Ripped off for 10 baht

Dear Sir,

Recently a Thai friend and myself rode in a songthaew a short distance, less than 3 minutes, along Pattaya 2nd Road. On getting out, my Thai friend handed the driver a Bt20 note (neither of us having sufficient coins at that moment) and to HIS surprise, he got no change! While demanding change, the driver just drove off, almost riding over my Thai friend’s feet.

I’ve lived here quiet a while, so I know roughly the costs of distance - baht, etc., but this was absurd and in this case, even a Thai being ripped off!

It’s been written about several times in the press and I have friends and tourists who have had similar experiences, sometimes bordering on violence, from the driver.

Why is there nothing done about this? Just reporting the number of the car, etc., is insignificant to stop this daily problem. A solution?

First, a clear "protected" sticker in ALL songthaews, indicating both price and area of Pattaya (not kilometers!) Back this up with a map of Pattaya (including Jomtien, Naklua, etc.) divided into the necessary price zones.

That way, all tourists, Thais, etc., know exactly what to pay for where and all drivers are then bound by this ruling and breaking it should cause them suspension from driving for a set period.

Costs too much? Of course not, money used in a good way is never too much but what is important is implementing the new ruling, which in the end, will help the tourist industry.

Simple rip-offs can give Pattaya another bad name. Think about it!

Sincerely,
Steve Bacon

Smelling the fake flowers

Dear Sir,

I have been privileged these past two years to holiday in Thailand seven times, enjoying the friendly atmosphere, with hard working people striving to return their country to its rightful place in Asia.

Unfortunately, there are always a few who sully the Thai good name, like the palm leaf flowers market from South Pattaya who last year gave nothing but repeated empty promises for 2,000 B (after two earlier purchases). Even more distressing are the contemptible thieves who have so far this year stolen five letters from England addressed to a lady in Buriram and Pattaya. Can the Thai post office do nothing at all to stop this offensive practice? I am given to understand I am by no means the only one to suffer. I hope someone in authority can answer before I return to England.

Yours sincerely,
"Papa" John

Knocking Loxinfo

Editor;

I am a computer engineer with 20 years experience in the industry. I am getting a little tired of your "Computer Doctor" blaming everything on Loxinfo.

I have tried KSC and other ISP providers and settled on Loxinfo. My V90 line gives me at least 45600 bps and generally 48000 bps. I have found that Loxinfo’s technical support is excellent and they are always amenable to suggestion’s for increasing speed.

Mr. Richard Bunch has a financial interest in seeing that e-net gains subscribers. I think that Pattaya Mail has a moral obligation to print the other side of the coin.

Unlike Mr. Bunch, I do not stand to benefit financially on this letter.

I can tell you quite unequivocally that I can produce letters from several people, who are all, like myself, computer engineers, that we are well satisfied with Loxinfo.

So please, by all means keep the "Computer Doctor" column, but ask him to confine himself to answering questions, not promoting the ISP that will provide him with a kick-back.

Regards,
Freddie Clark

Amazing Thai bank line

Dear Editor,

Thank you very much for publishing such a letter (as before). It is such a common practice in Pattaya that nobody reacts to it. You will find all major banks in all of their branches in Pattaya, especially Bangkok Bank, Thai Farmers Bank and Siam Commercial Bank, all have 6-8 counters but only 2 or 3 working at a turtle’s pace.

Many times the tellers are even gossiping or talking with influential people doing deals behind them. Even if 2 or 3 counters are open, many times you will find one counter not dealing with customers. The teller is instead counting money from the safety vault. None are bothered, perhaps because Thai people have no time value.

But my question is, isn’t it the responsibility of the bank manager to look after this? If they don’t have much staff, then why doesn’t the manager ask for more staff from the head office? Otherwise, what is the use of having 6-8 counters in every branch? Is it just for show?

...Such problems face us every day in Pattaya.

With regards,
Gorge H.

Clean Up Pattaya!

Dear Sir,

Does anyone at Pattaya City Hall actually care about Pattaya? If so, I issue them the following challenge:

Venture out of your mansion and take a drive or a walk along Pattaya Beach Road. Then go over to Jomtien and walk along the sand at low tide. Do this with tourist eyes, as someone who has come to Pattaya for the first time.

Now the quiz: What would you say to your friends about Pattaya when you went home to England, Germany, the USA or Japan? I bet it would be something like ‘Pattaya is a dusty dirty rubbish dump’.

The Beach Road, as everyone knows, is a permanent disgrace. The construction company (who should really be called a destruction company) is totally inept. Why the city has not fired them long ago can only be guessed!

But the Jomtien beach problem is easier and cheaper to fix. Just take two or four of Pattaya’s unemployed men or women and pay them to walk the beaches at low tide picking up the plastic bags and bottles that collect there. Within a month, for a few thousand Baht, we could have the beaches returned to be one of Pattaya’s assets instead of a disgrace.

Phil Pybus

Post Card from Italy

Editor;

Thank You for news from Pattaya, by Internet! I send you a post-card from my town Turin (Italy).

Best regards,
Leonardo Mori

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Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.