Here is an update on our first week, marking the beginning of construction. Rather than sending a formal report, I have chosen to share it in a more personal and lively way, so that you can all experience some of the emotion that comes with this long-awaited moment.
Before breaking ground
After arriving in Sumba at the beginning of the week, I spent the following days attending a series of meetings alongside our Sumbanese contractor. We needed to meet with the various local authorities, both formal and informal, as well as traditional leaders, to inform them of the start of construction and deliver a letter asking for their blessing. These authorities range from the local police chief and sub-district head to the council of elders in the neighbouring village of Gaura, and all the way up to the Bupati, the regent.
These meetings come with their own set of local customs and unwritten rules, requiring a fair amount of patience, often in a thick haze of kretek smoke, the local clove cigarettes. We listen carefully to everyone's concerns and requests. The topics range from an elder who would like us to use his truck to transport certain construction materials, to another who hopes we will employ a member of his family during construction, and discussions about our commitment to supporting local schools and contributing to the development of the region.
The elders' blessing
We are fortunate to have such good people around us and to have been welcomed so warmly. The delays we experienced have, in fact, given us time to prepare for this moment and allowed things to unfold at the pace that feels right for the local community in Sumba.
One result of this is that, when discussing the arrangements for the ceremony with the council of elders, they offered to accept a sacrifice of just one pig and one white chicken, instead of a horse and a buffalo, which would have been considerably more expensive. This is the council of elders of Gaura's contribution to the successful realisation of Kabisu, and it genuinely touches us.
The ceremony took place on the afternoon of 12 October, and you will find the photos below. I would have liked to collect more visual material to introduce you to the local authorities, our neighbours and the people we have met along the way, but interrupting these moments to take photographs would not have been appropriate.
Once all the hands had been shaken, commitments made and two chickens sacrificed (and subsequently cooked) at our neighbours' home, we were finally able to get started.
What an emotional moment it was to see the equipment arriving on site, the teams getting to work, the different trades coordinating with one another, and the first shovels breaking ground!
Water at 72 metres
We were able to start with the water borehole. Our estimates suggested we would find water at around 90 metres, and we had planned for approximately seven to ten days of drilling. Instead, we struck water at just 72 metres, in a little over 24 hours. Excellent news!
Land clearing and setting out
Meanwhile, the earthmoving equipment has arrived, along with the materials needed to build the temporary accommodation for the workers. We have begun clearing the land, and on 10 October we spent the day with the surveyor, using his equipment to verify the positioning of the restaurant and the first five villas.
On 12 October, once the land had been fully cleared and before the ceremony, we finished placing the patoks, the stakes marking the boundaries and outlines of the buildings.
What comes next
Preparatory work will continue throughout the coming week, while the equipment and teams travelling from Java make their way to Sumba.
Wishing you all a wonderful day,
Frédéric
