Coconut Man

16Apr
by Cherryl

I don’t know his name so I’ll call him the coconut man, he had his coconut stand set up on a side street in Tobago, selling coconut water and jelly.

We pulled over to to buy water and coconut jelly from him – I remember some large empty water bottles being filled up.

You get coconut vendor stalls in every hot tropical country, and they never cease to amaze me with how confidently they hack those machete knives into the coconut and narrowly miss chopping their hands or fingers off. No room for error!!

I did this painting on a sheet of acrylic friendly paper – feels like thin card, using acrylic paint.

Interesting: I read somewhere that coconut jelly is high in protein and good for helping to build muscle as an alternative to meat 🏋🏼‍♂️ 🥥 🌴

The photograph: The Coconut Man, Tobago

The painting: Coconut Man, Tobago

Other Interesting Coconut News/Facts 🤔 🥥 🌴

“Coconuts, in different forms, are anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-parasite.” Source

Last year in local Tobago news, “Caught dumping coconut shells, man fined $1500″  – hopefully this wasn’t the man in my painting!!

Source: Loop News, Trinidad and Tobago.

19 thoughts on “Coconut Man”

  3. Ellie Carpenter – United Kingdom – Writing my memoirs, musings, a little fiction and a lot of poetry as a way of exploring and making the most of my life ... ... Having had a break from writing my blog for more than three years, I decided to return to write my memoirs, some day-to-day observations, views and feelings. My passion is non-fiction poetry. I have a disability and use an electric powerchair called Alfie and let nothing get in the way of living life to the full. I believe that you can never do a kindness too soon and should give credit where credit is due. A smile or a kind word could make the difference between a good or bad day for a person - we never know what's going on for another soul. Those little things, perhaps, practised daily like a mantra, could mean so much to someone else. Thank you for visiting my blog and reading a little more about me. Please, make yourself at home here. You are very welcome. Ellie x 😊

    Ellie Thompson

    Sorry I’m so late getting to your post, Cherryl. I’ve been trying to take things easy for a few days following a traumatic dental procedure, which has left me in pain and more. I was scanning down my email blog notifications and realised I hadn’t read a couple of your recent ones. So, here I am, and I just want to thank you for this lovely post. Your painting is excellent – you are getting better and better. I love your coconut man – what a refreshing post this is. I’ve had coconut water and milk in the past, but I have never heard of coconut jelly. Do you know which bit of the coconut this comes from? It sounds delicious. I will try and find your other posts that I know I’ve missed. I’ve always said that I find your posts a pleasure to read. They are always about such interesting things, and I love the beautiful, colourful photos that you take. Keep painting. Xx 🥥💖😋

    Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      Aww thank you Ellie, though I tend not to think of my paintings as better or worse, they just are what they are, I don’t try to meet a standard of any kind, it’s just my expression.
      I hope you’re recovering quickly from the dental procedure – never a nice thing. On coconuts, the coconut jelly lines the inside of the coconut meat, it’s a slippery soft layer of flesh before you get to the hard white coconut. You probably won’t ever see it in the UK as the coconuts we get here are not fresh off the tree, plus there’s barely any water in them, but the tropical street sellers will scoop out the jelly for you to eat. Keep well 🌴✨x

      Reply
      1. Ellie Carpenter – United Kingdom – Writing my memoirs, musings, a little fiction and a lot of poetry as a way of exploring and making the most of my life ... ... Having had a break from writing my blog for more than three years, I decided to return to write my memoirs, some day-to-day observations, views and feelings. My passion is non-fiction poetry. I have a disability and use an electric powerchair called Alfie and let nothing get in the way of living life to the full. I believe that you can never do a kindness too soon and should give credit where credit is due. A smile or a kind word could make the difference between a good or bad day for a person - we never know what's going on for another soul. Those little things, perhaps, practised daily like a mantra, could mean so much to someone else. Thank you for visiting my blog and reading a little more about me. Please, make yourself at home here. You are very welcome. Ellie x 😊

        Ellie Thompson

        It’s good to be able to paint just for your own pleasure and creativity, rather than have them judged by other people, although they are a pleasure to look at for many people.

        That’s really interesting about the coconuts. I’ve never had a fresh one, only a semi-dried one and only then, very rarely. I do love anything with coconut it it, though. Take care. Xx 🌷💕

        Reply
  4. Cheryl Batavia – A retired teacher and mother of three adult children, I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida with my soulmate, Robert. Leisure activities include discussing current events with Robert, watching movies, and playing Scrbble. Robert usually wins! I also enjoy going to the beach and taking road trips with my daughters. One of our favorite pastimes is observing the wonderful wildlife that surrounds us. I keep busy writing poetry, and I would be delighted if you visited my website!

    Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet

    Lovely painting, Cherryl! This post has made me crave some fresh coconut water! <3

    Reply
  6. Awakening Wonders – Everyday life is filled with wondrous things and embraceable moments, but only if we allow ourselves to be fully awakened. I invite you to join me as I share passionate life adventures and ramblings that awaken my spirit. I look forward to awakening your senses to the simple, joyous wonders that are all around us. I feel that we are destined to become soulful adventurers!

    Awakening Wonders

    Another captivating painting and appreciate the inspiration behind the work!

    Reply
  10. Sheila Landry Designs – Meteghan River, Nova Scotia, Canada – I am an artist and designer of decorative painting patterns, woodworking patterns, needlework and embroidery kits and patterns, and original artwork. My Painting and Wood Surfaces for Decorative Painting is at my "Tole Painting Designs" Website My partner Keith Fenton and I sell our scroll saw patterns at our Scroll Saw Pattern website: "Sheila Landry Designs" My needlework patterns and supplies are available at my Etsy shop: "The Stitching Kitty"

    Sheila Landry Designs

    Very nice, Cherryl! 🙂

    Reply

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