The Colour Purple

I love  the colour purple. I decided to give the meditation centre a splash of colour so of course I chose purple for a feature wall. In this region they only stock basic colours and do not mix paint, so when we went to Ubud last week, we visited a large hardware store and chose what I think is just the right colour. It was exciting to do the painting myself and to stand back and admire how great it looked! Well, I think so anyway......what do you think???

 

Being watched by the local kids! I could have stood on the bamboo platform, but decided it was safer to paint from above.

Painting complete! The green wall is the feature wall in the bedroom.

Plastering and Tiling.....

This is looking toward the bedroom and toilet from the area that will be a timber floor (for meditation and yoga).



Another view from the front of the building. I just love the alang-alang roof which is about 7 metres above the floor and will cover a mezzanine area (where the worker is standing) to be used for extra beds, a reading area and a desk looking out a large window over the ocean. 

Many workers joining efforts in completing the outdoor bathroom.

Almost finished!

Another view of the bathroom (from above).

The son of one of the workers, sitting quietly playing "jacks" with small rocks.

The purchase of Dewi Tara!

 We were on a shopping trip buying some items for the building, when I spotted a stone carved statue of a Balinese Goddess, Dewi Tara. I loved her and thought she would look nice in the outdoor bathroom. When I enquired about her, asking her name, the shop keeper said she is the wife of the ocean God. Upon hearing this, I knew she was meant for me! Our bathroom has beautiful views over the Bali Ocean, so I believe Tara will be very happy in her new home! I didn't stop to think about how difficult it would be to transport her up the hill.....

 I have great respect for the Balinese workers, who gathered around Tara with enthusiasm and worked out an easy solution...... 

Even as they approached the entrance way and had to lift Tara up into the bedroom, the workers did the job with such ease (as I stood by watching and hoping she would make it in one piece!)



And here she sits with such poise and beauty!!!

Another day at "The Project"

Iluh and Gede help with some of the stone work in the outdoor shower area. 

Two of the workers tiling the toilet.

 

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Another view of the meditation Centre. Iluh says the high pillars give it  magical energy. I agree.

Morning tea in the workplace! A local woman shows up each morning with a basket full of goodies: boiled peanuts, cigarettes, ice cold vitamin drinks (they need it working all day in this heat), cakes and snacks.

The Roof is on and it's Beautiful!

Almost 8 metres high, the alang-alang roof stands majestically above the rooms below.




The beautiful, strong, local women are doing all the heavy work....

The Progress of the Meditation Centre!

The Meditation centre is taking shape with the placement of the grass roof.

                    An incredible retaining rock wall!

     The Water tank perched upon its tower high on the land.

                       The grass roof is progressing nicely!

I am imagining sitting under this huge alang-alang roof, looking out over the Bali Sea, running a meditation retreat. My dream is manifesting before my eyes!

Beginnings of a Meditation Centre

      Ceremony to thank the Gods for the new building.

The Meditation Centre is well under way. Workers are busy putting the roof trusses in place in preparation for the alang-alang roof, which will go on next week!

This shows a worker looking out of the bedroom at the back of the meditation area.The area for meditation is an open deck looking out over the Bali Sea.

There will be a mezzanine floor (for extra beds and a desk for writing) above the bedroom. The large triangular window in the mezzanine  will have an amazing view of the ocean as will the window from our bedroom.


The water tower is at the highest point of the land. We decided to make use of the space beneath the tower, so designed a room that can be a laundry and kitchenette and storage room all in one.

 On the left side of the roof will be a solar hot water system.

 

The view from underneath this tree is spectacular. We might put a bale here or just an outdoor table and chairs to sit at while we eat or have a cup of tea.