Coconuts (and the Copra it contains) are like this big tropical weedy thing growing along the coastlines of heaps of places that can be a life saver and a killer at the same time.
Meaning that if you’re stranded on a tropical island a.k.a Tom Hanks in Castaway, you’ve got a supply of liquid and food that will keep you going for a while before you die of malnutrition.
The flip side to this is that you could be relaxing on the tropical holiday of a life time, lying underneath a coconut tree when all of a sudden, one falls from the sky at a hundred miles an hour, hits you on the head, and you’re dead. What a way to go. It happens. And I’m not even sure if that unlikely, but possibly fatal event would be covered by your travel insurance!
But another use for coconuts is the dried out white flesh, which is also called Copra.
Copra is used as the main substance for extracting coconut oil which has become all the rage for cooking, making your hair look good, and even make up.
Once the oil is extracted, the remaining product is often used for feed for horses and other livestock.
The Philippines is the world’s biggest single supplier of Copra – and I reckon these guys are the biggest single supplier of Copra in the Philippines!
You’d better be thankful that you’re not the one trying to harvest the stuff from a gazillion coconuts like these guys in the Philippines.
I don’t think I’d want to do this job!
Copra – The Best Coconut De-Husking Team Ever!
One of my mates has been travelling around the Philippines and he spotted these blokes with a mountain of coconuts and asked them what they were doing.
Anyway, he says ‘Pinoy power copra machine. These 3 guys harvested 960 coconuts in 2 hours then dehusked them in another 2 hours. Put most gym junkie/cross fit types to shame!‘
That’s really impressive! Lets do the maths.
On average, each guy harvested 320 coconuts in 120 minutes – meaning they climbed up a lot of coconut trees to reach an average harvest rate of 2.6 coconuts per minute!
And then after a short break, they then removed the husks of these coconuts manually over a large metal spike within 2 hours, with an equally impressive dehusking rate of 2.6 coconuts per minute as well!
Now that’s teamwork! Just another example of the extremes that people in the third world do for a living, and I totally admire them!
If you’re after other coconut related stories, see how to climb a coconut tree, coconut husking in Fiji, and the John F Kennedy coconut.
More stuff about the Philippines:
- Funny Tuna Photos – Fish Transport!
- The Weirdest Filipino Food and Pinoy Dishes For You To Try!
- High Voltage Electricity Transmission Lines – The Best Installation of Utility Poles!
- Air Conditioning Units For Vans – How To Keep Cool, Only In The Philippines!
- Funny Pub Signs – The Husband Day Care Center!
- Funny Homemade Tools – DIY Penis Wooden Handles!
- Weird Transportation in The Philippines!
- Female Drivers – Bizarre Warning Sign
- Water Buffalo Transport. Zero to 1 km/hr in 10 hours!
- Strong Filipino Beer – Drinking Green Donkey at Kawasan Falls!
- Bamboo Products of the Third World – Motorcycle Covers!
- Copra – How To Harvest and De Husk 960 Coconuts In 4 Hours!
- Cow Transport! Via A Philippines Tricycle!
- Motorbikes For Kids – And The Rest Of The Family!
- Cheap Dining Table And Chairs Set – Furniture Made From Tyres!
- Haircuts For Men – Brilliant Advertising!
- The Funny Warning Shot Sign – Because Ammunition Is Too Expensive!
- Siargao Surfing in the Philippines – Very Good Nice!
- Must Be At Least This Tall To Ride. The Very Politically Incorrect Version!
- Comfort Room Designs – Filipino Style!
- How To Use Cornflakes – Filipino Style!
- Jeepney, Philippines – Public Transport Mode Of The Week
- Philippines Floods 2009 – Health And Safety Photo Of The Week
- Balut, Philippines. Crunchy Duck Fetus for Breakfast!
- Spam Jam Restaurant – Like a Monty Python Sketch, But For Real
If you’re planning a trip soon, check out my best travel insurance tips, and get a quote on some Backpacker Travel Insurance.
Wow these guys can work Anthony! Impressive. I recall copra being a big thing in Fiji, when I visited Savusavu. I also recall hearing from an Aussie friend who knows many folks in Fiji how the Fijian Born Indians and local Fijians laughed at each other. The Fijians laughed at how FBI literally worked themselves to death while the FBI laughed at how some Fijians were so chill and relaxed, that they’d fall asleep under a coconut tree and die there after being struck on the head by a coconut. Contrasts, LOL.
Ryan
Irony….!