Crazy for Coconuts

About every 6 to 8 weeks, the coconut guys come around to collect the coconuts from the trees in our garden which they then open, drain the water, and sell it on the side of the highway like countless other coconut crews.  Our team varies, but the leader is always the same and the work is always done quickly and efficiently.  At the end of each marathon collection, I often take a bottle or cup of coconut water, something I have grown to love here. 

The crews work in teams of two.  One man serves as the anchor and holds the rope that guides and supports the climber as he swings through the tops of the coconut trees releasing the coconuts and pods with his machete.  The climber either wears a sort of brace for his feet with spikes in the sides, kind of like cleats or running spikes or, if he is really good, runs up barefoot!  The coconuts are cut down and tied to the ropes and are then dropped down for collection.  Should any palm fronds fall, they remove those and take them to the rubbish pile for us.

We need this service because injury, even death, by coconut is not uncommon.  I wouldn't say it's frequent either, but wherever you go, someone will remind you not to stand under a coconut tree lest one fall on your head and hurt you! 

I keep the tone with the guys pretty relaxed and funny.  They do, after all, come by every few weeks and we are familiar in a sense.  I guess it's like having the same cable guy come over or the same delivery man from the Thai place stop in.  We make small talk.  The guys flirt shamelessly with the American girl old enough to be their auntie living in the house and just like that they, along with the killer coconuts are gone.  It's cool to watch though.


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