Reducing the 30 day visa

Dear Sir,

I was dismayed to read of the threat to reduce the thirty day visit on arrival, since I remember the queues at the London Embassy snaking into the street in the bad old days. Of course consular staff are in favour since it would increase employment, but I seriously doubt whether there would be much net benefit to the Kingdom’s coffers unless the fee is substantially increased. If the Government is not content with the money tourists spend in Thailand there must be a less inconvenient way of tapping them, such as a nominal hotel tax.

Incidentally, for the most rapid visa service I can recommend the Royal Thai Embassy in Madrid. The only hitch is that last September when I applied their listed number turned out to be a private home and their address was wrong. When I checked, the pronunciation of the street would have been incomprehensive to a Spaniard, but happily not to a Brit with a Thai partner. Is it a surprise that I appeared to be the only customer or that I never hear any Spanish on Jomtien Beach?

Hasta Luego!

Yours faithfully,

PCE Mitchell

Baht buses and parking spots

Dear Sir,

What in the h@#% is going on in Pattaya?! They just fixed Beach Road and the beach walking area at Soi 2-3, and the Bangkok Thai people come with their cars and park on the Beach walking area in the flowers and plants. Where are the people responsible for their good work to make plants and flowers? Was this all for nothing? Where are the police? Is this normal? No wonder everybody goes to Phuket and avoids Pattaya.

For one more reason, I was sitting in a baht bus with a Russian couple and you know how much the Baht bus driver asked the couple to go from Royal Garden to the first traffic lights? 200 Baht! Are these guys crazy?

This year there were less tourists then last year. Well, if they continue like this with their cheating and destroying everything, there will be no more tourists in the future. IS THIS NORMAL? Amazing Thailand my ..s.

A concerned resident

Classifieds on rental places

Editor,

Any chance you could go back to listing more of the reasonable rentals in the 4500 baht range that have been in the paper in the past? Lots of expensive properties listed, yet there are a lot of us not so well off but doing well, interested in not sparton but reasonably priced places. Thanks for you help! I think you know what I mean...

Take care. Your paper is very welcome over here in the States! Planning on making a permanent move to Pattaya in the near future.

Sincerely,

Kevin

More on loud music in entertainment places

Editor;

A friend of mine in the US sent me the following note, with permission to send it on to the Pattaya Mail:

For the past ten years the music over here stateside has been glaring, blaring, and abusive. At the college we were told that one of the reasons for this is that it is very much a fad, but also when the loud music damages the ear drums then it must be even louder for a person to hear it.

Measurements at our school showed significant hearing loss to younger people. I think the results translated into sometimes well over 60% hearing loss. One of the reasons that concerned me was what it means when one must speak (deliver lectures or give warnings in emergency situations) to such deafened people. I know full well that much of the newer concepts of audiovisual aids come from the fact that students simply cannot hear their teachers. I can remember that the music outside the school’s cafeteria would raise standing waves in my coffee cup! Students told me that they wanted the music to throb through their entire body.

Of even greater concern to me is great damage such music can have to one’s physical system. Particularly highly energetic lower sounds have profound effects on one’s health. Lots of information on that.

But it may be a losing battle for older people, too. Because when the music is toned down so older people can tolerate it (older here means those with good hearing), then those with damaged hearing (such as those playing in bands, etc.) cannot hear the music!

Allen, I have noticed in Thailand that there don’t seem to be any cocktail lounges of the types which proliferate here. They seem to have sedate music, music intended to be background rather than being the principal focus. Seems to me that this would be an idea for a new business there. Older people with sensitive hearing are still the ones with the big money, and they should have a place to gather. So why don’t we start one up? We could call it _______’s Tavern, where the elite meet to greet! (Remember who used to say that on radio?)

I think he has expressed the problem very well, but it is something that bar owners and owners of go-go and other entertainment places ought to consider.

Allen Briggs

Lost phone

Lost, Friday 18th December, near TQ 2, Soi BJ - Ericcson mobile phone. Reward for return. Call 373 152.

Enjoy computers? Join the Club

If you have an interest in computers and you are in Pattaya, then you really ought to check out the PSCCC (Pattaya Sports Club Computer Club). This group has only recently formed but within a few short months has achieved an astonishing success story. When the group ‘split’ from their old venue, Jeep’s Joint, they were armed with only a rather unreliable 120 Pentium and little else. The guys have now got the use of a 400 MHz Celeron based ‘monster data cruncher’ connected to a flat bed scanner and two very good printers. There is still the old Pentium (which cost the club every penny it had to get into a reliable condition) and this is now hooked into the Internet.

To generate income, from which to buy much needed equipment, which includes a CD burner and a digital camera, the PSCCC offer e-mail, Internet access and a photo copy service to PSC members. Club members man the office at published times and there is usually always someone around for a chat or some problem solving. The computer section manages all of the PSC administration affairs and I can assure you this is no mean feat. To name a but few items; a database of over 7,000 names (members past and present), several computers and a photocopier. The computer section also produces a quarterly magazine for the PSC, a monthly Newsletter for the PSCCC and maintains the PSC Internet Web Site, plus handles all the PSC media material. Oh yes, they also look after 10 computers for one of the local Thai government schools in Pattaya.

The club is currently looking at setting up some classes for PSC members and their families ranging from how to turn a computer safely on and off, to Web Page authoring and computer generated graphic art. Starting mid January, there are going to be regular trips (by rented mini-van) to Pan Tip Plaza.

If you are interested in either the PSC or the PSCCC, here’s how it works:

Membership to the PSC costs you 700 Baht to join initially and after that just 400 Baht per year. If you want to enjoy the benefits of the computer section you pay an additional 100 Baht to the computer club.

Membership fees to the PSCCC for non PSC members are 500 Baht per year.

What do you get for your money? All of the above, plus some very meaningful discounts at computer/software traders. The chance to meet some like-minded souls. The use of some pretty good equipment and a helping hand when things (like Windows98) go wrong. The club currently meets every Tuesday evening around 6.30 p.m. at the PSC Administration office (an annex to the Café Kronborg) half way along Soi Diana. New faces are always welcome!

Interested? If so, either call Craig Lewis (he’s the Computer Club Chairman) at (038) 702100, e-mail [email protected], or contact Phil Sagar (he does the Media stuff for the PSC) at (038) 730121, e-mail [email protected]. Either of them will help you with any questions you might have.

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; 
e-mail: [email protected]
Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.