![\"\"](\"\/cb\/IMGP2518.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFrom early morning to late afternoon temperatures currently vary between 25 and 35 degrees celsius; it’s so-called “good weather”, meaning no clouds are seen during daytime, and so I stay indoors most of the time. The best time to visit the beach, for my skin type at least, is after 5PM.<\/p>\n
Yesterday afternoon we took a bus into the city and of course, with all that heat, coconut water is the preferred drink. Here’s where that comes from:<\/p>\n
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this bunch is almost ripe for drinking. Here’s a typical beach street scene:<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"\/cb\/IMGP2524.jpg\")
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notice the coconut payphone ![\"icon_smile.gif\"](\"\/blog\/wp-includes\/images\/smilies\/icon_smile.gif\"){kind=icon}
. Turning to the right, here’s a bunch of them lined up on the counter (we usually ask for a frozen coconut, though):<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"\/cb\/IMGP2523.jpg\")
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The proprietor demonstrates the proper technique for opening a coconut:<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"\/cb\/IMGP2526.jpg\")
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after which it looks like this:<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"\/cb\/IMGP2525.jpg\")
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notice that it’s full to the brim; in fact, the water is usually under pressure, so you have to be careful. At this stage it’s nearly transparent, and it’s drunk with a straw. After drinking one can ask to have it opened, and eat the flesh with a knife or spoon:<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"\/cb\/IMGP2527.jpg\")
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this one was halfway ripe. Unripe coconuts have only a thin, jelly-like layer inside, while ripe coconuts – the kind one usually sees in the US – have about double that thickness of flesh.<\/p>\n