Coconut sellers of Lorong Abu Siti

Wednesday, February 08 2012

LORONG Abu Siti, (formerly Aboo Siti Lane or Lorong Pushi) was named after Abu Siti, the late 19th century leader of a Bangsawan troupe, who resided along this lane. Among the Chinese, this lane was known as Samseng Hang, or Gangster Alley, because it was where Chinese gang-based members grouped. Read here for more information on the lane and here for more on the Bangsawan in Penang.

Today, Lorong Abu Siti is famous for, among others, its coconuts and coconut sellers. A row of converted old colonial residential homes have become warehouses to store young coconuts that are used in various capacities. The coconut sellers use really sharp parangs (small machetes) to deftly slice the fruit for drinking. View slideshow below

"The late 19th century had seen Penang gradually turning to sugar and coconut as cash crops, initially being famed for clove and nutmeg. However, the 20th century brought Penang into the industrial age when manufacturing became its economy's most important component. With this highly industrialised nature of Penang's economy, agriculture became less important and is given little emphasis." (Penang State Government)

Also, read here for everything one's needs to know about the coconut, its many parts and benefits.

References