Features

Open letter to the mayor from Miss Thailand World

Khun Pairat,
I was very honoured to be invited to participate in the closing ceremony for the Pattaya Carnival on Saturday, 11th January. Unfortunately, with just a few days notice and the fact that I have a modeling engagement for 11, 12, and 13 January, scheduled and confirmed since early December, I had to decline with much regret. Had I known the dates of the event earlier (when plans were actually being made), I definitely would have tried to arrange my appointments accordingly. In any case, I was glad that arrangements could be made for my colleague and Miss Thailand World Runner-up Khun Yolruedee (Nui) to be available.
May I state again that, as a native of Pattaya and a junior member of the permanent community, I am very concerned about its image, development, environment, and especially the welfare of its abused children. As an individual I have a small voice, but if in my capacity as Miss Thailand World I can be of some help, please remember that I am at your service.
Respectfully yours,
Sirinya Burbridge

Enlightened by the Mail

Dear Sir,
Living in Pattaya for many years, without any news or information in the English language what so ever, it was indeed a pleasure to see Pattaya Mail hit the stands.
Whew! I wouldn’t have in my wildest fantasies even thought that this place was so full of “action” if it hadn’t been for Pattaya Mail to tell us. The stories that you have published in these last years have enlightened not only me but every one I know of the goings on in our own backyard and also our front-yard for that matter.
The latest escapades about the druggings of tourists by girls of ill repute gets top marks. It is just incredible, the many tricks there are in the trade. Accepting that one of the attractions of coming to Pattaya is the inevitable charming escorts that you require to make your stay here a more enjoyable one, but it does give you the shivers to think that you could be the next victim.
I hope the authorities are awakening to this very nasty situation and will take some action, if not to stop it completely, then at least put out warnings of the dangers and risks to potential victims of the hazards of being too adventurous in their quest for excitement. And to those who think they can go on preying on tourists in Pattaya that their days are numbered and they should dread the day they are caught.
Yours
Harold Godfrey
South Pattaya.

Tasty treats

Dear Sir,
“Food for Thought” in the grapevine made me think of some juicy appetizers I have red in various menus which may be ticklers. A menu in French is bad enough, but what do you expect to relish when faced with the following...
Appendix in deep fly gavy. Brioled egg. Crap Rolling. Flameming Hen. Grilled minite steak with onion ping. Lamp chop. Noodles with shopped pork. Noodles flied Thai hot. Shreded yelly nookle light soup. Whinner. Toat - butter - yam. Yong sugar corn.
Bon appetit
Mai ben arai

Bad Banking Procedures

Sir,
So Thailand wants to be a major international banking center? If all Thai banks are like the Siam Commercial Bank on Pattaya 2nd Road, good luck! I was left some money in a will. Six months ago I took the will, bank books and the death certificate to the bank translated into Thai. No, the bank says I need a letter from the British Embassy. This I did. No again. It has to go to the head office in Bangkok. Again no, I needed a certified letter from the executor releasing the money. This I did. Go to the bank, again no. They don’t know about this case, manager not in. I hire a lawyer. He puts all the papers in proper order, goes to the bank, no, not yet. He goes back to the bank several times to talk to the manager, no she is not in (but she is hiding in her office). Now I have to spend more money to take the bank to court. Why, when all the legal papers are in order? The amount is only 150,000 baht. Is such a major bank so greedy they need to keep my money? If they treat a Thai citizen this way, how do they treat foreigners that have to deal with them?
Somrot Roopsuai

Dave’s grammar needs improvement

Sir,
The state of English grammar around the world is bad enough without the “Pattaya Mail” adding to the deterioration. Your errors are even more unforgivable when they appear on the children’s page, as they did in volume V number 3 of Pattaya’s first English language newspaper.
I refer to “Hi Kids” which contains two horrors. “Have you beat all the puzzles?” should read either “Have you beaten all the puzzles?” or “Did you beat all the puzzles?” The second error reads “This week I got an easy job for you”. Dave, whoever he is, should have written either “This week I have an easy job for you” or, somewhat less fluently, “This week I’ve got an easy job for you.”
And why is the column called “Dave’s kid’s corner”? What is the function of the apostrophe in the word “kid’s”?
Come on “Pattaya Mail”, you must try harder! Why not invest in some sort of grammar check programme for your computer? Or, better still, employ someone with the skill and knowledge to edit the paper carefully.
I remain, Sir,
Yours faithfully,
Oliver W. Minto

Dave’s reply
Dear Mr. Minto,
Thank you for a very nice letter. I now know that even adults are reading my column. I am also happy that you gave me some lessons in English grammar. I will try my best to improve.
I am 12 years old and a Thai National. I have to tell you that English is not my first language but I am trying to do my best. If I let the editor correct all my English, then he might as well write the column himself.
By the way Mr. Minto, you have lived in Thailand for many years. How is your Thai?
Respectfully,
Dave

Open letter to the mayor from Miss Thailand World

Enlightened by the Mail

Tasty treats

Bad Banking Procedures

Dave’s grammar needs improvement