Jembrana, Bull Racing Center

Tropical Fruits

Our country, Indonesia, is rich in varieties of tropical fruit. As part of the country, the island of Bali is also well known for such fruit. Tourists staying in Bali for a week for instance, can taste tropical fruit in the traditional market, shopping centre and fruit shops living in the town. There is a special way for tourists to have fruit by buying it in the temporary road side stall, especially in front of green belt rice field on the main – road or tourist route. On the other hand tourist could visit some villages with their own special fruit season.

Those who visit the island by land via Gilimanuk in West Bali, the first experience of the island is the regency of Jembrana. The regency has the coastal area on the southern part and mountainous range, high land and rice field in the northern part. The main road linking Gilimanuk and Denpasar lies on the midst part, about 80 kms from Gilimanuk to the village of Pengeragoan as the eastern border between Tabanan and Jembrana regency. Does it have nice fruit? Of course! The young coconut sold in Denpasar and Kuta are from Jembrana. The young coconuts are also sold in Gilimanuk and the traditional market in Negara, the capital town. Tourists are often served with young coconut as welcome drink. A group of Japanese tourist in the village of Sangkaragung were recently served with young coconut. Manggo (magnifera indica) is also popular during its season from August to September every year. The other exotic fruits from the region are papaya, banana and rambutan. The rambutan literally meaning “hairy, is a sweet and juicy fruit. The most popular fruit is called durian (durio gibethinus). The durian, a spiny fruit that smell like rotten cheese, is a favorite Indonesia delicacy. The flavour of ice cream is also of durian. Our founding father, Bung Karno as the first president of Indonesia loves his favorite durian fruit very much during his life. In Jembrana, the village such as Batuagung, Brangbang, Mendoyo, Medewi and Pulukan produce durian during December to March every year.
During the season, Christmas and New Year holidays, durians are sold in the contemporary fruit stall on the roadside. Domestic tourists often buy durian as a gift from Bali for their neighbour. The locals use durian as material in Balinese offering. Please bargain the price and check the perfect ripeness of the fruit. Traditionally, people take the failing fruit for harvesting. That is the reason why we have a proverb – seperti menunggu durian jatuh – like waiting for the falling of a durian. Those loving experiencing this moment, could ask the owner of durian plantation to accompany him to stay in the hut near by the three for 24 hours. If the durian falls down, you take it and you get the best. The most unforgettable experience is taking durian under the full moon. The plantation is often located on the bank of the river, the slope at mountain and nearby rice paddies. Tourists experience the local fruit and local atmosphere. Why not? (Lanus Sumatra)