The Cellar - January 17, 2007: Modern cave dwellers

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January 17, 2007: Modern cave dwellers

http://cellar.org/2006/caveVillage01.jpg

Spluch highlights this China Daily story, which I quote here in its entirety:

Quote:

In the caverns deep in the mountain in Anshun of southwest China's Guizhou Province, live nearly a hundred villagers. People of the Tajing village, all from the Miao minorrity group, have lived there for centuries.

Central cave, the largest cave in the area, is 230 metres long, 115 metres wide and 50 metres high. The cave-dwellers drink the water that drips from the stone, and make a living by growing grain on the hillside near the cave. They have developed into a whole tribal community with houses made of bamboo, barns, and even a primary school in the cavern.

Most of men in this community have left for cities to make money, while those who stayed are struggling to build a water reservoir in the cave to solve the water shortage.

Thirty-year-old Luo Mei and her family lead an enviable life in the village. They are running the only hotel in the area, and have electric appliances such as televisions, a refrigerator, and an induction cooker.

The local government has tried every means to build houses to persuade the villagers to move from the caves but have failed. A number of families prefer to stay and have declined to move.

In fact, they are not isolated from the outside. They have televisions and the caves have telecommunication signals.

http://cellar.org/2006/caveVillage02.jpg

They have basketball.

http://cellar.org/2006/caveVillage03.jpg

They have school.

http://cellar.org/2006/caveVillage04.jpg

And you'd have to think they have seasonal affective disorder.

I like that better than the silo home idea. If it weren't in a remote part of a Communist country I might consider it. Perhaps I can find something more local ...

I like it! Now, if I can just find a cave in the midwest Ohio area!

You got something against rats?

What's wrong with rats??? :eyebrow:

Edited to add: That movie actually looks quite intersting...

Quote:

Originally Posted by LabRat (Post 308025)

What's wrong with rats??? :eyebrow:

:lol:

There's a huge cave on the north shore of Kauai that is used by surfers and beach bums as a place to camp/live. At least, they used to camp there several years ago when we visited on our honeymoon. It had a nice comfortable sandy floor and was very large. Not a bad life. Surf all day and then go sleep in a cave on a warm tropical island. Place was large enough that you could walk around in it while others were living there, and you wouldn't bug each other. About the size of a football field. Pretty dark though in the back of the cave.

Hey! There's nothing wrong with living in a cave!

Hell, tw lives in one! ('course, it's papered with all the dailies, but, whatever)

Quote:

Originally Posted by LabRat (Post 308025)

What's wrong with rats??? :eyebrow:

Perspective...the proper term is not rats, it's fresh meat.

Quote:

The local government has tried every means to build houses to persuade the villagers to move from the caves but have failed. A number of families prefer to stay and have declined to move.

Does this sound like a totalitarian regime?:headshake
When the Central Committee decides the cave would make a nice tourist attraction, these people will be gone.

Quick! To the BATCAVE!!! *scurries off*

Public service announcement on rats in the U.K. (mpg video)

Much more elegant as used centuries ago by the indigenous natives of the desert southwest. Check out:

http://www.abmedia.com/astro/chelly/...ruins-bw2.html

Also a bit ironic that this cliff dwelling site in Canyon de Chelly is called "White House Ruins". Hmmm. A precursor of more to come, perhaps?

From the tagline, I thought this would be a Geico commercial. . .

My bad.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MurMetz (Post 308336)

From the tagline, I thought this would be a Geico commercial. . .

My bad.

I love the caveman commercials!