Major structural work completed
The final concrete pour for the roof above the guest units was completed today. It was an amazing feeling to be standing 11 meters (33 feet) above the ground, where a year earlier I hired a drone photographer to show…
The art of the unfinished
There’s an artistic side to an unfinished building. As much as I want to finish this project and share this amazing location with a guest such as yourself, there is something to be said for taking a moment to appreciate the…
Week #26 — multi-tasking mania
Photos tell one type of story but by the time the photo is taken there could have been a whole series of decisions leading up to it that were not photographed. For example this photo: shows electric wiring, but in…
Shower tile arrives
There is a critical transition point when constructing a building. It’s the moment when you go from completing the underlying structure, to beginning to finish off each and every room with everything from paint to power outlets. With a limited…
Walking bridge joins Echo and Pererenan beaches
Plans are made, adjusted and negotiated, and then finally the workers are called so that something real comes of the plans. In this case its a lovely walking trail and bridge that connects two beaches. The first of two bridge…
Week #25 — Some doors installed, and much more
Construction crews have now built all of the columns for the final ceiling / flat roof. Once the columns are up then the workers start to connect beams from column to column. From there they place bamboo sticks every foot…
Mugging for the camera
Each time I arrive on the building site I get a hello and a wave from at least one of the many workers. Usually from quite a few. And when I raise my camera phone I tend to get a…
Have you found Paradise?
Have you ever had a particular moment in an extraordinary location where space and time were forgotten? Or are you seeking such a thing for the first time? In any case, the concept of a paradise is an elusive one,…
Week #24 — Half the roof is done!
An exciting week here in good old Pererenan. We’ve been fortunate to stay ahead of the rainy season and cover half of the building with a roof. The other half is about two weeks away. In the meantime we have…
Early evening stroll in Pererenan
The best times for walking are early in the morning or the late afternoon. Not only are the ultraviolet rays milder and thereby less damaging to your skin, it is also cooler (although in the tropics “cool” does not mean…
In a few more days, a (partial) roof
A roof means many things, and with the rainy season approaching it simply means keeping the crew and the interior spaces dry. To be ready for a February opening we need to get ahead of the wet season. This upcoming…
Week #23 — More brick walls, plaster, and form work
There are now a total of four teams that are working daily on the project: Construction crew MEP crew (mechanical, electrical & plumbing) Brick & plaster crew Windows and doors I am not even certain of the number of people…