Day Two

Day two of our build began with the terrible news that our team (Team B) were to get foundations rocks from the river bed about 200mts down, and a 500mt walk from our worksite (which is Rumbalara x 2). We first thought it was a joke but as we've learnt, the Nepalese don't joke!!!!! So our first task of the day was to front our Team Leader, Jon, for a stop work meeting and I became the Union advisor and said to Jon "You're team is just about to become our team" .. as I explained to him that we need to go down, down down to the river bed for rocks. The look on Jon's face was priceless ... but to his credit, he was one of the first to head off down the track. And so our day began.

Up until lunch time the day entailed walking up and down the Rumbalara x 2 track four times with at least 3-4 large shale-like boulders in our backpacks, bare hands or Nepalese head baskets (that would be me!). Bloody bloody hard work.

Just near the lunch site, there is an absolutely incredible sight of the Setu River (White River). It's hard to describe, but a breathtaking view of a river 200 meters below you that flows white that looks like it's set into a deep gorge. Top photo opportunity for all.

After lunch we dragged ourselves back to site, very very sore and tired. However, we had to go back to the river to collect water ... another 3-4 times. The trek is growing on me each day and my legs are feeling every meter, centimeter, inch ..... etc.

Team Alpha were then advised by their home owner that over the last few years he has collected some rocks for his home and it was now time to relocate those rocks to his new home a distance of around 300mts through the local village. Oh Joy!! So again the two teams banded together and off we all went to collect more bloody rocks! This took us about 1.5 hours. Photos will show more detail as this whole chore is hard to describe at 10pm at night.

But that's not all... Team Beta were once again given a lovely challenge to mix up a cement base for the beginning of the brickwork which will start tomorrow. There were not levels, no formwork, no nothing, except a plank of wood as a leveler, a shitload of really rustic cement, lots of willing helpers from both teams and a trowel that we used to smooth off the initial foundation.
It all got finished, just before the down-pour and the whole thing covered in correguated iron (soon to be the new roof).

Needless to say, after this horrific day on the job we needed a very earned COLD beer. Thus! Before we started the job this morning we organised and negotiated a very reasonable price on 12 cold Tuborg beers for refreshments at a quaint little eatery overlooking the gorge at 5:15pm.

And our day was done ... thank God for that! What will tomorrow bring ... it can only be another day of the same ... the joys of volunteer programs. But, when you look around, you know exactly why you are here.

Scott.