Coconut Harvesting in The Philippines

Here's how trees with coconuts are harvested in a palm tree plantation cum resort in Quezon province in the Philippines. Among the recreational facilities like tennis and basketball courts, swimming pools and gazebos are these tall palm trees which are regularly harvested for their glorious fruit. Coconut nuts from Quezon get to reach places as far as Manila, perhaps even the United States for their coconut water, now touted as the new vitality drink. If you've ever wondered how palm coconut trees are harvested of their coconut nuts, then here are pictures that will be of interest to you.



First, the trees with coconuts (the coco fruit of the coco tree of the coco palm family) are harvested with the use of a very long harvester made from bamboo. At the tip of this palm coconut harvester is a sharp-toothed iron cutter which is used to saw through the stalk that bears the coconuts. The cut palm tree coconut nuts fall, are gathered on the ground, and are husked on the spot. The naked coconuts are then placed in baskets often called kaing slung on the back of a horse. The coconuts are then taken to a storage area prior to distribution to buyers.

TRIVIA: How do I open a coconut? First remove the husk. Use a sharp, pointed object that stays in place and just hammer the side of the coconut on it to strip the husk. When all the husk is removed, place the coconut on one hand and use a wedge-shaped tool to strike the side of the coconut (not the part with the eyes) repeatedly with a hammering force, rolling the coconut along as it cracks.

Shih-Tzu Dog Planking on a Giant Chess Board

A Shi Tzu dog does planking on a giant chess board.

Planking dog

Have you ever seen dogs for planking? You know - that craz-e planking thing wherein you lie flat and make your body rigid like a plank with your face on the ground? Yup, that kind of planking. Well, this dog, which appears to be a Shih Tzu, is one of the dog pets that are cute and happens to be also one of the great dogs for planking. It's a resident pet of a Christian retreat resort at the foot of Mt. San Cristobal in Quezon (Rizal Re-Creation Center) in the Philippines and one of its favorite lounging areas is this giant chess board in one of the gazebos.

If you happen to be looking to get dogs for pets that are cute, then the Shih Tzu is a nice choice. But this particular Shih Tzu is more cat in how it behaves, preferring to keep to itself and not mind you even if you try to get its attention. It goes where it pleases, ignoring the resort guests even when they come in droves. Once it lies down on the giant chessboard, it stretches out its hind legs flat on the floor like a plank. In this planking position, it's hard to tell the front from the rear of the dog even if you look closely. It's a good thing that this Shih Tzu's companion, a huge St. Bernard dog, doesn't mistake his little friend for a rag and sits on it.

Shih Tzu (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)