Two Huts in Zululand

Two Huts in Zululand
Originally uploaded by thegreatplotnik.

These two huts are in Zululand. The photo was taken at 5PM as the sun was beginning to drop; all the while Plotnik, the photographer, was watching how the sun played with the roof of the hut in the foreground until it came to resemble the mountain in the background.

He remembered seeing a large carving of the Andes Mountains in Macchu Picchu, made by an Inka stone mason 500 years ago. The Great Inka commissioned the carving because he felt his empire would outlast the mountains, and therefore after the Andes had crumbled he wanted his people to remember how majestic their mountains once had been.

Now, that's Positive Thinking.

Unfortunately, within 50 years of the stone mason's carving, 2 million Inka had been conquered by 100 Spanish soldiers, and what was left of their empire, that was supposed to outlast the mountains, was smallpox and dust. But you've got to admit: it was a very cool idea.

The Zulu have no such intentions. They build their huts in the shape they always have. When the thatch roof starts to leak, or when the stone walls fall in, they build a new hut. It's not that big a deal.

The mountains, that haven't gone anywhere, look on approvingly. It makes a lot more sense the Zulu way, though the dream isn't nearly as grand. The true lesson seems to be: when your patron gives you the commission, take cash.