Of Kerbaus and Progress

Last weekend, I made another trip to the site, and as you can see, things are progressing!

Peering out of one of the rooms in the first block!

Progress on the second block of rooms

While work has been somewhat hampered by rain, it is looking like we will be ready by year-end.  We've had to make some adjustments as we've gone along, but it has all worked out so far.  We abandoned our intent to use cement board as our primary building material due to cost constraints and have fallen back on the conventional brick-and-mortar method.  The good news is, the sand on our grounds is of such lovely quality, it will be re-used to plaster our walls.  We've excavated piles of it, thanks to our digging of the pool and the grey water pond.

Ijam has also been hard at work, trying to reduce our construction wastage.  Wood used for one structure's formwork is recycled for the next and most of it will eventually be incorporated on site into structures or as reinforcement for our grey water pond.

I won't go into the details of the various challenges we've faced in trying to conserve as much as possible and be green, but suffice to say, there have been times when cost has been a real constraint in allowing us to opt for the greenest alternative.  So decisions have had to be made.   But I recognise too that trying to be as environmentally conservative as possible is an ongoing process.  It will be part of our guiding principles when commencing operations and doesn't stop at just our construction period alone.

No matter how stressful things get, comic relief somehow, never seems far.  On our last visit, we were inspecting the grey water pond at the back of our property.  By coincidence, our neighbours, the kerbau Mommy, wandered by, with her brood, which now includes a studly male companion.  She now has four calves, two more than the original pair.

As they took their typical stroll from their property through ours and over to the other side, one of the babies emerged from the brush and decided to take a dip in the pond.  He was very nonchalant about it, swishing his tail and at all times maintaining eye contact with us as if to say, "Hey, this is MY pool, so I better not catch you swimming in it!"  Since the pond isn't very deep, he took a small stroll around one end of it, his body practically submerged, while we laughed on the sidelines.

My little kerbau friend, well camouflaged :-)  I think I should name him!

I almost wish I don't eventually have to cordon off our property.  It will deprive him of his swimming hole.  But I don't think some guests will appreciate being confronted by a family of kerbau while they are sunning on the lawn!

Meanwhile, all manner of folk have been trooping through my home in Petaling Jaya, which has finally been put on sale.  I will miss it, as it has been good to me and I have many memories of my life there.  But as they say, it's time to move on.  And move on we will.

Of walls and a treehouse

Look folks, we have walls!

And in other news, our friends Aida and David have kickstarted a recycled treehouse project that hopefully will be situated on La Pari-Pari.  Go check out their Facebook page and volunteer!  They are looking for people to contribute ideas in relation to the construction of the treehouse and also volunteer time and materials.  It's an exciting and rare opportunity for anyone interested to participate in an eco-awareness raising project that will be displayed on our site, for all to see and experience.

Becoming Reality

I have always, in the short four-year span of his life, had a rather challenging relationship with my middle nephew, mainly perhaps owing to both our recalcitrant natures.  But of late, as he has grown into a walking and talking back little person, I've found I enjoy his maddening company a little more, for its banter and entertainment, and the insights into that incredibly warped mind of his that is light years beyond his physical age.

In fact, when I got back from a recent five-day family holiday, I found myself missing his thorny presence. Waking up without the threat of his diminutive spectre clutching toy bunnies, one in each hand, was although calming, a little unsettling.  There are no unexpected extras attempting to crawl into my bed for a last minute snuggle.  Or the possibility of an odiferous toy shoved up my nose to wake me.

Last night, after a phone call with Ijam to discuss a last minute roofing matter (I am amazed sometimes how I now sound like a contractor!) I realised that La Pari-Pari's journey will always be dated by this nephew, and how Langkawi and our little resort will always be intertwined with some of the firsts in his life.  He was only six months old when my sister and I took that first flight out to seek a bed and breakfast for purchase in Langkawi.  It was his first time to an island.

And now he, and the project turn four this year.  Some people are aghast that it's taken us this long to get to where we are.  I, at times, am surprised it hasn't taken me longer.  But perhaps that is because where my other passion is concerned, it's taken me near thirty years to get to a state where I feel things are finally moving.  So four years, is a relatively short gestation period in my books.

I realised yesterday too, that only a mere twenty-odd weeks remain until my life changes in a most profound way.  We began laying the concrete foundation yesterday for the first block of rooms, and already, I can see the physical structure begin to emerge.  Looking at the photographs from Ijam were like looking at a ghost - my eyes disbelieving that this thing I had long dreamed about is finally becoming real, and is no longer a figment of my imagination.

Din, our head contractor,  after completing the concrete foundation of our first block.  His initial attempt was thwarted by three straight days of rain, so he has much to be happy about here!

I can't wait till my next visit, when I get to run my bare feet on the concrete, dangle my legs on the edge of the empty swimming pool and take silly Bollywood photos against the bare columns of the building.

I promise you will all bear witness through this blog, to the first time I walk through our rooms :-)

Love and light,
Karina!