Pattaya Mail — Letters
It is noticed that the letters herein in no way reflect the
opinions of the editor or writers for Pattaya Mail, but
are unsolicited letters from our readers, expressing their own
opinions. No anonymous letters or those without genuine addresses
are printed, and, whilst we do not object to the use of a nom de
plume, preference will be given to those signed.
Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail will also be on our website
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Monopolizing parking spots driving visitors away
Dear Sir:
I have noticed the many calls for the present Prime Minister’s resignation. Do people really think this will solve Thailand’s economic woes and change the world opinion that the country is notoriously corrupt?There is also a call for a cabinet reshuffle. How can a person who was not educated in economics and has no knowledge of fiscal systems improve something they do not understand? Another sad truth is that even if the best economist in the world were to take charge of managing the economy, they would not be allowed to do anything which interfered with ‘special interests’ or ‘influential persons’, who are the cause of most of Thailand’s economic problems.
How can one person change a system which is dysfunctional from the highest levels of Parliament to the humblest civil servant?
Thailand needs to do some serious soul-searching and realise that change will come only when everyone puts the interest of all over personal interest.
The one shining star which redeems Thailand is the worldwide admiration and love for His Majesty the King’s selfless devotion to His people and country. If all the people in Thailand had 1% of His Majesty’s devotion to Thailand and the welfare of the people, the country could be the beautiful and stable country it once was.
A Realist
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Dangerous Traffic situation at Soi Pothisan
Editor,
It has been many months now since Pattaya’s newest speedway (Pattaya 3rd Road) was finished. You know the road, it is a nice, four-lane concrete roadway. Starting in extreme South Pattaya, it curves its way past Soi 17 and on to South Pattaya Road. From there it curves its way (with a few straight stretches) on to Central Pattaya Road. From that point, it goes in a straight line (the speedway) to where it meets North Pattaya Road at what was an existing unpaved street running on to Soi Pothisan.While they were still paving the section between Central Pattaya and North Pattaya Road, new storm sewers were installed in the existing unpaved street running North to Soi Pothisan. Shortly after the roadway was opened for traffic, new traffic control signals were installed at its intersections with South Pattaya Road, Central Pattaya Road, and where it meets North Pattaya Road opposite the existing street which was then being paved.
Unfortunately, the brilliant engineers who designed and installed the traffic control signals were only interested in the traffic travelling on their new concrete speedway. They made absolutely no provision for continuing on across North Pattaya Road or entering and crossing North Pattaya Road from this newly paved street at the common intersection. I made the assumption that it was late planning and would soon be corrected.
Wrong! After all these many months of traffic using the newly paved street to arrive at the intersection with North Road, traffic has absolutely no protection when trying to enter North Pattaya Road or (heaven forbid that they should be so bold) try to cross North Pattaya Road onto the new 3rd Road. Traffic entering the intersection, travelling North on 3rd Road, will see two options painted as arrows on the surface of the street. You may turn right from the right hand lane, or you may turn both left and right from the left-hand lane. The traffic signal has only arrows (left turn or right turn). If you want to continue north to Soi Pothisan (the traffic signals and road markings do not provide for this), you must dodge the traffic trying to make turns, and dodge the traffic trying to come into the intersection from the north, hoping that you do not hit, or get hit by, a motorcycle or other vehicle.
After these many months of them allowing such a stupid and dangerous situation exist, I do wish that our city engineers would get this fixed and change the traffic signals to properly control traffic at this extremely dangerous intersection. Can you please pass this message on to them and ask them (1) why it was not installed properly in the first place, and (2) when they are going to fix it’?
A Soi Pothisan Resident
PS. It was a pleasant surprise to see that the public works department has finally put up traffic lights at the intersection of Sukhumvit Highway and Thepprasit Road. I hope they are operational soon.
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Editor,
I am writing this letter to complain about our Pattaya postal service.
A few weeks ago I had a letter sent to me from Guernsey in the Channel Islands. It was a large envelope and contained various brochures. The annoying thing was that it had been opened by someone, I thought perhaps at the Bangkok sorting office as it was coming from abroad.
Today, I received a large letter from a travel agency in Bangkok containing numerous brochures about a forthcoming holiday. Again it had been opened. My wife, who is Thai, complained to the postman, but to no avail.
What I would like to know is, is it the policy of the Pattaya postal service to open all large envelopes or am I the only lone incident - which I fail to believe. This perhaps ties up with your recent article on missing mail coming into the country.
Yours,
Extremely Disgruntled
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Editor;
Regarding Raymond’s letter in Vol. No. 44: I’ve had no problems sending or receiving mail from the U.K. (touch wood). If it helps, though, he could try sending any mail from his Post Office either Recorded Delivery or Guaranteed Delivery. It costs a little bit more but it’s worth it. You can also insure items in case they get lost, which is a good idea.
All the best,
Scott Morris, Staffordshire England.
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Editor,
Tourists get a 2 months visa at the border. After that, they can go to Immigration three times and get an extension of one month. The cost will be 500 Bt each time. In other words, a tourist can stay here for five months until he must leave the country and get a new tourist visa at the border.
To obtain a one-year visa for pensioners you should have a pension of at least 20,000 Bt a month. This should be confirmed by your embassy or consulate. A pensioner, of 55-59 years of age, also needs 500,000 Bt in a bank account, while the pensioner 60 years or older is requested to have 200,000 Bt in the bank. Please note that you should have both 20,000 as a pension and 500,000 or 200,000 Bt in the bank.
Olof Eisen
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Editor,
Full marks to the management and staff at the Amari Henry J. Bean’s Bar and Grill opening night last Saturday. Also the construction and interior decoration crews who built HJB so quickly.
The young staff serving at the tables did a fantastic job, so well trained and keen to succeed. Everybody in Pattaya seemed to be there, full of beans and optimism for the success of Pattaya, all hotels and tourist attractions of this wonderful resort.
Amazing Thailand and Pattaya will always succeed whilst these people are about. Well done.
Duncan & Samon
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