At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, we never get tired of trying the varied Asian cuisine. Summer is here and we fancy lighter and fresher recipes. How about an Oriental salad?

Varied salads, with intense flavours and aromas, are a fundamental part of Asian people´s diet. That´s why today we are going over some of the most popular Oriental salads and how to prepare them to bring the most exotic flavours.

Any salad can have a more Oriental taste. We just have to add some new flavours. Among the most common Asian ingredients we find: lemongrass, Asian rocket, mint, peanuts, banana blossom, noodles, paprika, hot pepper, green papaya, green mango, lime juice and coriander.

Papaya salad. This is one of the most popular recipes in countries such as Laos and Thailand. Its flavour is intense, acid and spicier than what our palates are accustomed. This a dish that people should try at least once in their lives during a trip to Southeast Asia. Local people know it as Som Tam. Its ingredients are: papaya, garlic clove, chilli, tomato, green peas, fish sauce and lime juice.

Asian-style chicken salad. This salad is a perfect starter to complete with other healthy dishes. We can have it either cold or at room temperature. Its ingredients are: mix of lettuces, chopped cabbage, noodles, almonds, grated carrot, chicken breast and tangerines.

The finishing touch is given by the sauce. In order to add the sauce, we need the following ingredients: rice vinegar, mayonnaise, honey, sesame oil and Dijon mustard.

Asian-style chicken sesame salad. This salad is the star of any summer lunch. The ingredients needed to prepare it are: chicken breast, egg, baby corn, toasted sesame, broccoli, cauliflower, soybeans, sugar, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, soy sauce and caramel coated soy.

If you want to feel a full Asian experience this summer, one of the must-dos during your stay at the luxury resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa, is having dinner at the terrace of our Asian restaurant par excellence, Koh Samui.

Celebrations season has just started at the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. We can´t imagine a better way to welcome summer than taking you to Japan to commemorate Nagoshi No Harae. Are you coming with us?

Nagoshi No Harae is an ancient summer purification ritual held at Shinto shrines across Japan. Japanese people perform this ritual in the hope of atoning for sins that have been committed in the first half of the year. It also means a prayer for health during the second half of the year.

It was first established during the Nara period (710-794). Traditionally performed on the last day of the 6^th month, currently it is held on Juned 30. Some shrines celebrate Nagoshi No Harae  during the last week of June.

Participants in Nagoshi No Harae pass through a sacred grass wreath called chinowa, which symbolises purification in Japanese culture. The chinowa is placed on the entrance to the shrines. They also use paper human-shaped dolls called katashiro.

The most popular shrines to celebrate Nagoshi No Harae are located in Kyoto. The most famous one is Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. This shrine harbours the largest chinowa in Kyoto, which is approximately five meters in height.

The ceremony here is held on June 30, but the chinowa is placed on June 25.

During Nagoshi No Harae, seasonal sweet called minazuki is sold. This is a type of steamed cake topped with azuki beans.

Welcome summer at our 5 stars resort in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. A magic atmosphere you will only find in Southeast Asia in the Mediterranean.

At the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa summer is already here. That´s why, today we want to take you to Vietnam to cool ourselves off in the largest natural lake in the country: Ba Be lake.

Ba Be lake is located in the National Park of the same name, in Bac Kan province. It is one of the largest natural reserves of fresh water in the world.

 Ba Be, or Slam Pe, in local dialect, means three lakes. It is formed by Pe Lam, Pe Lu and Pe Leng lakes. It is located 145 metres above sea level. It was formed over 200 million years ago. It is surrounded by mountains, which are 450 million years old.

The water of the lake is characterized by its turquoise colour, which doesn´t leave it all year round.

Once tourists get to Ba Be lake, they can sail in cayucos, the traditional means of transport locals use. Although visitors usually travel by motor boats to contemplate the picturesque beauty of the place and discover its spectacular caves and waterfalls.

In the centre of the lake we find the islands of An Ma and Ba Goa. Tourists can explore surrounding places such as Ao Tien, Po Gia Mai small island, Puong cave y Dau Dang waterfall.

Additionally, Ba Be lake is home to 50 fish and wood tree species. It is a very relaxing and picturesque place for everyone visiting it. They forget quickly about their worries and enjoy the beautiful scenery and pure air.

Ba Be lake is open all year round, but the best time to visit it is during summer, spring, or early autumn.

If you are planning on visiting the 5 stars resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa soon, let yourself be fascinated by its amazing Asian-style pools. Will you join us at the Faces of Angkor pool?

Let´s welcome June at the luxury hotel in Alicante Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. Can you imagine a better option to take care of ourselves and staying hydrated this spring than enjoying the most exotic fruits in China? Find out more about them here!

Dragon Fruit. Also known as Pitaya, it is grown in Asia and America. It is a strange-looking fruit. It is a deep pink colour on the outside and the inside of the fruit is fleshy and contains seeds, just like the kiwi does.

It has a sweet taste and it is known for its excellent nutritional value. The fruit contains lots of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins B and C, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. It also contains high levels of antioxidants and water.

It is a very versatile fruit: it can be eaten raw, turned into juice, combined with salads and even added to pizzas.

Longan. Also known as “The dragon´s eye”, this Asian fruit belongs to

the litchi family, the Sapindaceae family. Longan is smaller than litchi and also has a different taste; sweet and sour.

It is used in all type of salads, cocktails and sauces, it gives any recipe a special touch.

Longan has a bark-like shell, but the inside is a transparent white gel-like meat with a taste very similar to mangos. Phosphorus, iron, copper, potassium, zinc, proteins and magnesium can be found in the fruit, as well as vitamins A and C

Mangosteen. Also known as the “Queen of Fruits”, this tropical fruit grows only in warm tropical climates; it is only grown is Southeast Asia. It boasts an extremely high water content. It also contains potassium and provides fibre.

It is a fruit with a hard, dark-purple coloured shell and a gel-like covered seed inside. It has a sweetly tart taste that resembles the flavour of a peach or tangerine.

Rambutan. This tropical fruit, native to Indonesia, belongs to the same family as litchi. In fact, due to its appearance, it is commonly referred as “hairy litchi”.

Rambutan is a small, round tropical fruit. A bright red skin surrounds the fruit, which is full of small green spikes/hairs that make the fruit look hairy. Once you peel the skin, the fruit inside looks like a smooth and moist white ball. Its flavour is fresh and a little bit acid.

It contains lots of carbohydrates and vitamin C. Experts call it super fruit, due to all the healthy benefits it offers.

The perfect plan to celebrate the upcoming arrival of summer is awaiting for you at the luxury resort Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa. How about renting a Balinese bed with a selection of tropical fruits and the best European champagne by the pool?