Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Territory of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands

General Information:

Location: Indian Ocean
Capital: West Island
Language(s): English, Malay
Population: 600
Total Area: 14 sq km
Currency: Australian Dollar
Curious Alcohol Fact: Alcoholic drinks are not widely available as a majority of the residents are Sunni Muslims.
Annual Average Liquor Consumption Per Capita: Not available
Most Popular Drink(s): Coconut milk, fruit juice, soft drinks best enjoyed with Cocos Islands shot glass souvenirs.

Cocos Islands Travel Video

Video Courtesy: Beautiful Destinations

The Territory

Also called the Territory of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands or just Cocos Islands and Keeling Islands, the entity is a territory that belongs to Australia. Located in the Indian ocean, it lies to the southwest of Christmas Island and just in the middle of Sri Lanka and Australia. Out of these islands, two of them, West Island and the Home Island have inhabitants and the population is about 600. Even though it is not uncommon record cyclones in the early months of the year, the climate is very nice and for a substantial part of the year, the rainfall is just okay.

The People

As at the year 2010, the population of the Cocos Islands was put at a little over 600. An interesting thing with the demographics is that the population is split between the two inhabited islands. The West Island is primarily occupied by ethnic Europeans, a total population of around 100. On the Home Island, forming a bulk of the population are the ethnic Malays, numbering about 500. On the islands, the main language is English and a local dialect of Malay. Around 80% of the population profess the Sunni Islam faith.

Eating

On the Cocos Islands, food comes in various ways and styles. Using old and age-long cooking techniques, you can get to enjoy grilled seafood with steaming rice. On West Island, you can also treat yourself to some Australian or even European dishes. As far as the cuisine is concerned, the Cocos Islands is a place that surely holds a lot of surprise for you.

Drinking

Considering the fact that a majority of the people on the islands are Sunni Muslims, it is quite understandable that alcoholic drinks are not that common. However, there is an abundance of coconut milk, fruit juices and soft drinks. For those who want stronger drinks and booze, a place to go will be the West Island which is populated mainly by ethnic Europeans. However, among the many options of Cocos Islands-themed souvenirs, shot glasses are considered particularly and intriguing items for collecting or gifting.

Interesting Facts About Cocos Island

-In the South Keeling island group, there are 24 different islets.
-The Cocos Islands are located on the opposite side of the globe to the Corn Island in Nicaragua.
-Although tiny, the islands are very important in global trade because of the closeness to the trading routes of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.

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Special thanks to our contributors:
Adebayo Ahmed Adebola (Ilorin, Nigeria).