[aussie dollar]

Surin beach draws in the visitors
BANKOK POST 11/1/2005

WASSANA NANUAM

Phuket _ Beach chairs and parasols have been banned on Patong and Kamala beaches since the tsunamis, but nearby Surin beach is now a riot of colour with hundreds of beach umbrellas set out to draw tourists.

Surin beach was less affected by the disaster and is not subject to the new restrictions, so is attracting more visitors.

Surin beach is a few kilometres away from Patong and Kamala beaches where beach chairs and umbrellas are banned under the plan to rejuvenate the area.

But the supply is limited as people with businesses on the beach scramble to replace the 2,000-odd beach chairs and umbrellas they say were destroyed or swept away.

``I bought new umbrellas for 550 baht each from downtown. I could only get 42 of them, although I wanted about 80 because all of mine were swept away by the waves,'' said Somsook Maha-ood, 56.

``Some could be fixed, but most of them must be replaced with new ones.

``That's why their colours are so bright.''

There were only 40 beach umbrellas remaining, and the price had gone up to 600 baht each, when Pradab Oliyanont, 44, went to replace his damaged and destroyed stock.

Beach chairs and umbrellas on Surin beach now rent out for 50 baht each per day. Patong beach used to charge 100 baht a time.

Carlo Garavaglia, 61, from Switzerland said he moved to Surin beach after seeing there were no umbrellas on Patong beach.

``I love Phuket. I love the beautiful beach and love to see the colours of beach umbrellas where I can lay out all day long,'' he said.

He visits Phuket every year and had been there for more than a month when the waves struck.

``I saw the wave, but I did not run away,'' the Swiss tourist said. ``I waited and saw and shouted, `Come to me'. But I was very lucky that it did not. So, I'm still alive and promise to be here every year.''