Amazing Coconut Palms (Part 2)
Follow the link to read Amazing Coconut Palm (Part 1)... Inner Coconut Shells After you've removed the scraped meat from the coconut, you will end up with two empty hard shells. When thoroughly cleaned, they can be made into a foot massage tool or handicrafts like lamp shades, belts, earrings and pendants. Dry Coconut Leaves Coconut leaves are green. As they get old, they dry out and turn brown. The dryer they get, the stronger they become.
At this stage, two parts of the leaves can be used - the branch and the core of the leaves. Dry branches are used to construct simple shelters. Many Thai villagers weave them together to make simple fences and chicken pens. Others use them to build traditional platforms for sitting and socializing. Working with the dry leaves, on the other hand, is a popular pastime with elder villagers. Coconut leaves have big branches and the long-fine leaves are attached to both sides of the branch. Many diligent grand parents keep busy all day removing the strong cores of the coconut leaves. Then, a handful of small cores are bundled together to make a short broom called [mai kwaat tang ma-praow]. It's perfect for sweeping a wet path.
If the core is cut into 2-inch pieces, they can be used as pins for food wraps made of banana leaves. Although today they've mostly been replaced by staples, however some food vendors in the country side still use them. Dry Coconut Trunk Coconut wood is used to make furniture and to build simple structures. As the tree ages, the wood gets harder. We can check how old the wood is by looking for dark fibers in it, as older wood has darker fibers. Coconut wood can last for years as long as it's kept dry. Anyhow, it's recommended to apply lacquer to protect the wood from insects and moisture. Beds, tables and chairs made of coconut wood have a truly unique character. Bar stools made of coconut trunk is another cool piece of furniture that you can add to your summer cottage.
Dry Coconut The dry bark is commonly used in decorations in restaurants and resorts. Bar counters are also made of coconut bark to give them an island feel. Coconut Roots As a beach front resident, I'm most grateful to coconut roots. Coconut palms grow well by the sea because they can stand salt water. The roots have a very thick and durable outer layer. They grow deeply in the ground, in every direction. This also makes the coconut palm stand very steadily. Coconut roots counteract beach erosion caused by huge waves. During monsoons, the ocean is rough and the waves are wild. The roots bind the beach-front sand and reduce the damage caused by the rushing waves. I hope that what you have learned about coconut palms will make you feel warm next time you see one. By the way, don't sit under a coconut palm with dry branches or fruits, since the law of gravity can make them fall... The coconut lamps have been made by the Bang Saphan Coconut Shell Carving Group, in Prachuab Khirikhan province. Suggested Reading: Noodles In Thailand Fruit Buying Tips
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