A broom, made by hand

You've probably seen the finished broom in a shop. Here is where one begins. In Perumbalam, coconut fronds are gathered, sorted, and worked into something useful, with the maker's hands doing all the clever bits. Palm-frond weaving is part of the island's traditional livelihood, and watching the process gives you a glimpse of the practical ingenuity woven into everyday life here. There is a particular charm in seeing an ordinary object take shape right in front of you - resourceful, handmade, and very much of Perumbalam.