There’s something special about building with your own hands, especially when it’s not just a structure, but a future gathering place. Right now, between our two ponds out in the Chumphon Buri district, the skeleton of our Thai sala is taking shape.
For those who don’t know, a sala in Thailand is an open-sided pavilion, usually built for rest, shade, and social gatherings. They can be found in temples, along roadsides, or on farms like ours. It’s not a house it’s more like a breathing space, somewhere you sit back, sip a drink, share food, or just escape the midday sun.
Stage One: The Frame and the Roof
As you can see in the photo, we started with the basics , the steel framework and the roof. That was the priority. Out here, shade is everything. The roof went up first so that when we work on the rest of the build, we can do it comfortably, even under the hot Isaan sun.
The framework was actually put up by the same construction workers who are going to build the patio behind our house. They handled the heavy lifting and welding, making sure the base and roof were solid. It’s not finished yet, and honestly, that’s the point. The sala is going to be a project that grows with us. Right now it’s just bones and shelter, but soon enough it will become the heart of our little farm.
Future Plans: A Family Project
The next steps will be slower, and maybe more fun:
- Solar for the ponds – We’ll install panels on the roof to power water pumps for both ponds. That way, the sala becomes not just a place for us, but a working hub for the farm.
- A simple toilet – Out here, you don’t want to walk back to the house every time nature calls. A small corner bathroom is going in.
- Furniture – Benches, a table, maybe even a hammock or two. Nothing fancy, just enough for comfort.
My brother-in-law and I will handle most of this ourselves. And let’s be honest: the real tools will be a few cold beers and a Bluetooth speaker.
The Dream: Quiet Sundays
Once the work is done, I can already picture it. A quiet Sunday, fishing rods leaning against the sala, the smell of BBQ drifting across the pond, Boom laughing while she grills fish, the dogs stretched out in the shade. Solar powering the pumps, the sound of water flowing, and us finally doing nothing at all.
That’s the real purpose of this sala, not just a roof and steel posts, but a place for memories.
And the best part? Every time we sit there, we’ll know we built it ourselves.
Boom & Eric
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