A Meaning of a Coconut Tree

That is a coconut tree in front of my office. People usually gather there while they are waiting for the bus that will take them home or return to the accommodation building. It seems that there is not much to tell about the tree. People just pass it and ignore it. But if you take a minute to think about it, you will soon realize that coconut tree is an amazing tree that has many benefits for us.

I can say that almost all parts of the tree are useful. We are working in Borneo Island, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The area has a tropical climate and that is the reason why coconut trees are very easy to find. This kind of climate and temperature are very perfect for the growth of coconut trees. The local villagers really use the tree to support their life. The leaves are used as roofs for their homes.  The trunks are used as construction material to build buildings. The white meat of the coconut is eaten and its taste is very delicious. The hard outside can be cut into slices of wood called Porcupine wood. Coconut cream can be produced by sifting the white meat till it turns soft and creamy. They could use the liquid for a nice refreshing drink.

Coconut is not just a food, but beyond that, it is classified as a “functional food”. It provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content.  People even call coconut tree as “The Tree of Life” since it has high value as source of food and medicine. People who know the tree very well often say that this tree can cure all illness. Perhaps this is true. The modern medicine has now confirmed that the coconut tree has many benefits to cure illness and maintain our health.

Once you have time to think about something, you will soon realize that it may have more meaning for you than you ever thought before.