Thai "Barbeque" and Building Day 3 (Another Brick in the Wall)

Hello to all blog-readers (now numbering at least 9)

We had a momentous day today, but before we talk about that a few words about last night.

After blogging in the sweltering hotel lobby while fighting off mosquitoes and other various flying critters and drinking healthy amounts of Singha beer (the national lager... very tasty), which is quickly becoming a nightly ritual, and after other team members went internet-ing and got thai massages and did various other R+R type things, the team went for another night of Thai barbeque.

Thai Barbeque deserves a few more words, not only because we have had it the past two nights, and not only because last night was the superior Thai BBQ establishment, but because it is such an interesting concept and use of the "barbeque." As we alluded to in our last post you have to cook your own food. What we learned last night was that different T-BBq spots have different cooking methods. Our first night the place was more fondue - with you boiling your meat in small pots of water (with spices/flavoring in it) over small gas flames. Last night, 12 year old Thai boys brought large buckets of white hot coals (yes this was as scary as it sounds) over to the table and dropped them in holes in the middle. They then covered them with what looked like an upside down bundt cake pan and you used the middle to fry/saute your meat or fish (after putting a large piece of lard on the cooking surface) and then the well around it to boil your vegetables. See the pictures below for more details. Oh and also there was live music with a guitar player rocking out along with pre-programmed background music.

As for today it was another day of progress at the GV worksite. The morning saw a special crack squad of elite dirt-movers, nicknamed "The Sh*t-kickers", aka David, Duncan, Peter, and JB, dug and constructed the septic tank in record time. Again see pictures below. They may or may not have been given this job because they were unqualified for more sophisticated tasks...

The bigger news of the day is... wait for it... our team completed construction of all walls of the house!!!!! (gratuitous exclamation points)

!!!!!!! (a few more for effect)

What an awesome accomplishment. Spurred on by the now legendary DJ Becs ipod mix the team the bricks flew up faster than a 2009-2010 Carolina basketball game. As the Rolling Stones blared, the team slammed the last bricks from their places on top of the quickly constructed scaffolding (I'm sure it was totally secure...).

The team will celebrate tonight with a dinner of pizza (which we may or may not have to cook ourselves at our tables) followed by bowling and a movie (Clash of the Titans). Tomorrow we will be visiting an orphanage for children with HIV and then heading to see the Friendship Bridge over the Meakong River at the Thailand/Laos border.

Steph/Pat update: Our missing team members have finally made it in the country and are now in Bangkok. They will be joining us tomorrow afternoon. We can't wait to finally meet them!