Fruit Frenzy
28 Jan 2007 — This is just a frivolous blog that I’ve wanted to put together for a while now, cause I’m absolutely, just absolutely blown away by the variety of fruits we get here at the resort. It’s definitely better than Sydney, and I’d say it almost supercedes Singapore save for a few items. So come come, let me show you the colourful world of fruits here at Hilton Maldives.
So first of all, very straightfoward, there’s the array from the breakfast buffet — and just in case you can’t quite make them out, let me start listing them for you: passionfruit, guava, papaya, honeydew, watermelon, rambutan, snakeskin fruit(?!?), pears, peaches… and on the other side, apricots, nectarines, oranges, red apples…
There are also longans, yep, fresh ones.
With a closer look, starfruit, kiwis and dragonfruit can also be detected. Yeah! Dragonfruit!??
At the breakfast buffet, there’s also the cheeseplatter.
Yes, Billie, you know how much of a sucker I am for this. But strangely now that I have ready access to it, it has lost its appeal. The only time I’ve had some was at Carsten’s X’mas party. So anyway, here we find strawberries, green grapes and red globes…
This would be my regular breakfast, though in most cases, it would be either the yoghurt or the rye bread with peanut butter and jam, not both together. And yes, this is a whole mish-mash fresh fruit salad…
Of course fruits are a common ingredient in lots of desserts, including this fruit-based cake. Here we have fresh figs, quite a rarity indeed.
And in the panettone, there’s a kumquat or two or three.
In the kitchen, they also prepare a welcome drink made of limes for diners.
The gym’s another place where we’d find some fruity offerings — for instance, the fruit basket for anyone after a quick sugar fix post-workout, and yes, I do spot some tangerines, and more of the other fruits from before.
For classes, Elli arranges something a little more special; amongst which we see some rockmelon and blueberries… is anyone keeping count?
Ok, onward to the spa…
So here at the spa, when guests first arrive and are waiting in the relaxation area for the therapist to come pick them up, in addition to ice water and a cold towel, they are also offered a couple of fruit kebabs.
That’s not all. Fruits also feature in the spa treatments…
We have the papaya, pineapple and cucumber mask, which is part of our Thai Fruit Wrap — freshly prepared and oh so indulgent…
And of course, cucumber for little eye pads and lemons… erm… not sure what we use them for, hmm, that’s something I should find out!
Hiding in the staff training room is a basket of green apples — again for anyone who’s after a snack, though definitely not my fruit of choice: too sour!
And over at the sunset water villas — only two on the island, each costing US$4400 per night — we spot a pomegranate nestled in the fruit basket. Would anyone like to hazard a guess why the background is blue? Well, that’s because the wire is resting on a glass table that’s resting on a glass floor!
See what I mean?… Stunning or what?!!
But no, you’ve not seen the end of it. Now let’s wander into the gardens and footpaths…
On our right, we see a banana plant…
On our left, a papaya tree, up high in the sky…
And well, just about everywhere around the island, coconut palms!!! Speaking of coconut, my gawd, the coconut milkshake at Rangali Bar is to die for!
Oh and here we have a local plant and fruit known as “Ahiva”. And yes, it can be eaten when it turns red and ripe.
I’ve still got a couple more things up my sleeves…
Did someone say life is like a bowl of cherries? Well, here it almost feels so.
Some new kids on the block were fresh lychees and these small CNY mandarins — see, still got leaves attached!
Here the exotic collection — in addition to rambutan and snakeskin fruit, we also have jambu or some may call it rose apple, mangosteen, and look mama, your favourite langsat?!? Like geez…
So having been awed by the variety thus far, I found myself thinking the other day, “if you really want to impress me, show me the chiku — one of my all time favourite fruits! And not two days later…
Voila! I couldn’t believe my eyes!!! (Erm, any chance of an encore with THE KING? Haha, surely you Singaporeans know what I’m referring to…)
Last but not least, something I’ve had but do not have a photo of are mangoes. For some reason, they are quite uncommon on the island. Hmm… And with that, I think I’ve finally finished. Told ya it was mind-boggling, didn’t I? And if you have been counting, that was a total of 40 different FRESH fruits! I stress fresh, ‘cos in addition, we also get a huge variety of canned, bottled and dried fruits — from figs to dates to raisins and cherries and all sorts of berries! You name it! But I’m not going there.
So hopefully this little blog of mine has inspired you readers to reach for your very own piece of fresh fruit. Frankly, fruits are God’s gift to us all, especially us women who are forever trying to lose weight — low in fat and calories (with the definite exception of durian) and yet satisfies our sweet-tooth. In addition, they are chock full of not just vitamins and minerals, but also antioxidants, amino acids, enzymes and fibre! So go ahead, sink those teeth into one of these beauties oredi.
Speaking of fruits, I paid another visit to Sea Stars recently…
Heh heh, a tutti-frutti dress that screams out, “Yes! I’m gay friendly!”. I am the quintessential Pineapple Queen you know. Love it! Such a happy dress.
Ok, Ciao!