Garage build in Uganda

[Faiz]

Hey guys,

Been a lurker on here for ages as I've been planning my garage.
Finally decided to get on with it and build it.

Heres the space I had set out;

This used to be a through road outside my house but many years ago the neighbour just claimed the road as part of his house meaning that we also got this as ours!lol
So now we live on a dead end and there is a driveway leading into our house and this space at the end. The space, which can fit about 7 cars, will be the garage.

Heres what I drew up about a year ago;

The layout and cars have changed a fair amount since then but thats more or less it. The front wall has changed so that one car will be parked outside so I don't have to constantly open and close it for my daily, like this;

Work started today after I bought all the steel and cement;

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Quite excited but I'm a bit nervous how it's going to turn out as I'm not allowed to build up to the walls.
We'll see how it comes along, it's a bit fluid and liable to change but the steel poles should be set today to start the frame off.

The front will have the same bricks and grills as this;

So yeah, hopefully it'll turn out nice, structure should be done in about 2 weeks hopefully.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Welcome! Keep posting photos, it's always interesting to see construction methods on other countries. I like your motorcycle.

 

[madoc1]

interesting. the area looks very tropical. i need to look at a map and get in my head where you are. ought to be nice. jim

 

[ddl2004]

Pics of the G-wagon!

 

[Faiz]

Thanks for the welcome!
Uganda is on the Equator in East Africa, bordered by Kenya, South Sudan, Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. Just above the big lake(lake Victoria) when you look at a map.

Used to work in England and I just couldn't resist coming back home.
If I wasn't living in Uganda then it would have to be California!
I make it sound so glamorous but if you came you'd probably be like wtf.

Unfortunately I sold the G-Wagon as I had too many projects on the go and not enough money.
This was it though;

Going in the garage is the silver scooby, the bike and these;

So yeah as you can see I have my hands full figuring out how to rebuild all of these!
The porsche, subaru and cafe racer are the only ones in good nick.
The rest need a lot of work. A lot.

Some of the poles are up, it rained heavily this afternoon so they couldn't finish all of them.
Hopefully tomorrow they'll all be up.

 

[djjsr]

Welcome! We need an explanation of what the f....... that is!

 

[Faiz]

Lol, thats fair enough.
Well when I was 16 I built this VW based buggy;

It was fun, but I really wanted a motorbike but my parents were not willing at all to let me have one.
So, I built one! From an aircooled type 1 VW engine!lol
Tore up the buggy and put the engine in the bike I made, it was more or less an engine with wheels. Never actually finished it but I might when this is done.
Heres how it first looked before I rebuilt it;

The suspension was too soft so I hardtailed it.
Believe it or not, I went to University and worked my *** off and sent my CV plus pics of my projects to Triumph and got a job as a Design Engineer!
In the interview they basically told me I was crazy, and then I got the job!
Was my dream job.
So I guess a bit of craziness goes a long way!

Another pic of the G Wagon;

Gone now, I'm sure I'll probably regret that.

Poles are all up now;

Can get a rough idea of the size, I like the high roofline.

The pavers will be put back in place over the next couple of days as the concrete sets.
Pleased so far but it's still very early days.
Mind you this project should be done within a few weeks.

 

[Buzz Lightyear]

Was this shipped out from the UK as I have seen one just like it over here at shows.

 

[Hugo L.]

Thanks for the welcome!
Uganda is on the Equator in East Africa, bordered by Kenya, South Sudan, Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. Just above the big lake(lake Victoria) when you look at a map.

Man oh man... you're surrounded by genocide and awful-human-rights-records central.

 

[Faiz]

Was this shipped out from the UK as I have seen one just like it over here at shows.

Yup, I brought it back when I left;

I wonder if I've ever met you then!
Which show?

Man oh man... you're surrounded by genocide and awful-human-rights-records central.

Yeah you can say that again.
All caused by greed and the love for money.
I'm fifth generation indian in uganda, we stayed when Idi Amin kicked all Asians out. Less than 100 stayed.
My mums dad actually represented Uganda in the Olympics in Munich 72 and was evicted the following year!
I have a picture of him and Idi Amin in their olympic suits.

 

[T.E.D. Jordan]

Wow, some awesome cars/bikes and an awesome story. I'm also a design engineer from England!

Looking forward to seeing more pics!

Jordan

 

[Faiz]

Sweet! Where do you work?
I see you've got a VW Amarok, that was my first choice pickup for work.
Unfortunately I couldn't afford a new car. :-(
Here in Uganda the market for second hand cars is huge so I picked up a UK spec 04 Hilux;

Poor thing has lived a tough life;

Apparantly, that's a road.lol

 

[Buckgnarly]

Awesome, love foreign garage builds, pics, and stories!

 

[T.E.D. Jordan]

I live in Cumbria, the lake district in the North and I work At ECI Company www.eci-company.co.uk

I really like my Amarok thankyou.

Wow you definitely need a pickup for those kind of roads!

Jordan

 

[Hugo L.]

Yeah you can say that again.
All caused by greed and the love for money.

That could be a long discussion, but yeah, this is true. Africa in general, didn't have it very good when it was a continent of colonies, but in pretty much every respect, it's worse now that all countries gained their independence. Instead of flourishing, it became every nation for itself, governed by people who, likewise wanted to improve the size of their wallets, not the quality of life of their people.

 

[Buzz Lightyear]

Yup, I brought it back when I left;

I wonder if I've ever met you then!
Which show?

Blimey my memory isn't that good

Over the years I've been to a hell of a lot of shows.

Volksworld - Every year except for 2013
Tatton Park - the last 6 years
Deva
Bug Jam - LOTS
VW Action (Stoneleigh, Peterborough & Santa Pod)
Dubfreeze
Stanford Hall
Stonor Park

Bad Camberg
Las Vegas Bug-o-rama
Pomona - Nov 2007
DKP Cruise - Santa's Lil Helper Crruise 2007

 

[Faiz]

Must've been Volksworld as my grandparents live close to there so I always tried to go.
Frame is taking shape;

Sorry the pics a bit **** due to the setting sun.
Need to buy the roofing sheets and bricks on monday/tuesday.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Very interesting stuff, thanks for posting.

 

[4xdog]

Great project. This will be fun to watch. More on the TR3, too, please!

(I've owned TSF202L, a TR3B, for 32+ years.)

 

[jd_1138]

In the interview they basically told me I was crazy, and then I got the job! Was my dream job. So I guess a bit of craziness goes a long way!

There's an old American country and western song that goes:

I've always been crazy but it's kept me from going insane.

Cool cars and garage. Please post more pics.

 

[98XJ]

looking good bud keep up the good work.

 

[machine_punk]

Looking forward to seeing this build! Keep the pics coming.

Kev

 

[Walterchang]

I loved Uganda, I spent some time down there earlier this year. It's an amazing place. Good luck with your build!

 

[CaptainCaveman]

Looks like you'll have alot of space there, I love that your neighbour just closed off a road(!) genius.
If only you could get away with that in the UK.

What is that yellow car? It's gorgeous!

Good luck with the build and enjoy.

 

[Faiz]

Great project. This will be fun to watch. More on the TR3, too, please!

(I've owned TSF202L, a TR3B, for 32+ years.)

Sweet TR3!
So I found this one in a warehouse and bought it for US$1000.
My grandfather on my mums side used to be the Triumph dealer for Uganda so he actually sold this car from new!
It's pretty far gone so (shock and horror) I'm butchering it to get it back on the road as I'd have to buy another one more or less to fix this one.

We have another one anyway;

So I don't feel so bad.
Needs a lot of work, hopefully the garage will actually encourage me to get it done.

I loved Uganda, I spent some time down there earlier this year. It's an amazing place. Good luck with your build!

Sweet!
Where were you based?

Looks like you'll have alot of space there, I love that your neighbour just closed off a road(!) genius.
If only you could get away with that in the UK (I'm from Derby, just up the road from where i guess you would.have been based).

What is that yellow car? It's gorgeous!

Good luck with the build and enjoy.

Yeah pretty crazy but it benefitted us in the long run I suppose.
Our property is bigger but security is a bit moredodgy now that we live on a dead end. Nowhere to escape to just in case, although nothing has ever happened in the last 10 years. Touch wood.

The yellow car is a 1967 Karmann Ghia.
Had it for a few years through uni in England, work and then I brought it here when I left.
I've raised it now but it used to be slammed;

Roads in England are far superior to here.
Really need to get the bodywork done on this.
I haven't driven it for over a year now.

So the frame is more or less finished;

I like the beams, it'll give the garage a nice industrial feel.
The sheets will run to the end of the walls and have gutters to take the rain into the main drain on the right.

Here you can see the whole area.
There will probably only be 3 cars and 2 motorbikes in the garage so there's plenty of space.
Should be buying the sheets and bricks tomorrow hopefully.

Sorry for the crappy pics, my camera was stolen and my phone doesn't like the intense sunlight!

 

[Walterchang]

I was shooting the volcanos in the Rewenzoris, I was based out of Bwinidi impenetrable forest then off to Murchasson falls, I spent sometime in Entebe too. Being able to see the DRC and Rwanada from my lodge was amazing. We wanted to stay in the DRC but the cost of security was too high and too dangerous. I can't wait to make it back to Africa, it truly changed my life!

 

[Garage Coffee Roaster]

Very Interesting. Am watching the progress. Just yesterday, some coffee importers stopped by the café that I work at and have just got back from Uganda. It is from a forest preservation plantation.

I am looking forward to tasting the coffee that they send

 

[dablack]

I like all your bota botas (uganda motorbikes). The build looks good.

 

[Faiz]

I was shooting the volcanos in the Rewenzoris, I was based out of Bwinidi impenetrable forest then off to Murchasson falls, I spent sometime in Entebe too. Being able to see the DRC and Rwanada from my lodge was amazing. We wanted to stay in the DRC but the cost of security was too high and too dangerous. I can't wait to make it back to Africa, it truly changed my life!

Awesome!
Where did you stay? One of our main businesses is tourism and we just opened an eco lodge in the Rwenzoris!

We also have a lodge in Murchison Falls.
When you make it back contact me!

Very Interesting. Am watching the progress. Just yesterday, some coffee importers stopped by the café that I work at and have just got back from Uganda. It is from a forest preservation plantation.

I am looking forward to tasting the coffee that they send

I'm not really aware of a forest preservation plantation but I know that 'Good African Coffee' makes great coffee. Plus it's fairtrade.
I'd love to know more info about the coffee they supply you.

I like all your bota botas (uganda motorbikes). The build looks good.

Boda Bodas!!
Ugandan motorbike taxis.

Have you been to Uganda?
They are so annoying! I genuinely hate 90% of them.
One of them even crashed into my 911 when it was parked because he was drunk and 'didn't see it.'
Must've been pretty crappy waking up in a cell.lol

They've economically empowered Uganda and they have their uses but in general they're dangerous.
Rwanda has banned themif I'm not mistaken.

 

[Nick Danger]

What's it like living in Uganda?

The only time I ever hear anything about Uganda is when something bad happens. Idi Amin throws out the Indians and the economy collapses. AIDS hits and goes through the population like a grass fire. Civil wars in Congo spill over into Uganda. And of course Ebola.

It's got to be very different from England.

 

[Walterchang]

I stayed at Clouds in the Rewenzoris, and at Parra Safari lodge near the falls. I'm buddies with a few pilots based out of Kenya they work at Tropic Air. They do lots of high end safaris, plus everything else. Super nice guys. I stayed in a few **** holes in Kenya, and a few very nice places too, it's really hit or miss to what you get.

 

[Faiz]

What's it like living in Uganda?

The only time I ever hear anything about Uganda is when something bad happens. Idi Amin throws out the Indians and the economy collapses. AIDS hits and goes through the population like a grass fire. Civil wars in Congo spill over into Uganda. And of course Ebola.

It's got to be very different from England.

Yeah bad news is the news.
Good news rarely makes it to the media unfortunately.
But I wouldn't live anywhere else, except maybe California.

It's not possible to live my lifestyle anywhere else at the price I get to live it.
There are difficulties but it all adds to the adventure of being in a third world country.

I stayed at Clouds in the Rewenzoris, and at Parra Safari lodge near the falls. I'm buddies with a few pilots based out of Kenya they work at Tropic Air. They do lots of high end safaris, plus everything else. Super nice guys. I stayed in a few **** holes in Kenya, and a few very nice places too, it's really hit or miss to what you get.

Cool, we have a lodge near the falls called Nile Safari Lodge, it's in NY Times 1,000 places to visit before you die.
I can imagine but it's very price sensitive.
Doesn't seem tobe much value tbh, it's either high end or camping.
Here in Uganda there's more inbetween as well.

So the garage.
Made some progress, the whole frame is done and painted.
Brickwork has begun and should be finished by the end of tomorrow;

Lovely over burnt bricks to match the house.
Need to buy the roofing sheets and get on with that.
Progress is a bit slow but at least it's moving
Hopefully buy the sheets tomorrow or wednesday.

 

[Faiz]

Most of the brick work is done and you can get an idea of its size;

Where the guy is sitting we will put in open cross hatched bricks;

Hopefully get it mostly complete by the end of this coming week.
Work is super slow as some money had to be used somewhere else unfortunately.

 

[bazzateer]

I stayed in a few ****holes in Kenya, and a few very nice places too, it's really hit or miss to what you get.

When I was working in Kenya in February I stayed at the Fairview Hotel in Nairobi - couldn't recommend it enough, great place. I may be going back early next year and hope to stay there again.

 

[billp603]

Thank you for sharing your pictures and stories from somewhere I will likely never have a chance to visit myself. Interesting license plates they issue there, different colors and shapes for front and rear.