Not good news for the neighbourhood, but not as bad as it could be...

As one development (and source of noise) completes next door, another starts across the road. I should say, re-starts, because the site has been idle since casting the foundations and basement car park concrete, for over a year. Whilst we're pleased that Spikey Pete and his partners have found the necessary finance to complete their resort development, I'm not happy about the potential for noise and disturbance the construction will bring.

The project, a mixed-use, low-rise development of serviced apartments, a hotel and retail units, is due for completion in October 2009. Working hours are said to be from 08h00 to 17h00 Monday to Saturday.

With the building site located across the road, the potential for disturbance to the hotel's usual somnolent atmosphere is much less than when the buildings either side were constructed and every hammer-blow would be funneled along all three guest room floors. Fortunately, the main access to the site is at the far end of the development on the main road to Bangrak/Big Buddha, limiting the traffic noise and dust reaching the hotel.

We no longer have any road facing rooms, having converted these in to store rooms, which is a blessing, so we're much better off than our friends at B 1 Villa, Carpe Diem and Cocooning, who are now in the thick of it.

In the longer term, the completed development will be good (I tell myself) for the small hotels, like ours, at the eastern end of the Fisherman's Village, that can offer choices of restaurants and bars to the increased number of visitors that may choose to stay down our end of an evening.

It could have been worse...

It could have been a 24/7 Korean karaoke bar going up next door, or a multi-outlet food palace specialising in fermented fish dishes to cause us permanent loss of revenue and value, creating stress and anguish for life. As it is, the construction that temporarily intrudes into the life of Baan Bophut is to be the retirement home of a nice Australian couple. And, if you were to ask me - they could not have chosen a nicer spot.

Immediately to the west of us, the noise is worse in rooms 1 and 5

The heavy construction of the villa is largely complete, without too many complaints of disturbance from guests, who knew we couldn't do anything about it. But in recent days the noise had driven a couple booked-in for a week to seek somewhere quieter. Of course we understood their need for peaceful relaxation (it's why we exist!) and gave them a lift.

Investigation revealed that a large beam on the first floor, front elevation, had a bulge as a result of the concrete formwork buckling and a hammer-drill of sorts was used to remove the offending excess concrete, as you can see in the close-up.

Fingers crossed, the jackhammering is over, but we know from our own experience that, as finishing commences, nothing can be more annoying when one is trying to relax on the beach than the sound of an angle grinder-cutting tiles to size. And we give you fair warning if, as a guest, you intend to stick around the hotel all day.