after breakfast at the local food stalls, we visited the rest of the acreage today. two new sections to the compound had been constructed since my last visit here five or six years ago. one was on the other side of the pond. the other - the older addition - was accessible through the backyard. the former - a long construct - reminded me of a native longhouse. the window frames were constructed of various geometrical designs. apparently it took a while to build, because each piece of wood needed to form the structure of the window had to be custom cut and precise. the latter, accessible by stairs, sat high in the skies, above the rest of rest of the houses. it was a three-tiered complex, with the living room on the main floor, the kitchen in the back, and private quarters in the top two levels. the furnishings, simple but complete, suited the surrealism of the environment. with the wild birds and the crickets chirping, and sometimes, the occasional monkey yelping in the background, it was a perfect retreat for those seeking peace and tranquility in a world driven by economics. my favorite living area, to say the least. i could sit all day on the top floor, looking over the valley. with a few good books in hand, i could stay for weeks!