This is Nek Chand - 85 and still in total control of all at the Rock Garden. He comes to work every day - that's 7 days a week!
Approaching the New Guesthouse - our lodgings
which consists of a kitchen and 2 bedrooms - each with its own bathroom. It is surrounded by a high wall - and everything gets locked - the bedrooms, the kitchen, our big gate. Apparently it is a very Indian habit.
Outside our gate is accommodation for the family of one of the workers. This hut housed the TV, cooking was done outside...
and the second part is the small hut on the far right. But more importantly is that now you get a glimpse of 'our wall' - which is to be our project for the next month. That's Cory and Nicole, both from Colorado. They have done a volunteering stint before - which is brilliant because they know their way around the Rock Garden. It takes me 5 days to learn the routes to the front entrance and to the Old Guesthouse where we eat.The fact that 'our wall' is right outside our accommodation means we don't have much in the way of excuses for not starting on time.
The wall is recessed on the upper level. At first we think we may have to build that into the design but then it gets levelled flush with the lower part.
And here is the Tile Pile. I'm not sure where they all come from - but it's a big pile. However tiles are mainly wanted for bathrooms and floors so the main colours are whites and browns. We scour the piles for anything that is not white or brown.
And before we get started - a wee look at Chandigarh.
It is a 'new' city - designed by Le Corbusier when India needed a new Punjab capital after losing Lahore to Pakistan during Partition. It is laid out methodically in sectors - no names - just numbers. We did our grocery shopping in Sector 9, internet cafe in Sector 7, market in 22B.
The area around the Rock Garden was particularly affluent - this house is pretty typical!
The wall is recessed on the upper level. At first we think we may have to build that into the design but then it gets levelled flush with the lower part.
And here is the Tile Pile. I'm not sure where they all come from - but it's a big pile. However tiles are mainly wanted for bathrooms and floors so the main colours are whites and browns. We scour the piles for anything that is not white or brown.
And then sort them into the appropriate piles near our working space at the wall.
And before we get started - a wee look at Chandigarh.
It is a 'new' city - designed by Le Corbusier when India needed a new Punjab capital after losing Lahore to Pakistan during Partition. It is laid out methodically in sectors - no names - just numbers. We did our grocery shopping in Sector 9, internet cafe in Sector 7, market in 22B.
The area around the Rock Garden was particularly affluent - this house is pretty typical!
The mosaic buildings are lovely!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say that the hot air balloon wasn't scary at all. I was nervous before i got in but you barely even noticed that you were up in the air. So peaceful because you travel with the wind. I'd recommend it anywhere! Joe's mum and dad (Annie and Paul) did one in Turkey that sounds pretty amazing. Will have to go do that too :)