When we spend most of our time in the light, we sometimes forget how different things are in the dark. We spent a couple of hours on the project after dark last week to test our lighting layout. It was wonderful to sit in the restaurant with most of the lights in place (and off as well) and share a cold beer while enjoying a night sky that we don’t see that often, even close by in Panagsama. The stars were so thick it looked like a diamond carpet and even I could see the Plough (Big Dipper) and for the first time identify the North Star. Thanks Alain!

Steady progress for the last couple of weeks, including the mosquito netting on the underside of the dormitories, the final bits for the washrooms and showers and lots of painting for the pier supports before these are fitted. Hopefully we should be able to start assembling and laying them out on Thursday. We are also working on replacing some of the bamboo posts on the Boardwalk with concrete for additional stability and reduced maintenance.

We have had the electricians in again and connected the first set of path lights and we have more sawdust and wood chips for our paths. We do need some signposts though, especially at night :). We are slowly recruiting members of our team – we’re happy with the people we’ve found so far; we think we have the basis of a strong team already.

Opening is getting closer though there is still some construction to do and of course an endless amount of administration!

We made a quick visit to the Sea-Ex exhibition in Manila this month to renew our acquaintaince with the guys from Bangkapro. We have been impressed by the standard of their products and have ordered some of their two seats kayaks for our team-building activities. We’re really looking forward to trying out these and the paddle boards which are locally sourced from Artique Kayaks in Cebu. You’ll be able to see our yellow and red creations before too long in the Bay :).

We are still working towards opening in early March but we don’t have a fixed date yet. Steady progress on all fronts over Christmas and the New Year. The most visible change is for the water sports pier on the north side of the island . . . the pilings are in place and the supports and decking will arrive this month. Here you see the pilings taking shape. The stone supports allow almost complete water flow under the pier and into the mangroves and the pier runs out to the existing (relatively) deep water channel so we will be able to get our kayaks and paddle boards in and out at any state of the tide. During the very low winter tides we can walk out to the channel. High tides on the other hand will come up nearly to the top of the pilings . . . .

We’ve started the process of cleaning the area, laying more wood chips for the path and gravel in front of the buildings. The rains this month are letting grass grow all over the place so the paths are a pleasing (and comfortable) mixture of green and brown.

Kitchen planning is on the go and we look forward to being able to have a cold beer on site soon instead of having to bring it down in a cool box :). Walking home along the boardwalk the other night there were swarms of fire flies either side of us . . . .

To close, a shot of a crab that live in the mud around the pier; it’s about as big as half my thumb and there are others bright blue. What a pretty collection they make!

Difficult to credit that it’s been a month since the last update – how time flies when you’re having fun :). So there have been quite a few changes this month.

• We’ve moved most of the bodega (storage) from the middle of the project – convenient but space consuming and not pretty – to its longer-term location towards the other side of the island. A small working area will stay for another 2-3 months for work-in-progress. This gives us a big open space which we will fill with . . . something
• We have the water fixtures for the first shower block and these will be installed in the next week or so. The pump and pressure tank is already done so it’s “just” making the connections :). The second block will learn from any issues we discover with the first!
• The ceiling fans for the meeting room are done; we still need to position the lights but the sockets are in place
• The first payag is almost finished and is a great spot to sit. The others will be even better!
• The administration and paperwork is progressing slowly – always one more form needed though!
• We wanted to be able to post some photos but as usual marrying up camera, people, weather and memory has been difficult. Maybe tomorrow :).

Just in time to catch some breezy weather, we have the ceiling fans installed in the dormitories; the function room with its five fans will be tomorrow. The electricians have been busy and most of the light switches and plugs are connected and working, the bed slats have been lacquered and fitted – it’ll be a while before we get the mattress’ to lay on them though, one of the last things to order!

Meanwhile up north there is yet another typhoon heading through Luzon but here in Cebu it’s balmy and calm. What better reason for booking a stay down here during the next typhoon season?! :).

Let’s see how long we can keep up this construction diary! This week we have:

• continued working on the sawdust and wood chip path that surrounds the island
• the coconut lumber for the last part of the floor of the function room has been delivered and we’ve started work on preparing it
• we have fitted most of the edging pieces to protect clothes and arms from being snagged on ends of bamboo in the washrooms and restaurant
• ordered new tyres for our wheelbarrows
• ordered more long bamboo for the boardwalk
• finished sanding the slats to go under the mattresses – varnishing them next: 1,040 pieces!

Next week we’ll try to have photos to give a better idea of what we’re doing 🙂