One of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning, historic Sigiriya (see-gi-ri-ya), also called Lion Rock, is well deserving of its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s located just outside of Dambulla, where we’ve been building for the last week. The site is fairly well-preserved and includes what was once a 3 acre walled … Continue reading
The sun is setting on Friday the 13th and our day in Sri Lanka is coming to an end almost 12 hours before most of our friends have had their morning coffee. Tomorrow, Saturday, will be another work day for our team but we’re celebrating the end of the week nonetheless. Our group has been … Continue reading
With 18 volunteers and 20 job sites, it’s pretty safe to say there won’t be a shortage of work for us to do this week. The community welcomed us with open arms and we really enjoyed the ceremony and the kind words everyone spoke that allowed us to get to know our hosts better. We … Continue reading
The Pearl of the Indian Ocean. Otherwise known as Sri Lanka. Shaped like a teardrop falling from the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka is a small island that’s big on hospitality. Quickly becoming a popular tourist destination it has lots to offer. Beaches that rank among the world’s most beautiful, 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, … Continue reading
The last days at a Global Village work site are always the toughest, for two reasons. Muscles you didn’t even know you had ache from doing work you didn’t know you could do. If you’re really enjoying yourself then you’re probably also tired from the pace of the schedule and a growing desire to spend … Continue reading
For those of you waiting, you noticed, there was no post yesterday. We were all too entirely wiped out to think of anything but a shower, food and sleep Monday evening. The heat was intense and the pace of our work picked up. Even with mandatory morning and afternoon breaks and lunch, it was a … Continue reading
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. We all have clever ways of putting this slogan into action. But here in Bistekville, necessity has proven itself once again to be the mother of invention. Check out just a few of the many ways things get reinvented. Construction on the second floor continued again today. One new job was added: … Continue reading
Sweating standing still. This is what we are doing in the extreme humidity that is the Philippines. Despite…great work day today and only one short rain interruption. Luck or answered prayer. Cement mixing, bucket throwing, brick hoisting continues. We also started putting up walls on the second floor of our two-story apartment building which includes … Continue reading
Exhilarating drive to the worksite. Check. Safety orientation and morning stretching. Check. Cueing up for brick passing and cement hauling. Check. Having to stop work for the rain. Three times. Check. The rainy season gets underway in the Philippines in May. The worst rains come in August and September as typhoon season is in full … Continue reading
Everyone on the team has safely arrived half way around the world and settled in to our new digs in Quezon City, Manila. Everyone has showed remarkable flexibility considering just two weeks and two days ago we expected to be in Thailand and not the Philippines. What a wonderful group of volunteers. Our hats go … Continue reading
Global Staci 