report

Batam is one of the 1700 plus islands of Indonesia, about 45 minutes ferry ride from Singapore, situated roughly 20 kilometers south. Originally a fishing island has transformed itself since 1972 to current state.

Quick Facts:
- Batam island is around 700 square kilometers, almost as big as Singapore island
- Has around 1.4 million population
- Since the year 2006 Batam island has been a tax-free island
- Main revenue generators are - a Panasonic factory, receipts from tourism (around 60 per cent of the tourists are from Singapore, followed by Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanse etc.)
- Though Indonesian Rupiah is the currency, Singapore Dollar is accepted at most places

Batam has five ferry terminals:
- Harbourbay 
- Nongsapura Ferry Terminal
- Sekupang
- Waterfront City 
- Batam Centre International Ferry Terminal 

Picture of Batam Centre International Ferry: 

(picture courtesy: wikipedia)

Batam has a functional airport Hang Nadim International Airport with nearly all flights from domestic destinations with international flight between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Batam.

Indian passport holders get a VisaOnArrival for USD 10 for a 10 day stay and USD 25 for a 30 day stay. 

One of the main reasons Singaporeans, Koreans and Japanese travel to Batam is because of the Golf courses that have come up in the recent years. Both beginners and professionals visit these golf courses regularly.

As of today, Batam has seven golf courses, some of them are pristine and of international standard: 
- Palm Springs Golf and Beach Resort
- Southlinks Golf and Country Club
- Tering Bay Golf and Country Club
- Indah Puri Golf Resort
- Tamarin Santana Golf Club
- Batam Hills Golf Resort
- Padang Golf Sukajadi

Two years ago when I visited Batam, it was almost decaying. But this time around I saw quite a bit of development in the city with a number of hotels being built and a number of shopping complexes resembling those of Singapore, coming up. 

Some of the places that we visited: Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Buddhist Temple, one of the biggest Buddhist temples in South East Asia. Please note the usage Sanskrit words, names in the following pictures.

Vegetarians take heart. There is a reasonably big vegetarian restaurant serving good food within the complex.

As of today, Polo Ralph Lauren has three main manufacturing hubs - China, Indonesia and Srilanka. Indonesian unit is based in Java, but all over Indonesia you can find the Polo Ralph Lauren outlets, not necessarily owned by Ralph Lauren, selling goods at much cheaper prices compared to other international locations. However, the goods in outlet in Batam is not as cheap compared to the outlets in Jakarta where you can get a good polo t-shirt for around SGD 35 (approx Rupees 1,500). Visit to the show room is one of the tourism place.

Indonesia is famous for 'Kueh Lapis' roughly translated as layered cake. Singaporeans love to eat Indonesian Kueh Lapis. The one in the picture below is decorated with plum fruit. One of the tourist destination was to a modest home preparing Kueh Lapis in a large scale. 

 Javanese cultural show was another tourist spot:

A performer peeling coconut fibre with teeth.

Another performer eating glass.

(All pictures, except one, shot with Samsung Galaxy Note 8 megapixel camera)

For a quick vacation, Batam was a okay destination. Give few more years and given the growth Indonesia is witnessing, Batam could turn out to be a much sought after resort island. 

Finally a fact before I finish my post - many Singaporeans have their weekend wives in Batam :))