Lighthouse Beach Construction - with photos

Hi

The construction to improve the sea defence along Lighthouse Beach was restarted a few weeks back. It has now (as posted else where) started from the Lighthouse end with the intention of %26#39;meeting up%26#39; with the work that was started at the beginning of the season.

Whilst I can understand that this work needs to be done, it is affecting all the business along that stretch of the beach and some of the tourist whom I have spoken too are rather annoyed. The restaurants in that area are noticeably quieter, a few of the tour agents that I know have said that sales are down, and there is very little beach. This may be coincidental as the season has only 4 more weeks to run. The last flight from Thomas Cook is April 18th. Those that are using the beach at the lighthouse end are very brave, in my opinion.

One hopes that the work will include either bringing the new work up to the same height, or at least putting a %26#39;face%26#39; on the part between the lower and higher section. Looking at picture #5 and #6 one begins to wonder how exactly the work is going to end up as it looks like they are constructing some steps down. This may help stop the erosion of the %26#39;walk way%26#39; but the beach may well %26#39;drop%26#39; as it has bone before (it was level with the whole of the walk way a few years ago). The construction of the Corel Reef could have helped but that%26#39;s now been put on hold until December at the earliest as the Government with held payments:-

tripadvisor.in/ShowTopic-g311295-i10148-k262…

tripadvisor.in/ShowTopic-g311295-i10148-k253…

There is a lot more work in progress, with more digging, larger holes, and bigger piles of sand, then what there was when work was happening at the other end. One can only hope that this project WILL last and help with the defence against the sea. If you know India then you know what to expect.

Photos of this work taken yesterday, 19th March 2009 (and you can compare it with the previous work) can be found at:-

http://cid-e2ea8050ddb62da4.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/Kovalam|_19|_03|_09

Not entirely sure why photos have not been posted elsewhere as a picture is worth a thousand words and shows the true state of the beach and work.

Regards

Paul

Happy Children%26#39;s Home - Helper

Lighthouse Beach Construction - with photos

Forgot to add that the photos were taking from the Velvet Dawn Restuarant.

Previous work%26#39;s photos can be found at:-

…live.com/albums.aspx

Regards

Paul

PS - I saw you as well.

Lighthouse Beach Construction - with photos

Hi

Bearing in mind the time of season the number of tourists are down with many hotels being empty.

Many sunbed sellers and hawkers have packed up for the year with some shops closing at the end of the month which is a normal event at this time of year.

Just because Thomas cook is still running flights does not necessarily extend the season, this is the first year to my knowledge TC have brought flights in this late, usually the end of March is the close of season for the beach.

I was also given to understand that tour operators are obliged to inform travelers if there is ongoing works likely to affect their holidays I may have misunderstood this but if anyone has further to this then please correct me.

There are a few hotels with one or two guests who can mainly be seen in the evening in restaurants, the people who are here are choosing other beaches to go to and understand the works in progress.

Also choice of restaurants should be taken into note, whilst some as the previous post mentions are empty others are busy especially in the evenings which comes down to personal choice and quality of restaurant and not the works.

The works are progressing at some speed and officials I have talked to including the contractor state they are trying to finish the project before the monsoons start.

As I have said in earlier posts I for one am fascinated with the way the works are progressing, the only mechanical aid these people have is a JCB, the rest is done by hand from the lifting of large boulders which are carried on a persons head to mixing cement by hand, these people are on a major construction site wearing only lunghie%26#39;s and flip flops.

There also has never been any plan to build a coral reef here, that surely is a natural phenomenon however plans to build an artificial reef have been put on hold and from what I have heard, if works resume all the works will be conducted from boats and will not affect the beach itself, again if anyone has further knowledge on this please correct me.

Regards

Ian

Hi

just a note to say that the works pdizzy has photographed has been completed in just three weeks and mostly by hand.

Regards

Ian

Thanks Paul, Ian,

Thomas cooke flew until mid April last year, though other operators finished earlier. We were there at that time and rather enjoyed it being a little more subdued. Though not all shops were open toward the end of our stay it didn%26#39;t cause a problem and

we picked up several ';end of season'; bargains.

We fly out again on the 27th and are looking forward to being there again soon.

Re: Tour operator obligations and information... its why most of us check on trip advisor for a more realistic picture.

Thanks again both for the help and assistance you provide

KR

D

Hi

Lets clear up a few points here and no offence is intended to or at anyone.

OK, I may have slipped up by usind %26#39;coral, instead of %26#39;surf%26#39; but it has ben called that in previous newspaper reports saying that the construction will give a habitat for fish and allow people to snorkel as well as surf. Artificial Coral Reefs can and have been contructed in various parts of the World. See here:-

…thatpetplace.com/thatfishblog/…

I%26#39;m not the only one to make typographical errors on this forum.

My post above already says that the decrease in tourists could be due to it being near the end of the season:-

The restaurants in that area are noticeably quieter, a few of the tour agents that I know have said that sales are down, ...... This may be coincidental as the season has only 4 more weeks to run.

Thomas Cook, like all the previous Charter operators have always continued until Easter. Easter weekend this year is April 9th to April 13th. The last flight from Gatwick arrives on 10th and the last flight out is the 18th. Next year will also be extend into April as Easter falls on the weekend of the 4th April - therefore the last flight next year will be around this time. Since coming to Kovalam, Easter has always been the last flight out whether in early March or mid April.

The choice of restuarants also goes down to the choice of views. I know there is not much to see at night, but who really wants to site in a restuarant with a view of an 8ft pile of sand? Because of the works, people will go for a restuarant with a view regardless as to whether it is the best place or not.

I cannot really believe that some of the hawkers have already packed up and gone? It%26#39;s thier earning that would be at loss. They do a terrific market up such as the bed sheets (or whatever you call them) at R1800/- to tourists yet I bought 3 for that price as I got an Indian person to close the deal. Yes, I know they have to make a living but 200% mark up? If they have a living to make why go when there is still potential business?

Why are some people now fasinated about the work at the Lighthouse end when they were least bothered about it at the other end?

I posted the pictures to show people what the work looks like. No offence is intended in doing so but I hardly think the tour operators would do so whether obliged to or not.

Regards

Paul

Hi

Before anyone picks up on it:-

I should have put:-

Easter has always been the last flight out for many whether in early March or mid April.

and not:-

Easter has always been the last flight out whether in early March or mid April.

Paul

Firstly, my comments are my own experience of being in Kovalam at that time of year.

Secondly, i know of the sea front inprovements because i was there in december, i mearly enquired re: progress

Thirdly, you might note i thanked you both for the service you provide, highlighting the worth of tripadvisor in filling the gap in information created by certain tour operators.

Forthly, have a good weekend

D

Many thanks D

Have a good one yourself.

Regards

Ian

Hi

Thanks D.

Possible revisit?

Paul