Officially the fifth edition of this event was called the, ‘Pattaya International Kite on the Beach’ festival. Featuring 150 kites from 10 countries, many of the creations being character-themed, the one-kilometre floating smorgasbord sure drew the crowds in. Even if you didn’t know who the actual characters were, you did know what a spaceman, a dwarf and a snowman were, so there was nothing to hold you or your camera back, not even the onshore wind.

Padding along on the sand under the billowing carnival with temperatures up in the thirties, made for warm, but worthy work. Full marks to the organizers of this five-day event, although the marketing slogan once again probably sounds better in Thai than in English: ‘Sky Paradise of Happiness’ was the tagline. My in-the-moment delight was certainly dialled up to eleven, luxuriating under this sky paradise, but levelled down a bit upon leaving – yes, as if you needed reminding, sand does indeed get everywhere.