The beauty of travel lies in the new experiences and endless discoveries. It’s always exciting to be introduced to unfamiliar things, for instance the weird exotic fruits of Sri Lanka, that many of you never heard about (like me before visiting the island). Without forgetting the common fruits that we already know but trust me they taste different.
Sri Lanka people believe in the art of ancient healing through spices, herbs, fruits and vegetables. Your health depends on what you eat.
The nature has its own remedies!
Pineapple: it has been used to treat digestion problems and inflammation. Sri Lanka pineapple is so delicious, i was having it on every meal! Pineapple is rich in manganese and vitamin B1 for energy production. It’s also rich in vitamins A, C, and E offering a protection against macular degeneration.
You only need to cut the crown and the stem, slice the skin off the sides and enjoy! You don’t have even to remove the center part, it’s soft and juicy. Did you know that minimal processing of fruit cutting, packaging and chilling does not significantly affect its nutritional content even after 6 and up to 9 days?!
Banana: Eating bananas combats depression, improves your mood, reduces PMS symptoms, protects against muscle cramps, cures hangovers, relieves morning sickness, protects against kidney cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and blindness and provides relief from acid reflux and heartburn. Yes all of this!
You can eat a lot per day without counting because they are too small and can be eaten in two bites! Nady was enjoying them.
Did you know that bananas can cure the itch of a mosquito bite? Due to Sri Lanka nature there is a lot of mosquitoes. Rub the inside of a banana peel on the bites and here it goes!
Guava: helps those who want to loose weight and those who suffers from diabetes. It’s an extremely good source of vitamin A, which is well known as a booster for vision health. Rich in lycopene that makes it a powerful antioxidant, rich in copper which is an important part of regulating thyroid metabolism. It reduces the symptoms of diarrhea, relieves cough and cold and improves the texture of your skin.
Guava is rich in vitamin B3 and B6, therfore eating guava can help you increase brain function and sharpen your focus. Did you know also that the juice of guava leaves has been known to cure toothaches, swollen gums & oral ulcers, and the juice speeds up the healing process of wounds when applied externally?!
Wood apple: is very famous for its amazing health and medicinal benefits. Every part of this fruit means tree, root, leaves, seeds is usable for medicinal purposes because of its high level of nutritional values. It acts as an instant energy booster and energizes the body, it enhances the metabolism process. Wood apple is iron rich fruit which has ability to balance the hemoglobin count in women during pregnancy, and eating the pulp reduces morning sickness. It helps in enhancing the production of breast milk among lactating mother.
When we arrived to the hotel in Kandy they greeted us with wood apple juice! Not bad when mixed with sugar.
Did you know that wood apple is a natural aphrodisiac property, that helps in enhancing the sexual desire among men as well as treating the conditions like impotence, sexual dysfunction and premature ejaculation?!
Watermelon: consists of mostly water, about 92% but it is full of nutrients. It is fat-free, very low in sodium and has only 40 calories per cup. Watermelon reduces the inflammation for people suffering from arthritis, helps prevent heart stroke. Rich in Vitamin A that helps keeping the skin and hair moisturized, and it also encourages healthy growth of new collagen and elastin cells.
They are small watermelons, two people can eat a whole one. We were offered watermelon after each meal!
Did you know that athletes drinks watermelon juice before an intense workout because it helps reduce next-day muscle soreness and heart rate?!
king coconut: known as thembili, considered the premier, or “king”, of coconuts, in terms of its water. King coconut is filled with electrolytes, refreshing, rejuvenating, healthy and delicious. It is sweeter than regular coconuts. Sri Lankans sell and consume thousands of them on a daily basis. It’s exclusively for drinking you can’t eat the inside flesh. King coconut juice showed significant anti aging and anti carcinogenic effect.
You find a lot of king coconut vendors on the road, it’s very cheap and refreshing if you like the sweet taste.
Did you know that a whole unopened tiger coconut can live up to 6 months at room temperature?!
Mangosteen: The purple Mangosteen, acclaimed for its unique appearance and flavor is often revered as queen of the tropical fruits. Mangosteen aids in promoting red blood cells and prevents against anemia. Vitamin C in mangosteen is effective against cataracts.1000mg Vitamin C per day is said to be effective in curbing cataracts and improving vision. It also helps to control the level of triglycerides, contains high amounts of minerals like copper, manganese, magnesium and potassium providing protection against strokes and coronary heart diseases.
The fruit has three major parts: the deep purple inedible rind, the white edible flesh which is segmented like oranges and the seeds, found within the flesh. The seed is extremely bitter and can’t be eaten. Did you know that one of the major health benefits of mangosteen is its effectiveness in treating Alzheimer’s disease?!
Papaya: is very helpful for the prevention of heart disease, it’s an excellent source of the powerful antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin A and folate. In addition, it is a good source of dietary fiber, magnesium, potassium, copper, and vitamin K. It plays a major role in the prevention of colon cancer.
Did you know that papayas due to their soft and butter like consistency are called the “fruit of the angels” by Christopher Columbus?!
Passion fruit: Pleasantly sweet and tart, the delicious passion fruit is a rich source of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and fiber. It is a very good source of dietary fibers acting as a laxative. Its richness in potassium helps regulating the heart rate and blood pressure.
Did you know that passion fruits with wrinkle surface are actually more flavorful and rich in sugar?!
Star fruit or carambola: is a star shaped fruit with sweet and sour flavor I always felt it resembles lebanese janerik a bit 🙂 The fruit with its waxy peel provides a good amount of dietary fibers that help preventing the absorption of the LDL cholesterol in the gut. It contains good quantities of vitamin C and it’s a good source of B complex vitamins. The fruit and its juice are often recommended in medicine as a diuretic.
Did you know that carambola fruit is used to suppress cough and as an expectorant?!
Grapefruit: Grapefruits vary in hue from white or yellow to pink and red. They range in taste very acidic and even bitter or sweet and sugary. They are full of nutrients: they support clear and healthy skin due to the vitamin C. They also help in weight loss as part of an overall healthy and varied diet.
Did you know that grapefruits were bred between pomelo and orange and they were given the name grapefruit because they grow in clusters similar to grape?!
Mango: originated 4,000 plus years ago, prevents cancer and lowers cholesterol due to the high levels of fiber, pectin and vitamin C. One cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25 percent of the daily needed value of vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight and prevents night blindness and dry eyes. There are over 1,000 different varieties of mangoes.
Did you know that mango clears clogged pores and eliminate pimples?
There is a tremendous amount of fruits in Sri Lanka, available at cheap price and rich in benefits! It gives you a reason to eat more fruits!
Sri lankan people are really sweet and welcoming, I would like to thank this amazing guy from the Earl’s regent hotel who was a big help to write this post.
Christmas is my favorite holiday; so joyful, festive and special for what it represents. When you say Christmas you immediately think of the decorated trees, shopping for gifts, lights, beautiful decorations, happy family gatherings, jingle bells, yummy food, midnight mass, visiting friends and family, kids waiting for Santa… and by the way my husband proposed to me on the Christmas eve! I always thought it can’t get better until my love Nady was born, he became the Christmas and the joy of the family! I admit that kids take Christmas to another level of feelings to discover that happiness is a small word to what you actually feel. He changed the whole concept and added more magic and excitement to this season. This year, we are decorating the house together, and specifically the tree. Handmade ornaments with salt dough! I love when he is involved in the crafts, it’s a quality and fun time together! Mon amour d’artiste! 
Very simple craft, doesn’t require a lot of ingredients and the outcome is wow! With just flour, salt and water you can do these beautiful ornaments! Mix:
Nady was so happy rolling the dough, cutting, and poking the colored plastic bits. Grand garcon (big boy). He got so excited, he sat on the table! 
This is how they look on the tree after they dry! 
The sky is the limit, you can do any Christmas related shape you want! 
We used a straw to make the small hole, where we inserted a golden thread to be able to hang it on the tree. 
After baking these stars, i brushed them with little oil for a shiny look! We used the whole set of Christmas cookies cutters, so we did many shapes! 
And finally the colorful Christmas balls! I loved the outcome, the color blend makes you happy 🙂 
You can be as much creative as you want, all depending on the material you have and the age of your kids. You can paint, use glitter, beads, pompoms……Let them unleash the artist inside them! 
These ornaments last for years if well stored in a dry container and not exposed to moisture in any way. Et voila our beautiful Christmas tree for the year 2014, done by Nady and the help of maman. 3a2bel kel seneh! This is how we wish you (in arabic) a long life to celebrate more christmases in the coming years. 
One month until Christmas, it’s never early to start celebrating, We did! What about you, did we put you in the mood?! If you like this post give it some likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page. More posts yet to come, stay tuned! 
marmite et ponpon 