The locals use a particular type of wood, called 'arrow' tree. The wood is soft and produces a fine dust when rubbed with a fire stick made of the same material. The wood dust smokes and then smoulders until it's placed onto a dry coconut husk where it then starts to burn with a little blowing.

It takes about 1 1/2 minutes to produce the fire and although it looks easy, it actually takes quite a bit of pressure to get it to work. It's very satisfying though when you get it for the first time. I have tried with other types of wood and they work too, but look for a light and very dry wood if you ever have to do it for real.