Every morning – throughout the year I think – motor boats criss-cross Pattaya bay bringing tourists out to floating pontoons from which they get a short paraglide.  There are larger boats taking people out to the floating platforms, and smaller speed boats taking them for short rides dangling from a parachute behind the boat.

I have never wanted to do this myself, but I enjoy watching the well-rehearsed spectacle every morning from my hotel balcony, when I am staying in Pattaya.  It really is a ballet of the air and – from a distance – everything seems to work like clockwork!

At any one time, there may be over thirty colourful parachutes floating over the bay, rising and falling as each person get his or her little ride and (I think) a little dip of their toes in the sea!  The skill of the speedboat drives is impressive.  At the end of the ride, the passenger is deposited safely back on the pontoon again.

This operation is carried out every morning and is a wonder to behold.  Many of the tourists are Chinese and I always admire their spirit of adventure, as well as the fact that they all get up so early on holiday to participate.  All the Brits are fast asleep having been in the bars all night of course!