CAN BE SEEN FROM SPACE

THE ROOF HAS BEEN FULLY SARKED (silver paper) AND ROOF BATTENS INSTALLED READY FOR THE ROOF TILES. WE HAVE HAD A CALL FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ASKING US TO HURRY UP AND COVER THE ROOF AS THE GLARE IS INTENSE FROM UP THERE - ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF PHOTO YOU CAN SEE THE REFLECTIVE GLARE ON THE WALL OF VILLA JAYA - SUNGLASSES HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO ALL GUESTS STAYING THERE. 

HOT WORK

THE TEMPERATURE HERE IN LOVINA AT THE MOMENT RANGES FROM A COOL 25 OVERNIGHT TO ONLY 31 DURING THE DAY BUT PUT 4 GUYS UP ON THE ROOF WITH REFLECTIVE FOIL UNDER THEM AND THEY MUST FEEL LIKE CHICKENS ON A FLAME GRILL ROTISSERIE - HOT WORK INDEED

AND THE WALLS GET HIGHER......

AFTER POURING THE FIRST CONCRETE RING BEAM, MORE BRICKWORK IS CONSTRUCTED READY FOR THE UPPER CONCRETE RING BEAM. THE TOTAL HEIGHT OF THE WALLS HERE WILL BE 3.4m. THE ROOF WILL BE PITCHED ON TOP OF THESE WALLS AND WILL BE AN OPEN STYLE ROOF (no ceiling) WITH ALL THE PITCHED TIMBER FRAMING EXPOSED TO THE LIVING AREA BELOW

POURING THE LAST POOL

ALL HANDS ON DECK TO POUR THE THIRD AND FINAL POOL. IN THE BACKGROUND IS THE CONCRETE MIXER USED TO BATCH THE CONCRETE AND THE WESTERN EXPERIENCE OF OUR BUILDER NYOMAN SHOWS HERE IN THE USE OF FABRICATED SHUTES TO POUR THE CONCRETE INTO THE POOL WALLS. THIS IS USUALLY DONE USING MANY SMALL BUCKETS AND A FIREMAN'S LINE.

POOL CONSTRUCTION

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE CONSTRUCTION METHODS USED - THE POOLS ARE CONSTRUCTED WITH AN OUTER SKIN OF BRICKWORK FORMING THE SIDES AND BASE OF THE POOL AND THEN THE INNER SHELL OF THE POOLS ARE POURED IN CONCRETE.  AS WE ARE SO CLOSE TO THE BEACH AND THE POOL EXCAVATION IS BELOW THE WATER TABLE, THE WELL ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS PHOTO IS USED AS THE DEWATERING HOLE

ROCK STARS ON THE ROOF

WHAT IS NORMAL PRACTICE IN AUST IS RARE OVER HERE - INSTALLING REFLECTIVE SARKING OVER THE ROOF RAFTERS. IT IS ALSO VERY UNUSUAL FOR WORKERS TO BE WEARING SUNGLASSES - SO THESE GUYS LOOK LIKE THE ROCK STARS OF THE SITE AS THEY ROLL OUT THE "SILVER PAPER"

MAKING AN IMPRESSION

THE VIEW FROM THE UPPER BALCONY FROM SPA BALINDA. THE LIVING SPACES OF THE 3 VILLAS TAKES SHAPE IN THE FOREGROUND WHILE THE ROOF OVER THE BEDROOMS IN THE BACKGROUND IS NEARLY READY FOR ROOF TILES. LOCALS ARE NOW AWARE OF THE NEW VILLAS AND WONDERING IF THEY ARE SINGLE OR DOUBLE STOREY.

THE POOL INSPECTOR

KEITH INSPECTS THE THIRD AND FINAL POOL. THE AREA SHOWN HERE IS THE CENTRAL COURTYARD WHICH WILL LATER BE DIVIDED INTO THREE SEPARATE AREAS. NO THEY ARE NOT BAMBOO STUD WALLS IN THE BACKGROUND, THEY ARE BAMBOO PROPS SUPPORTING THE FORMWORK FOR THE CONCRETE RING BEAMS.

EAGLE BEAK GABLES

THE MAIN ROOF STRUCTURE HAS BEEN FRAMED AND THE "EAGLE BEAK" (Indonesian term) GABLES ARE NOW BEING LINED. EACH GABLE IS LOCATED OVER THE ENTRY INTO THE THREE PAIRS OF BEDROOMS. THIS ROOF WILL BE TILED IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

FLAT OUT WORKING

JAN KEITH MIKE AND LEE ARE CURRENTLY IN LOVINA MAKING SELECTIONS OF MATERIALS, FINISHES, FITTINGS ETC ETC AND BY THE LOOK OF THE GIRLS THAT CAN BE TIRING WORK - FLAT OUT THINKING ABOUT ALL THAT HAS TO BE DONE - TOMORROW.

SITE OVERVIEW

VIEW FROM THE WATER TOWER SHOWING THE BEDROOM ROOF IN THE FOREGROUND AND THE WALLS AND COLUMNS OF THE LIVING AREAS IN THE BACKGROUND. WHEN WE ARE HERE IN LOVINA WE STAY AT VILLA BALINDA - THE TWO STOREY BUILDING IN THE CENTRE OF THE PHOTO WHICH GIVES US A GOOD VIEW OVER THE WORKS. EKA'S SPA BALINDA IS ON THE RIGHT.

THEY'RE A WEIRD MOB

RIDING LESSON No.1 - STAND CLEAR. REST ASSURED THAT LEE WILL NOT BE YOUR DRIVER FROM THE AIRPORT TO VILLA TEMAN. SARGEANT SCHULTZ IS STILL LOOKING FOR HIS HELMET. NOTE THE SAFETY BIKE GEAR WORN BY MISS LEE.

INTRODUCING OUR NEIGHBOURS

ACROSS THE STREET LIVE OUR GOOD FRIENDS EKA AND KLAAS, OWNERS OF THE ADJACENT VILLA BALINDA. EKA HAS SET UP HER SPA AND BEAUTY BUSINESS AND THE GIRLS ARE MAKING THE MOST OF THESE LOCAL AMENITIES.

POURING CONCRETE BALI STYLE

NO SUCH THING AS SCAFFOLD, OR LARGE BUCKETS, BUT THERE IS BAMBOO PROPS AND MANY HANDS. HERE THEY ARE POURING THE FIRST RING BEAM TYING THE WALLS AND COLUMNS TOGETHER.

VILLA PLANS

FLOOR PLAN SHOWING VILLA ONE (at the bottom) AND VILLA TWO (at the top). VILLA THREE IS SIMILAR TO VILLA ONE (but is the mirror image).

THE LIVING PAVILIONS ARE OPEN TO THE CENTRAL COURTYARDS AND THE ENTRY GARDEN AND PONDS. AS YOU CAN SEE THE MAIN FOCUS IS ON THE CENTRAL COURTYARDS WITH THE PRIVATE POOL TO EACH VILLA. THE BEDS ARE KING SIZED SINGLES WHICH CAN BE COUPLED TOGETHER TO FORM A KING SIZED DOUBLE - SO EACH VILLA SLEEPS 4 PEOPLE IN TWO ROOMS. Click on the image to enlarge