Earthquake Indonesia rebuild
Donation protected
On the last 5th of August at 7:49pm a big earthquake happened in the mount Rinjani area, in North Lombok (Indonesia). Is difficult to describe what we felt in that moment, when the land shacked strongly and the power went off leaving us in the darkness. The few next hours, the island went into fear in a dark night full of aftershocks and tsunami alarms which were (luckily) false alarms.
My first thinking after the strong movements finished, were my guests at my small boutique hotel The Mandana. We all were lucky and nothing happened to the staff and guests. They were having dinner out of their rooms. After few hours of look for them, we could locate in a open area near the harbor. We decided then, to move together near the mosque land inside to wait till the first lights in the morning to go to the hotel and take their belongings. I could rescue some blankets and lanterns to make them more comfortable.
In the morning, we could check the conditions of the hotel. I remember I only could repeat myself "this is not happening".
After rescue the guest’s belongings the staff help them go to the harbor and evacuate the island. My staff in tears, helped them in what they could do. I’m proud of their job theses days. I stayed at the hotel observing them going meanwhile I was not even able to look at my dream destroyed.
That dream, my small hotel I always planned to have, was almost finished after work hard during 3 years. And now, it was destroyed. Also the house of Sira, one of my workers was totally destroyed in Lombok. He lost everything he had.
But also the most painful is to know that my loyal worker Sira is in even worse situation. He lost his house where lives with his 2 year old child and his relatives.
Keep positive for rebuilding and start again
After 2 months of the big earthquakes (two 7.0 magnitude and more than 500 aftershoks), we start to see all with bigger perspective and try to have positive thinking. Is hard for everybody, and not always can be as possitive as I should be. The hotel is closed with no guests and pending to find funds and workers to rebuild.
But rainny seasson is comming soon and time is finishing. Sira lives with his family in a provisional tend with plastics and some reused materials of his original house. They need to build another provisonal house soon before big rains arrive to north Lombok.
It's my purpose to help Sira's family to build a proper house in time. By now, we will start to build a provisional house to stay during rainny season. Later, we will see what can we do to improve the house and extend it depending on the funds.
The funds received for rebuilding his house and repair the hotel are still not enough. Many people already helped with their donations. We still need much more to reach the cost of the project. But thanks to that donations, I could ensure the salary and jobs of all the staff even we dont have guests. With the funds we have, I think I can do it till end of October or maybe November.
Some about me
I arrived to Gili Air (Lombok) more than 3 years ago. After travel arround Asia I decided to stop somwhere to open my dreamed busines. A small boutique hotel. The Mandana was a reality after 3 long and hard years of work. Found the land, negotiate the contracts and spend more than 2 years building and leading with workers and 6 different contractors... A truly nightmare which was going to finish just before the earthquake. But I did it! And I'm proud of that.
Imagine all you worked hard for so long time it's almost finished (we plan to open the 3rd and last room on 8th of august), and then, it disapears in few seconds and sends you almost to the start position again.
So here I am! Ready to start again adn rebuild not only The Mandana Gili Air, but also my staff house in Lombok.
PS: This is me 2 days after the earthquake going in the pick up to Mataram in Lombok.
My first thinking after the strong movements finished, were my guests at my small boutique hotel The Mandana. We all were lucky and nothing happened to the staff and guests. They were having dinner out of their rooms. After few hours of look for them, we could locate in a open area near the harbor. We decided then, to move together near the mosque land inside to wait till the first lights in the morning to go to the hotel and take their belongings. I could rescue some blankets and lanterns to make them more comfortable.
In the morning, we could check the conditions of the hotel. I remember I only could repeat myself "this is not happening".
After rescue the guest’s belongings the staff help them go to the harbor and evacuate the island. My staff in tears, helped them in what they could do. I’m proud of their job theses days. I stayed at the hotel observing them going meanwhile I was not even able to look at my dream destroyed.
That dream, my small hotel I always planned to have, was almost finished after work hard during 3 years. And now, it was destroyed. Also the house of Sira, one of my workers was totally destroyed in Lombok. He lost everything he had.
But also the most painful is to know that my loyal worker Sira is in even worse situation. He lost his house where lives with his 2 year old child and his relatives.
Keep positive for rebuilding and start again
After 2 months of the big earthquakes (two 7.0 magnitude and more than 500 aftershoks), we start to see all with bigger perspective and try to have positive thinking. Is hard for everybody, and not always can be as possitive as I should be. The hotel is closed with no guests and pending to find funds and workers to rebuild.
But rainny seasson is comming soon and time is finishing. Sira lives with his family in a provisional tend with plastics and some reused materials of his original house. They need to build another provisonal house soon before big rains arrive to north Lombok.
It's my purpose to help Sira's family to build a proper house in time. By now, we will start to build a provisional house to stay during rainny season. Later, we will see what can we do to improve the house and extend it depending on the funds.
The funds received for rebuilding his house and repair the hotel are still not enough. Many people already helped with their donations. We still need much more to reach the cost of the project. But thanks to that donations, I could ensure the salary and jobs of all the staff even we dont have guests. With the funds we have, I think I can do it till end of October or maybe November.
Some about me
I arrived to Gili Air (Lombok) more than 3 years ago. After travel arround Asia I decided to stop somwhere to open my dreamed busines. A small boutique hotel. The Mandana was a reality after 3 long and hard years of work. Found the land, negotiate the contracts and spend more than 2 years building and leading with workers and 6 different contractors... A truly nightmare which was going to finish just before the earthquake. But I did it! And I'm proud of that.
Imagine all you worked hard for so long time it's almost finished (we plan to open the 3rd and last room on 8th of august), and then, it disapears in few seconds and sends you almost to the start position again.
So here I am! Ready to start again adn rebuild not only The Mandana Gili Air, but also my staff house in Lombok.
PS: This is me 2 days after the earthquake going in the pick up to Mataram in Lombok.
Organizer
Jose David Jurado
Organizer
