When Pattaya installed the red-and-white buoys to cordon off beach-swimming zones, city officials never envisioned they would be used for so many other purposes.
After their initial installation 18 months ago, the flat and wide pontoons immediately created controversy, with several people who decided to walk on them, sometimes fully clothed, falling into the ocean and drowning.
With access to deeper water, in theory these buoys allow for better fishing than throwing a net from shore.
City hall urgently and repeatedly told people not to walk on the barriers and put two-meter gaps between them to thwart walkers. But it didn’t stop people and officials eventually gave up trying to prohibit strolling. Today buoy walkers can be seen all day along the entire beach.
Since then, people have found other uses for them. Some just sit on the barriers and watch the sunset. Others bring out a fishing pole or throw net and try their luck, as they can get access deeper water than possible before.
Still others find them simply a good place to lay out and work on their tans. After all, the buoys are free and there’s no need to rent a chair and umbrella.
