-^-for posterity-^-

how are homes built in this mushy, tropical area? what must be taken into consideration for them to be successful?

there is a type of wood here that lines the shores of the mekong. it is thin and tall and soaks in water for ages. it is piled up, partially in the water, partially out. some people say it becomes harder than steel after it has soaked for a while. that becomes the foundation of all buildings.

the long, wood-steel poles are driven into the mud on a new construction site. there is a machine. it is an engine that sits on top of a metal pole. the pole rises about twenty feet into the air with the engine at the top. a piece of wood is brought in and placed under the engine. it is fastened securely and the engine is turned on. it spits and vomits black smoke into the air in small clouds. they rise and disappear. the engine is thrust into gear. it pounds down on the wooden steak and screams, driving it slowly into the mud. it takes a few minutes to completely submerge one of these logs and it's quite a sight. the wood bends and jumps and bark and splinters fly off. people stand idly by watching.

the foundation for the building i'm sitting in was built with this wood. the building is new and modern. it doesn't rest on stilts. the mekong delta has been built with the help of this wood. what else would you use for the foundation of a building that rests on mud. nothing else would suffice.