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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Dear Editor;
I live in California and have managed a tour agency called "Neeka Tours" for over twelve years. I frequently visit Thailand with select groups of businessmen who contract with my agency to show them special sites and features in Southeast Asia not found on the typical tour. On occasion I review the Pattaya Mail for new dining ideas and entertainment venues to visit in and around Pattaya.
On Wednesday evening, I took my group to the Balcony Restaurant located on North Road across from City Hall. I had read about and noticed the establishment hidden behind a corner shophouse and was impressed by the large glass windows and attractive exterior. Anxious to try it, I rounded up my small group and made the short drive up North from Pattaya 2 Road.
Upon entering, we were greeted by the young staff dressed in starched white uniforms and offered our choice of tables. The menu looked interesting, part French and part Thai. I immediately noticed several items that sounded good to me. In order to try a number of their specialties, we made some different choices.
The Balcony’s interior décor is charming with backlit white walls and attractive wood trim. The center section rises two stories and discloses the balcony feature from which the building gets its name. Aside from the attractive glass showcase full of delicious looking pastries, the main floor has glass tables and enjoys a comfortable feeling.
Some of the choices that the group decided on were the Balcony Salad (100B), Scallop Provencale (130B), the 1/2 Roast Chicken with French fries (160B), the Thai noodles with fish & vegetables (120B) and after much deliberation, I chose the Filet de Plakrapong Meuniere (170B). We noticed the Pumpkin Cream Soup at another table that looked delicious.
An excellent inexpensive bottle of red wine came and as it was served, a complimentary hors d’oeuvre tray arrived with a variety of small crisp pastry covered sausages and tiny biscuits with smoked salmon that made a big hit with the entire group.
We all hoped that the dinner would be as delicious as the pre course tidbits. It was! The house salad was made from crisp lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, a touch of anchovies and tasty tuna. It achieved a positive reaction all around. The scallops were presented on tiny seashells with crisp breadcrumbs and the Thai dish came with the promised fish chunks, fresh vegetables and rice. The roast chicken was crispy on the outside and moist and juicy to the bone. A marvelous choice. I thought that my Pakalong fish with capers was beyond deliciousness. I don’t hesitate to say that it was probably one of the best that I have ever had in Thailand.
The service was also outstanding with an attentive young man filling our glasses and standing close by. Warm freshly baked rolls were served at each place setting. We all looked at each other and nodded, as we tasted each other’s choices. We finished our dinner with a strawberry tart, a slice of moist chocolate cake, a slightly dry lemon tart (the only disappointment) and some smooth rich caramel custard. Fresh Arabica coffee beans are ground to order and we had both the Blue Mountain and Columbia Suprimo from Brazil at reasonable prices. There is also a selection of expressos, cappuccinos and special teas.
Having eaten at a large number of Farang-style restaurants in Thailand and having worked as a restaurant critic for a California newspaper, I consider myself a good judge of restaurant food. At the end of the evening on Wednesday night, I was shocked at just how good the food was at the Balcony Restaurant.
Suzanne Bradbrook
Lafayette, California
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Concern for the welfare of the prostitute
Sir,
Fred Edwards argues that concern for the welfare of the prostitute and not the hopeless goal of eradication of prostitution should be the cornerstone of public policy in respect of this social problem.
The best time to comment and reflect on prostitution is when public debate on the issue is somewhat quiet. Universal concern throughout the ages in respect of this issue has been centered on; nuisance, hygiene, the threat to stable relationships in society and worry related to associated crime (violence pimping and drugs).
Public policies if they are to succeed have to be based on political reality. Also they have to preserve the integrity of other public institutions. If for example a policy of eradication of prostitution was to be pursued this would drive the matter underground and give rise to the corruption of public officials. A corrupt policeman or other public official is much more of a threat to democracy and public order than the activities of a prostitute.
Nuisance is minimized by both the openness and the geographical containment of the problem. Both these factors also minimize although do not eradicate the potential for the subversion of public services. If one wants to avoid the issue in Pattaya it is relatively easy to do so. Hygiene is a matter for very real concern not only to Pattaya but even more so to the unsophisticated rural parts of say, the North East, to which infected prostitutes might return. This is an issue best addressed again by a combination of non governmental organizations (NGO) and public departments working together on a strategy of education and the concerned welfare of the prostitutes. A real challenge to the active citizens of Pattaya.
Pattaya is not consumed by prostitution, as some comments in the past have suggested. The overriding impression given to outsiders by its citizens, is one of entrepreneurial zeal and industrial activity. A truly enterprise economy. Something, which in spite of current economic difficulties, many countries would envy.
The exclusion of children from prostitution must be a high priority in any strategy dealing with this issue. This is already an aspiration in Pattaya and something which is beginning to be addressed here, not least assisted by the Pattaya Mail. It again is something which lends itself to volunteer and NGO activity in conjunction with the public services. It is also a matter which a number of international NGOs might be prepared to offer significant help if invited to do so.
The heart of any public strategy in respect of prostitution then should be concern to exclude children and concern for the prostitute. Yes! Concern for the prostitute. Such an approach, concern with the non exploitation and welfare of the individual prostitute is a feasible and realistic strategy.
What about the moral position? This writer adopts the position that prostitution is morally wrong but would not judge or condemn the prostitute only seek to help. I would judge and condemn those that seek to exploit such people.
Concern and education are powerful tools of social policy; they enhance and dignify the community that use them.
Fred Edwards has been involved in social issues in Britain for many years. He has been director of one of the largest social work departments in Europe, a visiting Professor of social policy at Glasgow University and an accredited expert adviser on prostitution to the European Union.
Advisor
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Sir (or, by the evidence, Madame),
I take exception to the article on page 6 of your issue of 23 January, in which your reporter implies that we katoeys are "skimmed milk" masquerading as cream, however apposite he might have thought the quote to be.
As anyone who has enjoyed our company will tell you, we are anything but "skimmed" anything. Full blooded and, sometimes, full bodied, we are rather "The queens of curds and cream" as Shakespeare would have it.
So there!
Perdita, Pattaya
Madame,
‘Your simple eloquence has touched our heart.’ We stand corrected.
W.S. Gilbert
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Dear Sir,
This short poem was inspired after landing on a deserted stretch of beach on one of the islands strewn about Pattaya. Here I stumbled on no fewer than 28 odd items of footwear within 50 yards either side of our Bar-B-Q.
Have you ever noticed?
On some remote stretch of beach,
A lot of them well hidden,
Others very hard to reach.
Amid flotsam and jetsam,
One nearly always finds,
A shoe, a boot, a sandal,
About a dozen kinds.
Maybe someone can help me,
I don’t think it’s really fair,
Why people lose just on shoe,
But never lose a pair.
There must be lots of tourists,
The travel firms have brought,
Who’ve visited these islands,
And gone home one shoe short.
There’s got to be an answer,
Of this I’ll surely beg,
Or maybe start a business,
For guys with just one leg.Martin J. Knapp
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