These two were taken on our trip to Tutuala, and show a modern twist on a traditional house, as well as a pair of traditional houses.
Note the basic features: stilts, a square house, and a tall, distinctive roof. The traditional ones are made of thatched palm fronds. The modern one is blue sheet metal.
Raised houses were something we saw in rural Laos. People let their livestock cool in the shade of the house. Here, we haven't seen as much livestock -- just goats, pigs and the occasional cattle. At the same time, we saw few examples of these traditional houses.
Most houses are on the ground, made of cement blocks and topped with sheet metal. This is the case both in the city and the country. You might remember me describing the house of extended family that we visited with. It's a beautiful house, not just because it is neither classically traditional nor like most houses.
On the road to Tutuala, we passed one unusual development. The government had built a community of at least 100 identical houses that reminded me of ATCO trailers in a mining town. neatly spaced, all white with blue trim, all identical. These houses, Janu told us, were built to house the poor. Trouble was, they were in the middle of no where, unsupported by community amenities like schools, stores or churches. In a society where family ties are exceptionally strong, no one seemed to want to live in such an isolated place. Most of the houses were empty.
Tomorrow, I'm taking the day off to watch the results of the American election. Thursday, you can expect another entry with pictures.
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