Samoan's notion of land

Samoan houses have well maintained beautiful gardens. Tropical greens are planted on the lawn yard. Generally a house itself are behind the big yard. So it's hard to ask people for photograph. I wave my hand on the road side to the resident although I'm not sure they can see me. It's too far.

Once I try to step into the lawn yard and get close to the house, a big watch dog comes and barks at me. After all, I have no choice but turning back. A watch dog is owned by almost every house. Generally, big and mixed breed. An abandoned watch dog becomes a stray dog on the street. I'm always scared on the dogs while I'm in Samoa.

What I'm interested in Samoan life is they strictly persist on the site nevertheless their housing structure is open-minded. In Okinawan islands of Japan, a house have stone walls on the border of private yard and road, for example. In the meantime, here in Samoa the border of site is shown by stones lined on lawn yards. However the simple border line gives me more strict feeling of property. Add to that, the watch dog sneaks around in the property.

So where does the notion of land comes from? Another example is a beach. I remember a beach was public in Indonesia but private in Samoa. You have to pay to get into there. Some time it's run by Hotel and another time local community. Well, here is a resort island of southern Pacific. Not strange at all. However I think it's not usual even natural swimming pool of the rocky pit hole is private. And it has toll, opening hours and regular day off.

I heard Samoan people often forget return the borrowed things. Once they borrowed thing they handle it like a public property. "Your property is my property" Samoan is such open minded, or loose. Nevertheless as for the land they thoroughly pursuit it. Each village has a chief and traditional community system is still going. Is the Samoan society is opened or closed? To know that I gotta study more about history and culture of the country.

Oh, I remember. When I got a bungalow, a watch dog came with it. Unexpectedly, I owned a watch dog in Samoa. However once I gave him some food, he gave up the duty. He slept peacefully showing the belly on the terrace.
To the contrary, the madam whom I photographed, her watch dog was a faithful to the duty. The dog followed the master while she cross the lawn yard for going out. Then it stayed in the end of the yard after her.