Cool Rickshaw in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

1. Ride in a Cool Rickshaw

There aren’t too many options for transportation in Jaffna, but riding around in a “cool rickshaw” is probably the best choice!

The cool thing about the Bajaj rickshaw’s is that they are actually comfortable, and you can get a good view out the doorway.

Jaffna Fish Market

2. Jaffna Fish Market

There are a number of small scale fish markets around Jaffna city, but the one located on Beach Road is easy to get to and very relaxed. The fish market in Jaffna gets started right around 7 am and when I went there was a good selection of exotic fish and the normal catch of the day.

The entire market consisted of only about 100 men, trickling in and out, making it nice and calm as compared to many of the bigger city fish markets in this world!

Walk Around Beach Road

3. Walk Around Beach Road

Beach Road is one of the coolest areas of Jaffna – and it’s not because of the beach. It’s because of the fascinating life and the community that exists in the area.

Nallur Kovil - Ceremony

4. Nallur Kovil – Ceremony

Jaffna, in northern Sri Lanka is populated by a majority of Hindu Tamil’s. Nallur Kovil (also known by its full name Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil), is the most famous Hindu temple complex in Jaffna.

While the temple is home to a number of festivals throughout the year, Nallur Kovil also holds daily ritualistic ceremonies. Catching a Hindu ceremony where you get to hear the sounds and smells is one of the most interesting things to do in Jaffna.

Daily Ceremony:

• There are ceremonies throughout the day, but from what I’ve heard the best time is 4 – 5 pm. I personally arrived at 4 pm and watched the ceremony for about 30 minutes.
• Women must have their legs and shoulders covered and men are required to take off shirts before entering the temple.
• No photography inside the temple.

Pilgrimage to Nainativu Island

5. Pilgrimage to Nainativu Island

If you are up for a day trip out of Jaffna, one of the popular things for locals to do is to make the pilgrimage to Nainativu Island. The island is one of the holiest sites in Sri Lanka for both Buddhists and Hindus.

The Buddhist temple is known as Nagadipa Purana Vihara (Naga Vihare) and the Hindu temple is the Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil.

How to get to Nainativu Island:

• Take any local bus heading to Nagdeepa from Jaffna – 50 LKR ($0.44)
• Ferry to Nainativu Island – 30 LRK ($0.26)
• Double this for a round trip from Jaffna – about $1.40

Catholic Cathedrals

6. Catholic Cathedrals

Though Jaffna is predominantly Hindu, there are quite a few Roman Catholic churches especially around the beach side area of town.

Some of the most famous cathedrals include: St. John’s, St. Mary’s, Our Lady of Refuge Church, St. James’ and John the Baptist. Pictured above is a view of St. James’ Cathedral and school.

Old Buildings and Ruins

7. Old Buildings and Ruins

As Jaffna was recently in the middle of the long running Sri Lankan civil war, there are lots and lots of empty fields and bombed out, decaying ruins. Everywhere you look around Jaffna there’s a pile of rubble and jungle vines starting to grow.

Taking a walk around town while checking out some of the ruins of Jaffna is one of the interesting things to do in Jaffna.

Things to do in Jaffna - Jaffna Fort

8. Jaffna Fort

The well known iconic fortress in Jaffna was originally built by the Portuguese but was later overtaken by the Dutch. The Dutch transformed the city of Jaffna into a successful trading hub.

Throughout the war, the Jaffna Fort was the center of a number of battles and today (though it’s being restored at the moment) it remains a great historical destination to see.

Visiting the Jaffna Fort is one of the popular things to do for both local tourists and foreigners alike.

Graveyard View

9. Graveyard View

Another solemn reminder of the former war in Jaffna is the Catholic graveyard located near the beach, just off Beach Road.

Things to do in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

10. Jaffna Public Library

Another building in Jaffna that has an interesting history is the Jaffna Public Library. At its peak, it was one of the largest libraries in Asia – but it was burned down in 1981.

The library has since been rebuilt, but it doesn’t house nearly the collection that it had before.

Entrance fee is 10 LKR ($0.09) – pretty cheap (stuff like this made it possible to travel through Sri Lanka on $10 per day)

Jaffna Causeway

11. Jaffna Causeway

The northern part of Sri Lanka is made up of small low lying islands or which Jaffna is connected by causeway. You can walk a little ways down the causeway, take a rickshaw or take a local bus to another island.

Things to do in Jaffna - Shopping

12. Jaffna Shopping Market

The central part of Jaffna is as busy these days as parts of Colombo. Near the bus station is a lively market that is stocked with all necessities one could possibly want.

From Tamil style clothing to tools and dvd’s and music cd’s, the market will always have you excited. The friendly Sri Lankans and the rowdy traffic adds to the bustling scene.

Things to do in Jaffna - Eat at Hotel Rolex

13. Eat at Hotel Rolex Restaurant

One of my favorite things to do in Jaffna (like most places I go) is to dine on the local food. Jaffna, being the center of Sri Lankan Tamil culture presents a few different Sri Lankan food delicacies and tasty specialties.

Hotel Rolex is an excellent restaurant to get a satisfying Jaffna style cheap meal!

Full rice and curry meals go for just $1 – $2 per person.

Sri Lankan Sunrise Breakfast

14. Sri Lankan Sunrise Breakfast

There’s nothing more pleasant than taking advantage of the cool morning in Jaffna. Along with the beautiful daily sunrise, Jaffna has a few very local restaurants that serve cheap and delicious dishes and cups of steamy ginger and milk tea.

Jaffna Mangoes

15. Eat Jaffna Mangoes

Of all the things to do in Jaffna, sometimes sitting back and enjoying a few mangoes and just people watching is one of the most rewarding.

The area of Jaffna is well known throughout Sri Lanka for its supply and deliciousness of mangoes. In Pettah Market in Colombo, many of the vendors will even tell you they have “Jaffna mangoes!”

Things to do in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

16. Play Football in Jaffna

If you happen to be awake in the really early morning (about 6 am), these guys will be out in the field enthusiastically playing a little football and sometimes cricket. This neighborhood field was located near the fish market just off Beach Road.

Have you been to Jaffna? What others things did you find to do?

The Top 16 Things to Do in Jaffna, Sri Lanka is a post from: Cultural Travel and Street Food Around the World | Migrationology

Watch the VIDEO (above)!

If you can’t see the video, click here to watch it on Youtube.

Thai Chicken Rice

Hainanese chicken rice is basically boiled chicken served over fragrant rice that is cooked in chicken broth and chicken fat.

In Thailand, chicken rice is known as Khao Man Gai ข้าวมันไก่.

In this video I dine at a popular Bangkok street food restaurant that’s famous for Thai chicken rice in the Pratunam area of town.

It’s alright.

Not the dish I most enjoy eating in Thailand… but it is comforting and easy on the

stomach.

Thank you for watching the video!

VIDEO: Eating Thai Chicken Rice in Bangkok’s Pratunam District is a post from: Cultural Travel and Street Food Around the World | Migrationology

Chaos at the Long Bien Market

Chaos would be an understatement when referring to the Long Bien wholesale market in Hanoi.

The central distribution of fruits and vegetables for much of Hanoi begins at Long Bien at about midnight and continues until around 6 am the next morning. For those 6 hours the entire scene is a straight up fight of trucks, packed out motorcycles and infinite humans armed with pushcarts and double basket carriers.

It’s hard to even walk through Long Bien market without a few scares of being hit.

Photo Favorite: Chaos at the Long Bien Market is a post from: Cultural Travel and Street Food Around the World | Migrationology

1. Chengyang Village, China

Chengyang is a little-known village.

Are you ready for this?

It is precisely located in the Dong People region, Sanjiang Area, in Liuzhou County, in the northern part of Guangxi Province, and finally in the country of the People’s Republic of China!

2. Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge

2. Wind and Rain Bridge, Chengyang, China

Chengyang is especially famous for its “Wind and Rain Bridge.”

This prized bridge, which was finished being built in 1916, is not just a normal bridge. It is set up with pagodas and benches; The Wind and Rain Bridge is a place to socialize and a place for the community.

3. Quiet Village of Chengyang

3. Relaxing Town of Chengyang, China

The village of Chengyang is quiet, there are no cars within the center of the village and many things exist as they probably have for hundred and hundreds of years.

4. Wooden Homes

4. Wooden Village of Chengyang, China

Another reason Chengyang is so famous is because the entire village is made from wood planks, making it feel like you’re walking through a giant antique!

5. Dong People Cultural Show

5. Dong People Cultural Dance Show, Chengyang, China

To preserve their heritage (and cater to the rising amount of Chinese tourists), the local Dong people put on a cultural dance and music show everyday. The dancing, the costumes, and especially the local music was interesting to see/hear.

6. Drying Indigo Dyed Cloth

6. Drying Cloth in Chengyang, China

The women traditionally wear brightly colored indigo blue blouses. Here, the women are placing a huge length of freshly dyed cloth to dry in the sun on the side of the road.

7. Relaxing on a Bridge

7. Relaxing on a Bridge in Chengyang, China

Men in Chengyang have the right idea – spending much of the day relaxing and chit chatting on benches in the center of the bridges.

8. Playing Cards

8. Playing Cards on a Bridge in Chengyang, China

Other men choose to spend their time playing cards and gambling – another great way to spend a day in Chengyang!

9. 90 Year Old Smoking a Peace Pipe

9. 90 Year Old Man from Chengyang, China

This man was chilling out in one of the newly renovated Drum Tower’s of Chengyang.

He didn’t say a word, just smiled and puffed away on his peace pipe. His friends told me that he was 90 years old, and he enjoyed sitting and smoking!

10. Drinking Games in Chengyang

10. Drinking Rice Wine in Chengyang, China

And as many women were running businesses or attempting to sell little souvenirs to tourists, many of the men in Chengyang were content to relax or indulge in local style rice wine drinking games (in the middle of the day!).

11. Tea Sampling

11. Chinese Tea Ceremony

I was particularly fond of the Chinese tea in the region. I was able to partake of a Chinese tea drinking ceremony and sample a bunch of different teas.

12. Chinese Fish Ceviche

12. Chengyang Ceviche

And of course, wherever one travels (especially true in Asia), there’s a new culinary specialty in every single village.

Chengyang’s very own ceviche is a combination of river fish slightly cooked with the acid of pickled cabbage, lime juice, ginger stems and lots of garlic. It was tasty!

12 Intriguing Photos of Chengyang: A Little-Known Village in China is a post from: Cultural Travel and Street Food Around the World | Migrationology

To be honest I had no clue where we were going…

…or even what we were doing.

The day began in the northern Sri Lankan town of Jaffna.

After devouring a huge meal of Sri Lankan food, we were walking (aimlessly) around town with nothing to do for the foreseeable future - just checking things out and exploring!

Causeway, Jaffna, Sri Lanka

During our exploration of Jaffna, we came to a causeway that I had heard about before. Not having anything else to do, we decided to walk across it – it didn’t look too far!

However, the clock stuck 10 am, and within moments the sun became brutally savage.

We began walking but I soon realized that the ray’s of the sun had a mission to dehydrate us and tear us apart.

It was extremely hot, there was zero shade, and we didn’t have any water.

I couldn’t have been happier when the familiar sound of a normally obnoxious horn from a Sri Lankan bus sounded behind us.

Bus in Jaffna

One moment we were trekking on a desolate overland bridge, the next moment we were sitting on a Tamil bus rocking to the wales of Indian vocals and tabla beats while chatting with a few surprised but friendly locals.

The bus, as all Sri Lankan buses should be, drove as fast as it could, picking up and dropping passengers along the way.

Island near Jaffna

After making it across the first causeway we got to an island.

The majority of the homes were blasted out; We were in an area of Sri Lanka where there had been civil war very recently.

There were army barricades with heavily armed soldiers every few kilometers.

We continued on the bus.

I fell into a trance from the blaring Indian music and staring out the window at beautiful land filled with crumbles of what were once beautiful homes.

Sri Lankan Navy Ferry

After about 1 hour on the bus we came to halt.

At this point I hadn’t even seen another vehicle on the road, but when we got out of the bus, we were oddly surrounded by lots of other Sri Lankan people.

Where did they all come from, I thought? Then I noticed a number of tour buses parked in the shade.

After talking with a few random people, we realized we were on our way to Nainativu Island – one of the 16 pilgrimage sites of Sri Lanka.

I’ve had some random travel experiences, but I assure you, this was my first random pilgrimage!

On the Ferry

Though it only lasted for 15 minutes, it was the worst ferry ride I’ve ever been on in my life.

To be honest, it felt a bit like a slave ship; There were only tiny windows at the top and the ferry was crammed with people. The air was stale with humidity and supplemented by boat engine fumes.

I don’t know how no one passed out, but we all made it to the other side.

Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya Buddhist Temple

I still had little idea of where we were, or what we were doing – we had hopped on a bus, followed, and learned we were on a pilgrimage.

The ferry dropped us off on the tiny pilgrimage island of Nainativu, in the middle of the Gulf of Manner, not far from India.

I soon learned that Nainativu Island is a Sri Lankan (also world) pilgrimage destination because it is believed that the Buddha visited the island during a full moon Bak Maha Poya Day.

The first attraction on the island was the Buddhist Temple known as Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya (Naga Vihare).

Nainativu Island, Sri Lanka

After viewing the Nagadeepa Purana Viharaya Buddhist Temple for a few minutes, we walked down the road a little ways, passing through a number of small local curio shops and arrived at the Hindu section of the island.

Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil

The large Hindu temple complex, known as Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil, was another impressive site to see.

The bright colors and the interesting sculptures depicting various Hindu deities was very interesting. While we were there, some of the pilgrims were conducting a ceremony inside the temple – so that was great to observe.

Sacred Cow

Facing the temple was this large-scale brightly colored sacred cow.

Nainativu Island, Sri Lanka

The entire Nainativu Island was filled with religious pilgrims for the day, both Buddhists and Hindus.

Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil

Here’s the front view of the Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil on Nainativu Island.

Sri Naga Pooshani Amman Kovil

Everything on the island seemed to be under construction – both temples were under renovation to build things up on a much grander scale.

Maybe if you follow the Nainativu pilgrimage in the future, the temples will be completed!

Nainativu Island, Sri Lanka

After a few hours of walking around, and a severe beating by the harsh Sri Lankan sun, we decided that we had had a successful pilgrimage and started heading back to Jaffna.

We got back into the horrible ferry, boarded the Tamil music blasting bus, and within 1.5 hours were standing back in the same position where we were in the middle of Jaffna 4 hours ago – but we had just completed the Nainativu Island Pilgrimage, without planning it!

Here is a map to show you where we were in Sri Lanka:

Northern Sri Lanka

Pilgrimage to Nainativu Island, Sri Lanka

Nainativu Island Pilgrimage

Up until the beginning of 2011, the entire Nainativu Island was unreachable for over 30 years due to war in the region. Now it’s possible to make the pilgrimage.

• Take any local bus heading to Nagadeepa (Nagdipa) from Jaffna – 50 LKR ($0.44)
• Ferry to Nainativu Island – 30 LRK ($0.26)
• Double this for a round trip from Jaffna – about $1.40

Here’s a short VIDEO of the pilgrimage!

Thank you for watching!

Pilgrimage to Nainativu Island in Northern Sri Lanka (Completely Unplanned) is a post from: Cultural Travel and Street Food Around the World | Migrationology

(If you can’t see the video, watch it on Youtube here)

Burmese Food Video

A few weeks ago, I wrote about an awesome Burmese street food discovery in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand.

The owner was not only an extreme motherly chef, but she was also ecstatic about me taking photos of her food and eventually shooting a short video.

She was so excited in fact, that she joined the video and explained each of the Burmese dishes she had prepared.

Make sure you watch the video above for a quick Burmese street food lesson.

The food was not only amazingly tasty, but it was cooked by a friendly lady who was so happy that we loved her food!

Enjoy!

A Lesson on Burmese Street Food (VIDEO) is a post from: Cultural Travel and Street Food Around the World | Migrationology

Thai Style Roasted Snakehead Fish

I could go on and on talking about different kinds of grilled fish from around the world – I just love to eat fish!

In my opinion, one of the best Thai dishes is roasted snakehead fish. The insides are removed and replaced with lemongrass and a number of other fragrant herbs. Then the skin is rolled in a thick layer of salt before being placed on the grill to roast.

The salt keeps the fish moist and flaky and with a combination of the tangy dipping sauces “pla chon pao” is a beautiful thing!

Photo Favorite: Thai Style Roasted Snakehead Fish is a post from: Cultural Travel and Street Food Around the World | Migrationology

Street Restaurant in Sri Lanka

It’s restaurants like these that scream to be eaten at.

Often it’s little more than a shack of antique wood covered in rusty tin and sponsored by Coca Cola. In Nairobi, some of the best nyama choma is served out of very similar looking establishments.

For me, the lure of the setting and the fragrance of the food is stronger than a choir of sirens calling me by name.

This particular hole in the wall restaurant near Sigiriya, Sri Lanka was where I found and devoured one of most famous snacks / foods in the country: Sri Lankan hoppers (also known sometimes as Appa).

Egg Hoppers Painting

Another positive sign of a great street food restaurant is when there are hand painted signs of the particular food served. I surely do enjoy food art!

When I first heard the name “hoppers,” I was imagined something a little more like Thai dancing shrimp, or the notorious bug cart. They’re all hoppers, aren’t they?

Sri Lankan Hoppers Batter

What are Sri Lankan Hoppers?

So before we dig in to this Sri Lankan specialty (with a funny name), I’m going to do my best to explain to you what exactly a hopper is.

It all begins with a pancake like batter that is mixed up in a clay-pot. The batter is a combination of rice flour, wheat flour, coconut milk, and sometimes a splash of toddy (Sri Lankan palm wine) to give it a subtle tinge of sourness.

Cooking Sri Lankan Hoppers

In my opinion (and you’ll notice that it’s probably a fact when in Sri Lanka) it’s a requirement to cook Sri Lankan hoppers in a traditional wrap around sarong and shirtless.

At least I sure know that I would wear an identical outfit if I ever get a chance to cook Sri Lankan food!

Making Sri Lankan Hoppers

Hoppers are cooked in small rounded pans, like a miniature version of an “Asian wok.” The metal is thick on the bottom so it produces a deep encircling heat.

A scoop of the runny batter is dropped in the preheated pan (with no oil), and the chef makes a few artistic motions so the batter coats the entire pan, but doesn’t fall out the edges.

At this point, if you ordered your hoppers without an egg, it will be taken out of the pan. If you did get an egg (I’d highly recommend it!), this is the moment when an egg is cracked right into the middle of the mess.

Egg Hoppers, Sri Lanka

The hoppers are cooked a little longer, making sure the egg doesn’t get too dried out before being removed from the heat (cooks use a variety of instruments, this guy was using some Sri Lankan chopsticks!).

Almost Ready to Eat!

When the hopper is deemed ready, the cook frees the edges of the pancake and because the pan was so piping hot, the hopper pops out clean and beautiful.

Ready Egg Hopper

Sri Lankan egg hoppers should be cooked so the egg yolk is still runny – you want it to be oozy and delicious.

After taking the hopper of the heat, the cook sprinkles on just a pinch of salt and black pepper to season.

Lunu Miris

There are a number of different things that you can eat along with Sri Lankan hoppers. Some may choose to eat the precious pancakes with just salt and pepper, others may eat them with a bit of curry sauce, and others choose the “sambol” option.

The particular sambol (or sauce) pictured above is known as Lunu Miris, a mixture of red onions, garlic, salt and loads of chili powder – this is my choice preference condiment for Sri Lankan hoppers.

Sri Lankan Hoppers

So there you have an authentic Sri Lankan hopper, sitting beautifully on a plate and ready to be devoured.

Cooked correctly, Sri Lankan hoppers should be spongy and airy in the center (it really reminded me of Ethiopian injera) and thin, crunchy and flaky on the edges. The contrast of textures is possible only with the rounded hopper skillet.

Eating a Wonderful Hopper

There is in full glory, one of the many hoppers stuffed with lunu miris that I gobbled down at a ferocious rate.

Though hoppers are often considered a breakfast meal in Sri Lanka, I found many places around the country to serve hoppers throughout the day. A stack of plain hoppers are also quite popular as a late afternoon snack, during tea time.

If you love food be sure to check out this list of best Sri Lankan food.

Sri Lankan Hoppers: Funny Name, Delicious Pancakes is a post from: Cultural Travel and Street Food Around the World | Migrationology

So here is a quick photo essay of 7 of my travel photos that are particularly special.

Hope you enjoy them!

1. A photo that…takes my breath away

Takes my break away...

Staring at the Longsheng Rice Terraces in China was a view I won’t forget. The steep and intricate layers of rice forming a mold around the curves of the mountain was absolutely breathtaking!

2. A photo that…makes me laugh or smile

Makes me smile and laugh...

The reason this this photo makes me laugh and smile is because even though these little guys look small and friendly, I figured out after eating them that they are actually lethally fierce – and they were so delicious along with Sri Lankan food!

3. A photo that…makes me dream

Makes me dream...

See the guy, legs crossed, sitting on that little chair? This guy sits there for long periods of time. The reason this photo makes me dream is because he’s in an extremely beautiful location, yet as a guard, he simply sits around all day and hopefully dreams.

4. A photo that…makes me think

Makes me think...

This guy was over 90 years old. His eyes were glossy and his skin was withered. I could only help but wonder and think what this man had seen, experienced and learned in his life.

5. A photo that…makes my mouth water

Makes my mouth water...

As a food fanatic, there are lots and lots of foods that makes my mouth water. Thai food is one of my favorite cuisines and I simply can’t get enough fish!

6. A photo that…tells a story

Tells a story...

It was this little baby that started it all…

One moment I was sitting on an average local bus in Sri Lanka and the next moment I was in the midst of a photo shoot on a Tamil tea bus.

7. A photo that…I am most proud of (aka my worthy of National Geographic shot)

Most proud of...

Yangshuo, China is an absolutely gorgeous destination – and when you hike to the top of a mountain at sunrise and observe the view it gets even better!

With this 7 Super Shots photo essay, I am taking part in Hostelbookers 7 Super Shots. To keep things going I’ve nominated 5 other travel bloggers to also take part (see rules here):

• Bama from What an Amazing World
• Christina from Jandal Road
• Mark and Jo from Intrepid Motion
• Raymond from Man on the Lam
• Nate from Yomadic

7 Super Photo Shots from Migrationology is a post from: Cultural Travel and Street Food Around the World | Migrationology

Very few fruits are so bizarre and delicious as a Wood Apple.

I had never even heard of a woodapple, nor tasted one, until I traveled to Sri Lanka.

But as soon as I arrived in Colombo, they were everywhere – a fruit that seemed to be as common as oranges in another country.

On the outside they look kind of like moldy coconuts.

It was their weird outer appearance and their strange (some may think foul) smell that really aroused my culinary curiosity, and I was intrigued.

As a lover of all things, shapes, sizes and smells of food, it wasn’t long before I purchased a few woodapples out of pure curiosity and had my first bite of goodness…!

Watch this quick VIDEO about eating woodapples!

(Can you see the video alright? If not, you can click here to watch it on Youtube)

What does a Wood Apple Smell Like?

Woodapple fruit kind of smells like a combination of blue cheese and raisins… really!

Similar to the most amazing fruit in the world, a woodapple’s pungency can overtake an entire room or spread through an entire market. Though some may think the smell is unfavorable, to be honest I really don’t think the smell is bad – I like it!

The stronger the scent normally means that the fruit is ripe and ready to be opened and devoured.

Wood Apple (Limonia Fruit)

What does a Wood Apple Taste Like?

In Sri Lanka, many people eat woodapples blended up as juice or in a fruit shake. I drank my first delicious fruit shake at the fantastic Hotel Rolex restaurant serving northern Sri Lankan food in Jaffna.

Many add sugar to sweeten up their woodapple and make it taste a little less acidic.

My favorite method is to just grab a woodapple, crack open its hard outer shell and just start eating the meat with a spoon!

I’m going to be honest, as soon as you open it, the fruit does look a little like baby poop, but don’t let that fool you – it tastes really good!

It’s quite similar to sweet tamarind fruit, a smooth pudding like sugary and acidic substance. Image taking a tub of raisins and blending them up with water until they turn into a fruit jam like paste. Ferment the concoction for a few days and you’ve got a taste  that would probably resemble the fruit of a woodapple.

The crazy part in my opinion is the texture.

The raisin like cream is soft and jam like, but within the softness are hosts of other consistencies and textures that range from crunchy seeds to sticks and fruity bristles.

A spoonful of pure woodapple fruit is a great thing!

Woodapple Fruit

How to Cut Open a Wood Apple:

Just like opening a coconut, it can be a challenge to open a wood apple.

The prettiest way, is to hit it around the belly of the fruit with the back of a knife until it neatly splits open. You can watch the woodapple video (or watch it right above).

Alternatively, if you are somewhere and you don’t have a knife, just slam it on the floor or use a rock to smash it open.

So although the woodapple fruit is a little strange indeed and has a pretty funky smell, I think it tastes awesome and it’s healthy too!

If you ever get a chance to eat a woodapple, don’t miss out (just remember, a woodapple is quite a bowel loosener)!

Have you ever sampled or smelled a wood apple?

Wood Apple: A Fantastic Fruit with a Funky Smell is a post from: Cultural Travel and Street Food Around the World | Migrationology