Day 10: Building a Fire Pit

Front Yard Views

While the sky still wasn't clear enough to warrant a sunrise hike, when I did get up the clouds had parted enough for the mountains to glow in the morning light. We drank tea while sitting around the table discussing the 'extra flesh' a local villager had growing in his nasal cavity. They had given the doctor's records to Shamser in the hope that us volunteers could offer some advice. Apparently we are doctors as well as engineers, landscapers, teachers and stone masons.

Unfortunately there was no millet bread this morning and instead we had the usual omelette and toast which I was in charge of cooking on the campfire. Since we ran out of gas two days ago, Kulpana's kitchen was still an outdoor one.

Our job today was to continue as stone masons and create a decorative stone fire pit that would star in the new garden design. First, Shamser and Deelay helped us dig a hole large enough for the foundations. This was no easy feat considering the clay soil and giant rock which was located right where we wanted the fire pit. Once dug, we started work despite our cut, sore hands and began placing stone after stone in something that resembled a circle.

Last Day of School

Around 10am we cleaned ourselves up and followed Shamser and Delfina towards school. We took a few final photos before returning home to continue our hands-on duty.

Our Fire Pit

As Jengi was working on the stone restaurant walls I had to sneak the good stones from the giant pile so we could use them in our fire pit. Deelay mixed the mato (mud) that I carried over to our worksite and squished between the rocks Chris was laying. What a team!

We helped move the old recycled windows into their new home...the restaurant. While this did mean deconstruction of a small part of the restaurant wall, we got them in place without breaking the frame or any glass which was a bonus. While we worked Shamser asked Deelay, Jengi and the other worker if they'd be happy to come to Australia and help Chris and I build our house. We agreed that if we can get a property and pay for their flights they'll come and work for food and a little whiskey. Not a bad deal.

 

The workers fitting the windows

Once we had done as much of the fire pit as we could we planted a few plants then set off towards the shower. Of all of our days in Gaunshahar today was the day we needed a shower most. And...thanks to the fact that we have to pipe the water from the stream up the hill, many of the neighbours need to do the same and there is only one pipe, we had no water.

We killed time watching five or so Nepalis offer advice on how Timmy should best build his bed until we had gathered enough water to at least wash some of the red mud off our skin.

The site to date

Babu!

Fire vs Rain

As Kulpana cooked our dinner on the outdoor open fire we watched a storm tumble across the mountains towards Gaunshahar. Thunder echoed as the sky darkened and we watched the rain pour down and soak the surrounding villages. Before the heavy downpour had a chance to soak us and our new fire pit we quickly gathered wood and started a fire to give our work of art a test run. As we did so the droplets of rain got bigger and more frequent but the pit we had constructed worked a treat.

As the rains pelted down though our fire slowly died and we took shelter in Shamser's half finished house before retreating to the alcove near our room to watch the storm. And what a storm it was. We witnessed some of the most impressive lightning we had ever seen as small bits of hail bounced off the concrete into where we were sitting. Thunder roared, the rain was monsoonal and we loved every minute of it.

Starry storm

Once the rain began to ease we braved the flooded construction site, which now resembled a lake scattered with piles of white hail pebbles, and made it to Shamser's house. The three of us volunteers ate our dal bhat in Timmy's room as he was off drinking rakshi with the neighbours. Not long after dinner Timmy returned. Or rather, was returned. He was so drunk he couldn't walk and was slipping and sliding on the wet mud that leads up through the village. It took three men to guide him inside and the lake of water made the task even more difficult. Once we'd put Timmy to bed, and with the storm having passed for the moment, we took to the waiting point in the hill to watch lightning light up the mountains that surrounded us. It was beautiful and a perfect end to our time in the village.

Thunder bolts and lightning