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Airplane & PSC
Sirs,
We are able to receive the Pattaya Mail on the internet
over here in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida.
The aircraft in question in the letters section is a
C-123.
About 23 years ago, 31 Pattaya residents got together
at Bang Phra Golf Course and created the Pattaya Sports Club. At first, it
was just for organized golfing, but later expanded into other sports, such
as, darts, bowling and partying. I understand it’s still going strong,
but has changed the operation quite a bit.
Dick Caggiano wrote a few years back and told me that
my permanent, if honorary, position (Founder) on the advisory board had
been eliminated, as had my 001 club card number. Can’t understand why
they did that, I’ve only been gone for 15 years!
Anyhow, I still enjoy reading about it and the rest of
Pattaya.
Keep on keepin’ on.
Bill Gilmore
[email protected]
Connection or
correction?
Sir,
Re Jim Jones letter dated Friday April 7, 2000 - I
would suggest that the word “connection” on paragraph 5 in Jim
Jones’ article should read “correction”. In other words, he suggests
we should “invest after the 15 to 20 % correction and before the US
elections.”
A more typical percentage incurred with investing in
stocks in this manner is in the region of 1-2 % (one to two percent).
Investing in individual stocks, especially internet
related is not best left to widows and orphans but rather as a speculative
investment for those who have the means or opportunity to take the risk.
Neil Cameron,
Pattaya
Who lures who?
Dear Sir,
Frequent reports about the arrests of alleged child
molesters always feature prominent in your newspaper and without doubt
attest to the sad fact that Pattaya is a haven for this kind of disgusting
and mentally sick tourists. While your reporting on the issue is
commendable, you often miss out on a yet very important aspect. Your
reporters never focus on the circumstances under which those children were
lured into the abodes of alleged paedophiles.
Especially from older teenagers - both boys and girls -
one would expect a certain amount of common sense and cautiousness. What
sort of sweet talk is possibly needed to persuade a 14-year-old to enter
the room of a complete stranger and, presumably, a foreigner?
I personally do believe that in the majority of these
cases the youths knew perfectly well what they were doing and, in fact,
willingly offered their sex services in the first place. During countless
visits to Pattaya, I was able to observe these “innocent” children
roaming the nightlife districts, chatting up foreigners or even entering
bars and nightclubs off limits to them by law.
If they’re later caught ‘in flagranti’ or
complain to police that they have been “raped” by a foreigner (but
really were just upset with the guy for some personal reasons), they’re
generally and without exception treated as the “poor victims” by the
authorities.
While any foreign paedophile involved justifyingly
deserves being punished for his disgusting actions, the youths ultimately
go free. Back on the streets again in no time, they soon approach the next
tourist.
Probing the backgrounds and motives of these
“children” would certainly more often than not reveal that they’re
rarely the innocent waitresses and busboys they pretend to be, but rather
cunning, underaged prostitutes always on the hunt to make a quick and easy
buck for whatever reason.
The authorities bear the responsibility to contain
their activities to prevent a further deterioration of Pattaya’s image.
But, of course, there would be still the pre-teenagers who, unabated, ply
their trade in town under the orders of their very own, oh so caring
parents, wouldn’t there? They are the true victims here, not the
youthful but willing brat packs infesting every neon-lit corner of
Thailand’s premier seaside resort at any given time of the day.
Thomas Schmid,
Bangkok
Songkran in Pattaya
Dear Sir,
In Thailand we have many festivals, one of them is
Songkran, the New Year in Thailand. Everybody goes to his or her
parents’ or other family’s place and you can forget the bus, plane or
train tickets, everything is full.
The festival is mostly three days, looking very nice
and the Thai people make fun (sanuk). I read in books that the people take
a little bit of water and put it in the hands of other people, cleaning
the old year away, and put powder on your face for the coming New Year. On
TV I have seen boys sitting in jail who were freed for 6 hours to make
Songkran for their parents; that was very nice to see, the boys put a
little water in the hands of their parents.
Living in Pattaya, however, I think the people here are
out of line. For an entire week you cannot go outside 24 hours a day, or
you will get water, ice water, powder and menthol powder on your body or
in your eyes, from guns, pistol and other things. This from mostly cars
riding by or from outside the bars.
I always read in the newspapers that Thailand has
problems with the water supply; next time I read this again, I will only
smile very hard.
Last year I got menthol powder in my eyes and had to go
to hospital. For three days I had painful eyes. Most people don’t like
this and I know there are many friends who come here for Songkran and
never come back again because they cannot walk with nice clothes on the
Beach Road or other places, for one week long.
I have seen Thai people in very nice clothes with
children, maybe walking to see family or friends, very angry, covered with
that stupid water and powder. It’s the same for people going to work. I
have also seen very angry tourists with nice clothes, perhaps going out to
eat in a restaurant, sometimes fighting. In the evening you can forget
visiting the bars.
I know a Thai lady who has a bar in Soi 8 and nobody
comes there at this time of year. When I told her there are no farangs so
you have no money, she only told me, no problem it is Songkran. I think
this is crazy, many people won’t come back here again.
For one day this year, 19 April, make water, of course,
and I will make the same together with Thai people the whole day. But
about 6 o’clock finish, that is the normal way but not with these people
who go on for one week or sometimes longer. Next year it will be the same.
Al Deins,
Pattaya
Oh those pesky
peddlers
Sir,
This in response to some of the letters I’ve read in
the Pattaya Mail lately concerning peddlers on Jomtien Beach.
I’ve been living in Thailand for 6 years now and
although I live in Bangkok I sometimes come to Pattaya for a short
holiday. My visits to Jomtien, supposed to be relaxing and soothing, are
always ruined by these peddlers who are nothing but a complete nuisance.
Goods that are of no interest to me are offered at ridiculous prices. Even
when I’m having a nap, they come up to me and wake me up, tapping me on
the shoulder and what not, hoping they’d score another sale and
completely disregarding the fact that I’m having a nap and that I am not
at all interested in what they have to offer. Why can’t something be
done to get rid of these people who do nothing but irritate people?
Niklas Thunholm
Another opinion
Sir,
The aircraft in the photo is a C-147. It was used in
Vietnam for transporting troops and cargo. It was able to go into
airfields too small for the larger C-130.
Hope this helps.
James Monahan
Unbelieveble
Dear Sirs:
I just can’t believe your newspaper. You have
provided the expats something that is truly needed. I have been coming to
Pattaya three years now and plan to live in retirement near Bangkok. The
service you provide I cannot find in Bangkok.
Thanks,
Bob Marshall
Copyright 2000 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]
Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek, assisted
by Boonsiri Suansuk.
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