Amazing Thai bank lines

Editor;

Following yet another public holiday on the 5th of May I was obliged to visit my bank the following day.

On entering I almost felt it would be necessary to catch a baht bus to get from the end of the queue to the main counter.

There were actually forty-five persons in the line with just three tellers, dealing with three other customers. Many people appeared at the entrance but turned away, probably feeling there was no more room in the bank to join the line.

I should have been fore-warned when I noted McDonald delivery service leaflets on the right hand wall. Obviously the bank officials were thinking of the needs of their customers and next time I fully expect to see the addition of Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Actually my wait was only some forty minutes but at no time did the numbers in the line decrease and needless to say the tellers did not increase from three.

However, during our wait I feel sure some friendships were struck up, perhaps even love affairs commenced and the possibility of divorces increased.

Joking aside, I do feel that Thai banks should realise that they exist, as well as making profits, to serve their customers in a more reasonable and efficient manner.

Ironically enough, you begin your wait feeling irate at the inefficiency but by the time you walk out the door you feel calm again and relieved it only took forty minutes to get some cash.

Perhaps it is because nobody else seems to be really bothered.

Yet another everyday instance of Amazing Thailand.

Yours sincerely,
John Hopkins

Responding to Thai manicures

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to a letter from Gary Sak Bundee who is working middle class from England. He complained of having to pay 400 baht for a manicure at Jomtien Beach. While I don’t condone the manicurists, I certainly wouldn’t call them "robbers/thieves" - opportunists, yes, with market forces, etc. He says he has visited Pattaya many times. Then he should know of the local beauty shops that charge 6-80 baht inclusive of a glass of ice-water and a nice Thai smile. I am sure he is aware of chiropodists in the UK - a house call for a handicapped person costs £8 - £10 for a five minute snip of the toenails; no full treatment like here. Now it’s not available on the NHS anymore.

Regards,
Ken O’Sullivan

Re: “Amerika, Amerika” by Ken Langbell

Sorry Ken,

There is a Canadian in Thailand and I live in Pattaya!

Yes, I’m working on an electricity power plant in Laem Chabang and will be finished my work here in about 5 months. If you go out to the open air bars in Pattaya around the Soy 2 area, you will find many "poo-yings" that have bumped into me and know I am a Canadian. I have otherwise not found any other Canadians here.

The Canadian Embassy in Bangkok occupies several floors of a high rise tower. You can apply for an entry visa on the 15th floor. Near the elevator entrance on the ground floor is a big symbol of the Canada Embassy.

The guy you saw selling maple syrup was probably another big dumb American trying to impersonate a Canadian.

Bartley E. McGee

Songkran Still On My Mind... and on my skin

Editor;

How long has it been since the water guns, buckets and powder have been put away? How many letters have you received in praise and in objection to Songkran, Pattaya style? How many courteous, sensible holiday tourists will not return to our city (and encourage others to stay away) because of the deluge? How many rowdies and knuckleheads will come next year to help displace the "family" tourist we claim to be courting? These census and revenue figures we may never know.

The one thing that I do know is that the one evening that I did have to venture out on business (after avoiding the festivities all the other nights) was just enough time for me to get soaked, and develop a skin condition that has plagued me ever since. The doctors at Pattaya Memorial Hospital all concur that what I have is a water borne viral infection that has caused the skin on my hands and feet to itch, burn and blister for the last three weeks. The doctors also tell me that mine is by far not an isolated case, and that I am lucky that it has not attacked my eyes or mouth, as it has some less fortunate patients of theirs.

So, to get to the gist of this letter, how many tourists have taken home a souvenir of Thailand that will only serve to suggest, Thailand is unclean and not a fun place to go? How many tourists will spend their hard earned vacation dollars somewhere else? How many times will concerned residents and business people enter the forum of public debate to only have their opinions fall on deaf ears?

When will Pattaya stop with the selfish, self-serving attitude, that will turn this city into a second rate tourist destination, and start to truly serve and consider the people they have invited here as guests?

Best Regards,
Concerned Resident

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Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.