This is the house being constructed diagonally behind ours. The 'Kayu Gelam' scaffolding that you see is used in construction of all buildings large or small. 'Kayu' means wood and 'Gelam' is the name of the tree. I did some quick googling and the Gelam tree is called Melaleuca in English and is part of the myrtle family.
I'm always looking at how things are done here because their ways seems so basic. There is very little machinery used to help laborers. Before the construction on this site, there was actually an older house there. This was demolished by a group of men using large hammers. They just hammered away at it until it was all gone. Labour is cheap here so PEOPLE POWER is the way to go instead of expensive mechanised tools. I guess its just from experience that the men know which walls or support beams to knock down first without causing the whole structure to bury them.
5 comments:
This is really interesting, particularly your comment on the use of people, rather than machine power to do things. I'm reminded of a comment by an American comedian who once observed that the people who cleared and settled the North American continent did so without any of the tools that now fill up a modern American's garage!
It looks quite a large construction.
This is a cool post. I love hearing how things are done differently all over the world.
I just love reading your blog :)
I'm glad that you all enjoy seeing how things are done over this side. Just like how I enjoy reading about life on your side of the world. Completely different but just as interesting.
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