MCH - East Wing Roof - Completed

The East Wing Roof was cast today from 5:15am till 3:15am the next morning (22 hours). This is the last of the large wing castings. Over the next six weeks all the remaining structural works will be completed with one more medium size (6,000 sq ft) and one small (2,000 sq ft) slab.

East Wing Roof - Slab Casting - Feb 28, 2015

 

Site Overview - Feb 24, 2015

New Project View from Existing Hospital Entrance

Progress on the OPD waiting and Pharmacy Area

West Wing - West Elevation Progress

Jon

Kuta, Lombok

Our last full day away we spent in Kuta, Lombok which was a lot of fun. Eating good fish, scootering around and some final surfing.

Up and down the coast there was a beautiful untouched beach at every cove. A lot of  fun on a scooter exploring looking for waves at each place. (too bad I don't know much about good surfing waves)

Looking down at Kuta and bays beyond to the East

Kuta Bay - still fairly undeveloped and much of a fishing village

Very granular sand on the beach - makes it hard to walk

Hiring a boat to take us out to a few surf breaks for the afternoon

Jon paddling back to the boat from the Don Dons break

Jon

Mt. Rinjani Crater Rim Trek

After a few days on the beach we were ready to start exploring inland by foot. As it is the rainy season (thankfully we did not get much rain) there are very few people on the trails however a number of trails were closed due to the risk of rock slides around the volcano.  We did the Crater Rim trek which is a beautiful hike starting on the rice terraces of the lower volcano then into the coffee and coca bean plantations before heading into the park jungle (with all of its wildlife) until we reached about 2,000 m where it opened up into beautiful grasslands. From the crater rim you look down into the crater with a very large lake and the active cone with Mt. Rinjani in the background. Heading South to Kuta, Lombok for our last day/night.

Holly looking over the crater rim down to the lake and active cone on the left

Some of the grey monkeys seen on the hike up - Also saw a number of the more elusive black monkeys

Our camp on top of the crater rim (yellow tent at the top right)

Gili Islands seen to the West at sunrise

Holly enjoying a hot tea and breakfast at sunrise

Sunrise over Mt. Rinjani

Hiking down through the grasslands

Through the jungle

Our hiking team (two porters and guide) - more than we needed - they had camp chairs and even a toilet tent

Coffee berries (immature)

Cocoa pod

Terraced rice fields on the lower slopes of the mountain

Jon

Gili Islands

Holly and I grabbed a fast boat from Bali Island to the Gili Islands. It was still about a 2 hour long boat ride through the open ocean so it was fairly rough, but still quite enjoyable with the warm sun and views.  We stayed on Gili Trawangan and enjoyed some great snorkeling as we biked around this small island. Heading to Lombok for trekking to the Mt. Rinjani crater rim.

Jon walking back up the beach after some snorkeling out at Shark Point 

Holly paddle boarding

The water is a bit milky this time of year, but we had a few non-rain day which made the visibility surprisingly good.

The hut we stayed at

The entire island was surrounded by beautiful beaches and coral reef

Jon

Bali

Holly and I are having a great getaway in Bali with relaxing, eating, exploring, surfing and shopping. We head to the Gili Islands tomorrow.

Ulu Watu, Bali

Beaches along the cliffs of Bukit Peninsula

Jon trying to surf Kuta, Bali

Jon worn out and sore - had some major surf board burns after a few time out

Major downpour was as we arrived and were walking the few blocks to our hotel - we got drenched and started to wonder if this was a good time to visit Bali?

Lots of good eating

Holly really enjoyed this shop that had Gluten Free goods

Jon

Third Floor East Wing - Poured

Over the past two days the third floor west wing has just been poured. Thankfully it was another relatively smooth work as the crews now understand our expectations and standards - along with no significant equipment failures. Only two major slab castings (both roofs) remaining on the hospital.

 Third Floor East Slab Casting - Day 2

 Third Floor Slab Casting - Day 1

East Wing Work Progress - Third Level Casting, Second Level Bracing,  First Level Brick Wall Layout, Ground Floor Brick wall progress and ceiling plaster.

Ground Floor Plaster Work (East) - Left work completed the day before, Middle ongoing work, Right tomorrow's work.

Jon Barrett

 

A New Year in BD

Holly & Jon reviewing the First Floor East Layout

 

Reviewing the new Laboratory layout with lab techs

Waiting area rain & sun shades started to be installed

Third floor East ready for casting (January 24-25th)

 

When you can't find caramel - you make it. Boil a can of sweetened condensed milk for two hours. DELICIOUS (for Jon)

 

Out for a boat ride on a new river. Always a crowd gathers. Unfortunately we only made it a couple of kms due to the shallowness of the river this time of year.

 Jon

Project Photospheres - January 10, 2015

Work continues to quickly progress on the East Wing. Third floor shuttering work is nearing completion and steel reinforcing work will start this week.

(Drag and Scroll to move around Photospheres below - click button on top right of each to go fullscreen)

Photosphere from December 13, 2014 - Working on the 2nd Floor Steel

Views: MCH Project - December 13, 2014 by Jonathan Barrett

Photosphere from January 10, 2015 - Working on the 3rd Floor Shuttering

Views: MCH Project - January 10, 2015 by Jonathan Barrett

Photosphere from January 10, 2015 - Working on the OPD Waiting Area (Main Entrance)

Views: MCH Project - January 10, 2015 by Jonathan Barrett

Jon

Girls Soccer - New Jerseys

When I was home in PEI this summer, the soccer team I've played with for several years (Winsloe Senior Women's - Globe) graciously let me join for 5 weeks of summer league.  I heard the club had an excess of some relatively new jerseys they didn't need/want and my coach Grant helped me fill my car after a game.  Jon and I carried several sets (over 100 jerseys) back to Bangladesh.

I have been holding weekly sports classes (with a focus on soccer) for the junior and senior girls over the past couple years.  We may have a language barrier but we have fun and the girls have been improving and enjoying practicing their skills.  I handed over the jerseys at a school picnic for a photo op with some of the girls.  The kids are just starting a new year of classes after exams and holidays.  I'm looking forward to meeting again this month.

Some of the MCH high school girls class 6,7, and 8

Putting on their Game Face

MCH high school girls class 9-10

MCH high school principal and senior boys folding a set of royal blues (they are hoping to share these ones).

Holly