My next project was “Critter Control”.  Similar to “Sunset Suds”, this was going to be a longer-term project that would span days, if not weeks.

The hard wood flooring in the bungalows had gaps between the planks, allowing all kinds of critters to potentially enter the room. 

Some might say (and I might agree) that the very nature of bungalows, in many cases, is that they are not exactly nature-proof.  I have inspected bungalows on several other properties, and most have intentional open-air sections, especially between the upper wall and ceiling.

However, the Uza Beach bungalows are not thatched-roof structures.  They are actually more traditional wood and cement structures that have the potential to be more sealed up than a typical bungalow.  Making them more secure from insect invasion might actually attract higher-end tourists that can’t sleep soundly with spiders, ants, geckos, and other critters crawling around the room.

That was the rationale behind “Critter Control.”  My objective was to fill the gaps in the planks with silicone to help prevent unwanted creepy-crawly guests.  This was going to be my first, or maybe second, experience with silicone.

So off I went, with silicone gun and canisters in hand.  I spent two and a half days sealing up two of the bungalows.  I was by no means an expert, but certainly got better, cleaner lines with each length of flooring.

Unfortunately, I quickly realized this was a bit of a lost cause.  There were gaps everywhere – not just between the floor boards, but around the molding, under the door, along the windows, etc.  Sealing the floor would help, but it would not make the bungalow immune to insect invasion. 

I explained to Ben, but he wanted me to continue.  His thinking was that every little bit would help – and the floor was the most visually apparent risk for insects.

After completing two bungalows (and some other Helpers had done two other ones during their stay), we had four done. 

At the time of this writing, additional Helpers have arrived, and they have dutifully tackled yet another bungalow.  We have a lot more to do.  Since this project is indoors, it’s a good activity for rainy days – which are still relatively frequent here.  So it’s likely this project will continue as a backup activity when our outdoor projects are rain-delayed.  Expect more updates on “Critter Control” in the future.

Speaking of which, here is an update on another long term project, "Sunset Suds."  At the time of this writing (December 8), the bar materials have been ordered.  They are due to arrive in 10 days.  In Thai time, that may mean a month, but at least we have forward progress.  In the meantime, we will begin digging a ditch to run the electrical wire and pipe from the street out to the beachfront bar.  Stay tuned for updates on that work, as well as a couple other shorter-term projects that are underway.

It's exciting times at Uza!