Amongst peaceful doves and under the watchful eye of the resident nesting pair of Osprey, David Anderson and the team at Thala officially launched the newest addition to the host of natural wonders that can be experienced at Thala Beach Lodge.

The Bird Hide is nestled within native trees and shrubs with views across the coconut plantation and on to the majestic rainforest clad Macallister Range.  Here you can watch the Osprey feed their young while the other bird life (56 species to date in 2010 out of the total 181 sited in 2009) frolic around in the natural water bath.

The Bird Hide provides a fantastic opportunity to absorb the multitude of bird species that inhabit the property and delight in calling Thala Beach Lodge home.

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Coconut Chocolate Recipe

Now that I have your attention we’ll get to the chocolate in a moment.

Many people believe coconuts are bad because they contain saturated fat, personally I’ll never believe saturated fat is bad for anyone but that makes for another blog.

The saturated fat in coconuts is unique in that it contains medium chain fatty acids, ( MCFA’S) making it very easily digested travelling through the portal vein into the liver, thus converting to energy & speeding up metabolism. This can result in the lowering of body fat just by consuming coconut products, ie the meat, oil, cream, milk etc.

Information claiming that coconuts contain cholesterol is false as plants do not contain cholesterol & statements claiming that saturated fats are similar to trans- fats, are misleading, & for anyone familiar with basic chemistry knows this is bad science. MCFA’S contain only about 8-10 carbons, which are medium chains. The other fats are long chain fatty acids containing 18-20 carbons, making them harder to digest & adding to body fat.

Coconut oil is 50% lauric acid which forms monolaurin in the body, this creates the antiviral, antibacterial monoglyceride that will destroy lipid coated viruses such as HIV, herpes, influenza, various bacteria & so on.

So with benefits like this I and my partner Melanie eat a coconut every day. We cook with the oil, milk and cream, we use desiccated coconut for our desserts and I even drink the oil.  Mel is not fond of drinking oil so to get her oil she has come up with a delicious recipe for chocolate which may be the worlds first fat loss chocolate.

Ingredients are:
1/3 cup of coconut oil
1/3 cup of organic cocoa powder
2 eggs, separated
Stevia (to your own taste)
Desiccated coconut

In a mixing bowl, whisk egg whites until firm.
In a separate bowl, combine the coconut oil, cocoa powder & stevia. Blend until smooth,  then add the egg yolks 1 at a time, stirring continuously.
Gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture, in 2 batches.
Once combined, spoon into a small glass container (roughly 10cmX10cm), that has been lined with cling wrap.
Sprinkle with desiccated coconut, gently patting it into the chocolate with your fingers.
Refrigerate for 2 hours to set, then cut into bite size pieces!
Enjoy!

Carl

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Wishing a Merry Christmas + a Happy New Year to everyone!

We will be bringing you some great blog posts in 2010!

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The Flame Tree – Brachychiton acerifolius is in full flower at Thala and native to the East Coast of Australia.

The Flame Tree holds a commanding stature with its blazing red flowers conspicuous amongst the glossy green of the rainforest.

Flame Tree Flower

A Flame Tree at Thala Beach Lodge.

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Brachychiton Megaphyllus is related to the flame tree and very rare to Queensland. It’s a small tree with has large stiff leaves, normally found in the Northern Territory. It has taken us by surprise in that a Casuarina seed must have blown into the seed pot and germinated after the Brachychiton was planted.

From the photograph one notes that the Casuarina dwarfs the Brachychiton which at aprox. 21cm tall is flowering with a beautiful array of red/orange blossom.

If anybody could give us more information on the Brachychiton Megaphyllus it would be greatly appreciated!

A Brachychiton Megaphyllus and a Casuarina.

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Green Coconuts

Young green coconuts contain a liquid that’s often confused with coconut milk. Coconut milk comes from the flesh, unlike the water which is the endosperm. Young green coconut water is the most sterile liquid in nature. It has been proven to have the same electrolyte balance as the blood passing through our veins, which would be why during the First & Second World Wars it was intravenously fed to patients when glucose & plasma supplies were low.

Being high in calcium, magnesium & potassium, it’s a delicious rehydrating liquid. People say bananas are a great source of potassium, but 100mls of green coconut water has an amount of potassium equivalent to 15 bananas. Green coconut water also contains cytokinins, a more concentrated amount than any other food source. These are the cells D.N.A protective agents. Researchers believe that it is an anti-ageing tonic.

Coconut water contains a complex blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, carbohydrates, antioxidants, enzymes, health enhancing growth hormones & other important nutrients.

I feel very lucky that my path in life led me to working at Thala’s coconut plantation, giving me & guests on the tours, an unlimited supply of green coconuts. I’ve also noticed some supermarkets stocking green coconuts & some carry coconut water.

Coconut Kefir Recipe

This is a favourite drink of mine!

Fill a 1 litre, glass container with coconut water, add a little kefir culture & then seal the lid.

Let it sit for 24 hours on a bench, then 12 hours in the fridge.

It’s ready to drink! This fizzy, sour, champagne like drink has the bacteria that’s missing in our Western diet. It gives me the foundations to build my immune system & health!

Thanks for reading,

Carl!!

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Carl talking Coconuts

Carl Johanson is our resident Coconut guru + his Coconut Odyssey tour is proving to be a hit! There are many amazing benefits and myths surrounding Coconuts and Carl is on a mission to convert the world to Coconuts! A huge hit with guests, Carl has been included in NineMSN’s Australia’s most eccentric Tour Guides.

Carl shared some of his thoughts over a cooling Coconut…

Q. Where do coconuts come from…

A. Different cultures have claimed ownership of coconuts. Here in Australia people have been destroying coconut palms saying they are not native, but recent fossilized evidence off the coast of Australia points to the origins being between here and Papua New Guinea.

Q. What got me hooked…

A. I love the taste of coconuts. But I got hooked when I learnt that coconut does not make fat, but instead helps to burn it and as a result has given me a nice 6 pack. You gotta get hooked on that!

Q. Nutritional benefits…

A. There are too many to list them all, but the best would be-

- Speeds up metabolism
- Antiviral, Antibacterial & Antifungal properties
- Builds the immune system

And I believe the best quality food left on this planet! Just think the fruit is up high so no pests can affect it, therefore no Herbicides or Pesticides are required. They’ll grow in the sand, needing no fertilizer and don’t need to be genetically modified.

Q. Why you should take the tour…

A. It’s the only coconut tour in Australia. A great opportunity to learn amazing facts about coconuts, and dispel the myths suppressing this miracle food.

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This Comb Crested Jakana was spotted at Thala foraging in saltwater

The Comb Crested Jacana (Trediparra Gailinacea) is a new species added to the growing list of birds identified at Thala Beach Lodge in Tropical North Queensland.

The Jacana is normally found in fresh water wetlands where it is seen walking on water lily leaves looking for insects. Its weight is sufficient to push the leaf just under the surface of the water giving the impression that it is walking on water. Hence it is sometimes called the Jesus Bird.

The Brown Backed Honeyeater nest in close proximity to a Paper Wasp nest.

The strange thing about this sighting, as seen in the photograph, is the foraging amongst the mangroves in the sea just off Pebbly Beach. This is not only a first at Thala, but a first time a Jacana has been seen foraging in the salt water by all who witnessed it. Comments would be greatly appreciated.

The Brown Backed Honey Eater nest is a wonderful example of symbiosis between species. Notice the proximity of the bird nest to the Paper Wasp’s nest. The honey eater relies on the paper wasp to guard its nest from any marauding predators. If you have ever been stung by disturbing a paper wasps nest, you will understand how effective that can be!

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A painting at Thala has caused many questions as to its meaning. History writes that G.E Dalrymple was the first white man to land on the shores at Kewarra Beach, Tropical North Queensland, Australia. However this painting by Ray Crooke tells a different story.

This painting by Ray Crooke illustrates an interesting moment in the exploration of Far North Queensland, Australia.

At the beginning of September 1873, G. Elphinstone Dalrymple received orders from the Colonial Secretary to take command of The Queensland North East Coast Expedition; the purpose of which was to explore the unknown territory between Cardwell and Cooktown, to report on the resources of the region and its suitability for settlement.

On Monday 29 September, the expedition set sail Northwards from Cardwell. Dalrymple’s expedition landed at Kewarra Beach and noticed “ in every camp along the beach for two miles unmistakable evidence of wholesale habitual cannibalism: heaps of human bones and skulls were found in each camp, and in some, roasted and partially eaten bodies were discovered beside the fires at which they had been cooked. Lumps of half eaten human flesh were found in the gins dilly bags”.

There is a great irony in Dalrymple’s speculation on the possible fate of a “poor shipwrecked crew cast ashore from the Pacific Ocean” . Unbeknown to him there were already five wild white men living with the tribesmen in this area.

Robert Johnstone himself wrote in his own journal: “I may here remark that the following morning I ran the tracks of the blacks, and found they had removed the bodies of those shot, and had a cannibal feast on them, and had stripped the others of the flesh and carried it away; and while we were camped at a lagoon getting a drink one of my troops happened to go to the top of the ridge, and found a large mob stalking us. I gave orders to pretend not to know, and we went on getting lily roots, but with rifles loaded and at full cock waiting for developments. We had not long to do so, as shortly after I saw a black head peering over the crest of the ridge, and others showing up. We gave them a volley and they did not wait for more, but they evidently did not intend us to invade their country without fighting.  I regretted much they would not fraternize, as my leader’s orders were to use every endeavour to do so, and never to shoot unless compelled to do it in self defence; in fact, on several occasions I risked the safety of members of the party through carrying out his instructions too implicity. On one occasion our leader was so intent in examining the rocks in a creek near the camp that he would have been speared had not one of the troopers (who was yam hunting) been alert and shot the blackfellow within fifty yards of Mr Dalrymple, whom he was quietly stalking. There is no doubt he would have succeeded had it not been for the alertness of the trooper”.

In 1876 gold was discovered in the Hodgkinson region (inland from Kewarra). Access to the Hodgkinson was by a rough bush track over the range behind Kewarra Beach. After the discovery, the government spent 72 pounds upgrading the track, however, it later became impassable due to the presence of ‘poison bush’ which killed travelling stock.

The first bushmen to cut the track were amazed to see letters carved on trees, some of which had been freshly felled with axes; believing that they were the first white people into the area.

In September 1877, a bushman who had set up camp near the track awoke to find his horses had strayed in the night. While searching through the tall grass he disturbed and shot at a large black snake where upon to his utter surprise, the grass around him erupted with Indigenous Australians, all of whom ran off as fast as possible.

Amazingly a half caste boy jumped out of the grass and ran away. The bushman called out and pointed his rifle at the retreating figure at which point,  “ a naked, dirty, greased white man with a red beard stood up and politely asked him not to shoot”.
This man explained how he had four companions, one of whom was the Father of the teenage half caste boy, and that they had been living with the Aboriginals for 14 years. This indicates that white men arrived 10 years before Dalrymple’s men landed on the coast near Kewarra.

The mystery of who they were and where they came from was never solved. The only two clues to their identity were that they were carrying American made axes and there were the remains of a shipwreck at White Cliffs (where Thala Beach Lodge sits today) twenty kilometers north of Kewarra.

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The Cape York Lily at Thala Beach Lodge.

Naturally distributed through the tropical areas of Australia The Cape York Lily (Curcuma Australasica) is also in full bloom with its striking electric pink colour. It’s considered good ‘bush tucker’ and is a native turmeric of the ginger family. It dies back in the drier Winter months before remerging from underground rhizomes with the onset of the wet season.

The onset of spring has seen the beautiful Cape York Lily emerging in the gardens of Thala Beach Lodge. The striking pink flower of The Cape York Lily is unmissable in full bloom, contrasted against it’s broad green leaves. The  flower stalks can grow up to 50cm in height, and often appear even before it’s leaves have fully unfurled.

A native tumeric plant in the ginger family, The Cape York Lily grows from a tuber which is not only edible, but quite palatable when roasted.

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Some new and fairly rare species of Australian birds are being seen at Thala probably due to the very dry period. A Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) has been spotted, a very uncommon sighting so close to the coast. This beautifully coloured very shy ground feeding bird has been in residence for the past 3 months. Also, a Bassian Ground Thrush (Zoothera lunulata) which feeds in a similar manner to the Noisy Pitta, has taken up residence. This is very uncommon as they are normally found in the higher country of North Queensland.

A pair of Little Lorikeets (Glossopsitta pusilla), have been seen feeding on the nectar from the flowers of the Poplar Gums. Very rarely seen so close to the North Queensland coast. This has been the first sighting of Little Lorikeets at Thala.

The resident pair of Papuan Frogmouth (Podargus papuensis) the largest of the Frogmouth species, started breeding 3 weeks ago. The nest looks very flimsy, just a few sticks in the fork of a tree. The nest has been made only 100m from where the pair were observed in their winter non breeding area. True to form the male is observed sitting on the nest during the day. The eggs are expected to hatch any day.

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Thala Beach Lodge has earned a spot in Travel Ninemsn’s article “Top 20 places in Australia to Propose” by David Whitley.

” Oak Beach is one of the most seriously underrated beaches in Australia. It comes straight out of the rainforest and has magnificent views of the Tropical North Queensland coast. It’s also so quiet that it’s practically the private beach of the luxurious Thala Beach Lodge. The lodge can organise for picnic hampers and wine to be brought down to the beach at the right moment. “

Full article at Ninemsn here.

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Miguel Maestre

Thala was proud to play host to Spanish Celebrity Chef Miguel Maestre during a two week filming session in Far North Queensland. Tropical Kitchen evolved from the cooking show Boys’ Weekend which also starred Australia’s Gary Mehigan. Tropical Kitchen will be aired on the lifestyle channel in 2010 with producers planning to screen the show at Cannes, France in October.

Miguel Maestre is a Spaniard who calls Sydney home. Miguel first started cooking when he was 21, before moving to Scotland to hone his skills. After returning to Spain for a stint he moved to Australia 4 years ago and worked as Head Chef of Tony Bilson’s Number One Wine Bar in Sydney’s Circular Quay, originally working under his friend, mentor and co-host on Boy’s Weekend Manu Feildel.

Miguel has begun to develop a following in the media with appearances on Channel Ten’s “9am with David and Kim”, Channel Seven’s “Better Homes and Gardens” and cooking spots on MixFM in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Miguel’s passion for food and life is infectious, developing a talent for incorporating Spanish ingredients and cooking styles into his modern Australian menus.

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These shots of a Green Sea Turtle were taken at Low Isles off the coast of Port Douglas, Australia. They are one of the few species still in existence that would have seen the evolution and extinction of the dinosaurs. Green Sea Turtles are herbivores and breathe air. Adult Green Sea Turtles live most of their lives in the sea with females returning to land to lay their eggs. When sleeping or resting Adult Green Sea Turtles can be underwater for more than 2 hours without breathing.

Green Sea Turtle

Green Sea Turtle at Low Isles

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Snorkelling on The Great Barrier Reef

The world’s biggest living structure is The Great Barrier Reef. The only living thing visible from Earth’s orbit. The Great Barrier Reef runs parallel to the Queensland coast and spans from North of Cape York to near Bundaberg in the South – a total distance of 2600 kilometres and covering an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres.

Built by billions of coral polyps (tiny organisms) and playing host to a diverse range of species including more than 1500 species of fish and over 400 species of corals the Great Barrier Reef is a World Heritage area and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Comprised of over 3000 individual reef systems and hundreds of tropical islands many vulnerable and endangered species are inhabitants of The Great Barrier Reef.

Coral Trout

Coral is ‘alive’ due to its thin coating of coral polyps which develops a chalky limestone skeleton. Coral grows from the division of these polyps. This multiplication of polyps is called budding. Reproduction of the corals of the reef occurs through coral spawning. Over one third of coral on The Great Barrier Reef reproduces this way. This event can be witnessed on the inner reefs during the week after the full moon in October and on the outer reefs in November/December. This mass spawning sees corals releasing gametes leading to slicks of spawn on the surface of the sea. Spawning always occurs at night and the slicks won’t last longer than two days. Corals are inventive reproducers and it is likely that many of the mechanisms used are still undiscovered.

For most people coral wouldn’t be considered aggressive, yet they can grow over the top of neighbours and at night some corals can attack each other in a battle for space. Some can extrude mesenteric filaments to digest the tissues of their neighbours or, in the case of some species, tentacles up to 7cm long to sting their competition.

Humpback Whale at The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is also a breeding ground for Humpback Whales, migrating from Antarctica to use the warm waters of the Coral Sea between May and September. The whales come to calve and build up strength before returning to the Antarctic in Summer. Minke whales can also be seen, mainly around the ribbon reef area.

The coral reefs exist offshore from the coast of Queensland. Coral thrives better in clean water free of nutrient and freshwater. The best corals are generally found in the clean waters of the outer reef. Thala is located in close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. With a short boat ride you can visit the crystal clear waters and stunning colour of the reef. Popular points to access The Great Barrier Reef in North Queensland are from Port Douglas and Cairns.

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