A Diary of a New Town
With the works beginning around Mangaf to connect us to the road network, I thought I should capture a few shots of how life is today. People have created neighbourhoods, driveways and even gardens before any sign of planning. This relative feeling of stability is about to be disturbed for a while, with all the digging and construction, before leaving a clean finished look for the final phase of this town.
A whole new neighborhood is about to be born. Before long, there will be families, children, pets, a few weirdoes, security guards, maids, car washers, loafers and maybe some nice people moving in. They’ve worked on this site a few months now and it looks almost complete. The outside wall was being painted this morning.
The colour looks better in real life. The finishing is to a high quality considering they’re obviously been built for the rent market. The thing that worries me (apart from the weirdos) is the number of cars this will be coming to this quiet area. I first thought this long row was going to be houses. I went inside today and most, if not all, are flats! With an average two cars per flat, the road will probably only be open part-time. The rest of the time it will be reserved parking 
After months of NOISE, dust and many other problems, associated with any large building site, I am finally able to share these photographs. It’s a number of houses ready to hit the rent market here in Mangaf. My guess is some time in December. They’re located in Block 1 left after the petrol station.
I wish the owner was responsible for the roads in this area. The pace of work was at times scary. The speed and the number of men on the site are beyond the need of any project of this size. I was thankful however, as it meant a relatively shorter period of concrete mixers and builders right in front of my face. Every day including Fridays starting as early as 5am since April!
February
April
June
Later in June
July
October
It’s not to my taste, but at least I’m able to say it’s not ugly. They are putting the finishing touches on paint outside and in. It won’t be long before they’re hooked up to the grid and are illuminating our street. All this aside, I pray for good neighbors - now that the neighborhood has been completed.
I had a comment on one of my posts about creepy crawlies. I found this photograph taken back in January. I wanted to show how this area is still home to the wildlife of the region. I would guess that they will be there until the street lights come on and more and more people move in.
Today, more and more houses are being completed and the town’s colour (even before any landscaping) is beginning to form.
This has to be a record for me…. I should probably get stuck at airports more often!
