Features

Only at rush hour or in “naughty bar” areas

Editor;
Re: Nothing has changed in Bangkok (PM Friday, 17 October 2014) - Stolisage - as you pointed out yourself in your e-mail, the story you were writing about referred to motorbike taxis which are, in fact, much better in Bangkok, offering rides for as low as 15 baht. The meter-taxi situation is different and while it has improved, there still are taxis that refuse to use meters or take fares at all. However, that usually only is at rush hour or in the “naughty bar” areas at 2 am.
Bob James

What can be done about noisy, late closing clubs?

Sir,
I was interested to read the news item headed “4 teens arrested in shooting” on page 4 in the current edition of the Mail. What particularly interested me was the part about how authorities are threatening to close the Red and Blue Club because it has previously stayed open past the legal closing times.
This is a sore subject close to my own heart! I live on Third Road next to The Village. About 60 meters from my front door there is a club which is usually, nay always, functioning very noisily until 7am. I often phone 1337, the City Hall complaints line, and they are always sympathetic. They ask the police to visit the club, the noise then stops and I sigh with relief. But 15 or 20 minutes after the visit of the police the noise begins again!
I once entered this club when the music was in full blast and I was appalled at the decibel level. The habitués of the club will, I hope, suffer serious hearing problems eventually. Serve them right. What can be done about the matter of the club staying open well after the official closing time?
Yours faithfully,
Oliver Minto

Ban insurance company personnel from the CCU areas in hospitals

Dear Editor,
Having suffered a sudden attack of chest pains, my sister in law was rushed to the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya last week where doctors determined that two of the arteries in her heart were blocked and needed immediate surgery to insert a stent into one of them and come back for a second procedure in a couple of weeks.
The operation was successful and I went in to visit her the next day in the CCU (Coronary Care Unit) section of the hospital.
As I was sitting there speaking to the patient, in walks in young woman who claimed to be from the BUPA insurance company and without a thought of appropriateness, gleefully blurted out that the operation had “cost almost 400,000 baht and that the second one would cost a little more. But it was alright because the patient’s insurance policy covered up to a million baht”. She then blatantly asked for a signature to acknowledge the total amount.
I looked at her in disbelief and disgust as I watched my sister-in-law who had just had a heart operation cover her mouth in horror.
I asked the insurance representative whether she had any sense at all and more important whether she was really that inconsiderate. No words can describe the audacity and thoughtless behaviour of the BUPA ‘salesgirl’ walking into a CCU area and talking about money to patients who have just undergone a serious operation.
She could have easily asked the daughter of the patient who was sitting by the bed to the common area to discuss such matters. What was even worse was her blurting out to me about these charges. She didn’t even know who the visitors were and didn’t bother to ask first.
Whilst the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s medical staff performed their duties professionally, their management team and nurses must provide the non-medical office-workers training in basic manners and courtesy and strictly enforce control and restrictions on insurance companies’ staff entering every area of the hospital, especially the intensive care units areas.
The doctors work hard to save a patient’s life, but their work could be brought to naught by someone allowed to approach the seriously ill patients to discuss financial matters.
It’s all about money but these people should be banned from talking to critically ill patients without the supervision of a professionally trained doctor or nurse.
Peter M

Follow through on your initiatives

Editor;
Re: ‘Pattaya White’ anti-drug program kicks off 2nd year (PM Friday, 10 October 2014) - Follow through on your initiatives Mr Mayor. That’s where the real work is and not abandon them as happens all too frequently away from the cameras!
Kev

Thai and Lao have good relationship now

Editor;
Re: Lao ambassador meets Thailand’s Chief of Defence Forces (PM Tuesday, 14 October 2014) - The relationship between Laotians and Thai are very good now and we have the same custom as well, but we used to fight each other in the civil war a couple times and Laos always lost the fight.
Phetsakhat Sorphainam

Satellite television in Thailand

Editor;
If you have noticed that Thai satellite television in Thailand is showing more and more commercials lately, interrupting programs to air paid advertising, that most if not all programs are starting later and later, and there is far too much repetition of movies and programs, you are not alone.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has approved True Visions (TV) to show 6 minutes of paid commercials an hour. But TV is now airing up to 10+ minutes of advertising an hour, in blatant violation of the ruling by NBTC.
One wise man recently wrote in a letter to the editor of this fine newspaper that the satellite television monopoly in Thailand is, by buying one of the lowest priced tier packages from their providers and over charging very high subscription fees from their subscribers, is the biggest rip off in Thailand today.
If you think that TV should be not allowed to show so many commercials an hour, or even better - zero, as this company receives a lot of income from both subscribers as well as from ads in their monthly magazine, and that subscribers should not have to pay to watch paid advertisements - you are not alone.
And if you want to phone Khun Sriituta or associates at NBTC at phone # 1200, and/or True Visions at phone # 027257575 to complain about commercials on satellite television, getting a higher quality tiered programming from their provider to better subscribers’ satisfaction, and about these exorbitantly priced subscription fees, you are not alone in this either - there are many unhappy subscribers just like you who are calling both to complain.
Respectfully submitted by -
Sir William of Doodadshire

Letter of Appreciation

Dear Editor;
I wish to record my deepest thanks to the electricians of Pattaya who restored the power on Soi Yensabai following the horrendous storm we experienced on Saturday 11th October. Having lived here for almost twenty years, this has to go down as the worst I have ever experienced. The area lost power around 21.00 hours with a lightning bolt hitting a massive tree in the Yensabai lawn area which toppled, taking with it all the power lines close by and having a concertina effect which brought down six telephone cable poles in quick succession.
On Sunday 12th October the electricians arrived around 10.00am and worked their socks off and power was restored to our apartment unit at 19.15 hours. Yensabai Condo had their power back on around 02.00 hours Sunday morning but we were less fortunate. The guys returned on Monday 13th and continued restoring the lines with new cable and erected new telephone cable poles along the street. I took photos of the devastation for my Facebook page(s) and my friends were shocked by the damage which had been caused.
I cannot believe anywhere else in the world would you have guys so efficient in their efforts to restore everything and today, Tuesday 14th October, 95% of the cables have been replaced with new and I feel I must give my heartfelt appreciation to all their extremely hard work. Thank you guys from the bottom of my heart.
You may not always feel appreciated but let me say you truly are in our area.
Rodney M. Girvan
(Resident Fairway Apartments)

Only at rush hour or in “naughty bar” areas

What can be done about noisy, late closing clubs?

Ban insurance company personnel from the CCU areas in hospitals

Follow through on your initiatives

Thai and Lao have good relationship now

Satellite television in Thailand

Letter of Appreciation