Coconut escape - 3 days at Jiwa Damai

Coconut Escape3 days at Jiwa Damai

A health program based on the multiple physical benefits of virgin coconut oil. At Jiwa Damai we produce our own Bali Virgin Coconut Oil from the finest organic coconuts, grown in rich lava soil.

Package includes:

• 3 nights accommodation

• Daily Balinese breakfast

• Two lunches and three dinners, prepared with virgin coconut oil

• One table spoon of coconut oil with each meal

• Fresh young coconut water, fruit juices, water and teas

• 1 Balinese massage with our Bali Virgin Coconut Oil (1x 50 min.) & a flower bath

• 1 head and hair package with virigin coconut oil

• 1 meridian health diagnosis by our acupuncturist

• 1 session ‘Unfolding the Heart Qualities’ with our transpersonal psychologist

• Daily morning yoga session including heart meditation (45 min.)

• Guided tour through our organic garden (1 h)

• 1 hour Internet usage per day

• Bicycle usage (unlimited)

• Airport transfers

Price: Price for one person:  IDR 5 640.000 / US$ 660 Price for two persons: IDR 9 030.000 / US$ 1.050 incl. a 5% service fee

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Potato Tower at Jiwa Damai

The potato tower is our latest invention in the permaculture garden.Since it proved impossible to grow potatoes in the wet soil here at Jiwa Damai, we had to think a bout a different way how to grow potatoes. We decided to create a tower that is filled with stones, sand and earth, so the water is able to flow through it and thus the potatoes are kept dry.

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Our gardeners , together with a volunteer took on the task to dig the whole in the ground, which was needed to place the potato tower. The tower itsself is made out of woven bamboo sticks.

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Now our experiment of growing potatoes is ready to start!

We will keep you updated on the progress :-)

Balinese Penjor for Galungan festivities

The Penjor is a traditional Balinese decoration made for the Galungan festival. Galungan is a traditional Balinese celebration, similar to a Western Christmas, where families get together.The Penjor is usually made by the head of the family, and it takes a whole day for the family to put it together.  It is then erected outside each family compound.

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The Penjor is made and assembled then it is erected in front of the house / compound.

What a beautiful piece of art!

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Slow down - chill out

Do it like the snail. Wouldn't it sometimes be nice to operate  on a slower speed,  leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind and live life more consciously and deliberatly?

Jiwa Damai is the ideal place for such a time-out. Here on Bali you can relax in a beautiful tropical setting, enjoy nature and find time for reflection and contemplation.

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to be continued.......

First honey harvest in Jiwa Damai

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It has to be midnight and full moon (purnama) and the bees have to be asleep before the honey can be taken out.

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The beekeeper opens the beehive without any protection. He breathes water onto the outside of the beehives which is full of sleeping bees.

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The bees disperse and some begin to fly around. He then takes two bamboo sticks to remove the honey combs slowly one after another.

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The honeycombs are then broken into small pieces and put on to a filter and steamed from below. When the honey is liquid it is being pressed out.

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Organic cooking: Fried Tempeh

Today we show you another traditional Balinese dish made from Tempeh. Tempeh is a traditional soy product originally from Indonesia. It is made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process that binds soybeans into a cake form, similar to a very firm vegetarian burger patty. Like tofu, tempeh is made from soybeans, but tempeh is a whole soybean product with different nutritional characteristics and textural qualities. Tempeh's fermentation process and its retention of the whole bean give it a higher content of protein, dietary fiber, and vitamins. It has a firm texture and strong flavor. Because of its nutritional value, tempeh is used worldwide in vegetarian cuisine.

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At Jiwa Damai we place a high value on sustainable food practices and organically grown produce. We grow and eat a fair amount from our permaculture garden. Astri, our very talented Balinese cook, prepares food with great care and love. Below is her recipe for Fried Tempe. Very yummy.....

Astri's recipe for Fried Tempeh: 

Ingredients:

• 1 block of Tempeh
• Add a dash of Merica Bubuk, Indonesian Pure Pepper Powder
• 1 block vegetable stock
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ cup water

Preparation:

First cut tempeh into flat squares. Combine with Merica Bubuk, vegetable stock, and salt. Add ½ cup water and allow to soak 20 minutes. Drain, vegetable oil in wok and fry tempeh. We enjoy tempeh with rice and sambal.

Other variations include cutting the tempe into thin rectangles and combining with peanuts and red peppers. This makes a great addition to stir fried bok choy, or added to a salad like croutons.

Fried Tempeh

Dragonflies and Butterflies

Today we want to introduce you to some of the beautiful animals in our organic garden. This fantastic red dragonfly visited the garden. In fact, there are many dragonflies in many different colors, here at Jiwa Damai. What an amazingly beautiful creature !

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We are lucky here to be blessed by beautiful butterfly visitors as well.

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Come by and enjoy the fauna on Bali at Jiwa Damai!

Bio Tank for our Balinese Lumbungs

Working on the Lumbungs

Here at Jiwa Damai, we are currently in the process of adding to the retreat center with the construction of two Balinese lumbungs. A type of traditional Balinese housing, lumbungs are small, two-story bamboo huts that are open to nature. Ours sit on the hillside and have a scenic overlook to the jungle and swimming pool.

The first floor has of the lumbung will feature a couch, living area and patio with large hammock. The second story is a bedroom. The lumbungs are for guests who want to be closer to nature. Here, you will be sleeping open to hum of cicadas, singing of frogs and croak of the gecko. The patio provides a perfect place for meditation and yoga.

In our efforts to be the forerunners in environmental friendliness and to pioneer energy efficiency in Bali, we have installed a BioPro, bio septic tank for the lumbungs. We considered a solar water heater but ultimately decided that it was not worthwhile - too many rainy days here! Our bio tank is one of only two pieces available on the island.

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The pipe runs, as pictured, from the lumbung bathroom into the bio tank. From there it goes through a treatment process. Clean, recyled water flows out at the other side.

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The outflow of the tank will be used to water the upper garden. This will be particularly useful during the dry season, when every drop of water counts.

Family day for our team at Jiwa Damai

  We invited all our workes with their families to spend an afternoon at Jiwa Damai, to explore the grounds and enjoy a careless afternoon with games and food. This was such a fun day !

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With the kids we played all kinds of games, like 'baloon walk', balancing an egg on a spoon while walking or sack race.

The Balinese families had lots of fun and also our wwoofers took part in the event and enjoyed the day.

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Organic salad from the permaculture garden

We are lucky enough to enjoy salad from our organic garden on a daily basis. We currently grow two different types of lettuce, arugula, basil, cucumber, tomato, and carrot. All combine for a fantastic mixed greens salad.Astri makes a wonderful salad dressing to go with our fresh greens.

Astri picking salad

Astri’s Salad Dressing:

This dressing recipe is simple, quick, and easy to make at home.

• Juice from 4 to 5 limes.
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons mustard
• 4 tablespoons honey
• A small piece of ginger (to taste)

Combine all ingredients and stir until smooth and well blended. This light and flavorful dressing does not overstep its bounds and mask the many tastes of vegetables. It lends itself softly and combines nicely with any salad. Enjoy!

Organic salad