Gonzo's Ma

Our guide, Gonzo, asked if we would mind if we stopped at his mother's on the way to CheChemHa caves in order to drop off his Christmas present to her. We all went away feeling blessed by this little side trip.
Evan, Gonzo and a lamb with way too big ears.

Gonzo's dad also made an appearance through the garden.

The thatched roof would quickly ignite should the kitchen fire get too big. Only enough fire is made to cook the food. Getting rid of heat is usually the goal in the jungle. The cooking is done on a on a raised hearth with a steel plate over the fire. This cooking style is common throughout the country.

The kitchen structure is self contained. Most of the photos in this post showing a building are of the kitchen. This home is terraced into the hill side and is surrounded by small terraced gardens that provides much of the family's food.




Gonzo's mother shows us some jewelry that she has recently made. This room is in the structure where they sleep. It also looked to serve as a living room. No structure (in the whole country as far as I could tell) has been built with the intent to control the climate within. Most have only wide wood louvers for closing off openings rather than glass. Most of the glass I saw was louvered. Keeping things open to any breeze and shielding things from the sun is more the goal.

The kitchen structure was sensational in its beauty, integrity and simplicity.

The view from the home was lush and endless.