Dear Annoyed Aussie,

It amazes me, an expat American living here in Thailand, that someone would be so shortsighted to think that Pattaya is the whole of Thailand, and that one would expect the whole country to change its laws to convenience the very few tourists, in one town of one single province, so that they may partake an alcoholic drink on one of the very few “Election Days” in Thailand. If I may be so bold as to suggest that at one time there used to be a term applied to Americans who were so full of themselves that they sought to impose their ideas of what is right and wrong on another country’s way of living, that term was “Ugly Americans”. I think in this case the appropriate term would be “Ugly Aussie”. I for one find it refreshing that a populace would drive 8 hours to a small village and stand in line for 4 hours just to cast their vote. I don’t think it will cause any harm to the rest of us to forego that sudsy refreshment for one day, and show some respect for the laws and feelings of the people and government that hosts us here in one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited, let alone had the privilege to reside in.

Sincerely

Editor,

Poor Mr. Harry (Pattaya Mail 5 January). I have lived here for 10 years and have never been robbed, beaten or had any problems with the local police. I think you have to learn the Thai way of live better. Pattaya has become a big city with all kinds of entertainment, but like in every big city there are some problems.

I think Pattaya is still a safe city. In Europe the people are afraid to come out their houses after dark, afraid to get robbed or beaten for money by drug addicts or other criminals. In Europe (Belgium and Holland) the children are not even safe in daylight, afraid to be raped or kidnapped by sick pedophiles, and you say that Pattaya is bad and dangerous. Try Brussels by night and let me know which city is safer.

Moving to Phuket or Chiang Mai won’t change a thing, but then you can complain that everything is more expensive, etc... Pattaya is a nice and safe city and we farangs who work and live here respect that and don’t look for trouble with the locals because we understand them. Good luck in Brussels after dark!

Dear Editor,

I felt I had to respond to the tedious diatribe of one Mr. Harry Wilkins. The name Harry Wilkins would suggest a man of definite Anglo Saxon background. However, the man’s use of the English language would suggest a home base more local, possibly Udon. I have heard better English from bargirls of 3 years standing. I understand our mayor to be an intelligent and articulate man with a fair grasp of English; however, he would be forgiven if he made no sense of Harry and his boring and repetitive preamble...

The first thing that struck me was that Harry has waited until he left our city before releasing his bile and therefore joins that exclusive and cowardly club of journalists, camera crews and presenters who come here, sup from the pleasure bowl and then go away and give us a good slagging. It is also worthy of note that Harry complains much about kathoeys and hookers from East Europe, etc., but appears to have spent most of his time in the Walking Street or Beach Road after 2pm, a little suspect I think. He carps on about not being able to “sleep on Jomtien” and being woken by traders; this is codswallop.

In all I find his nitpicking and grumbling almost offensive if it were not so comical. He says that all his friends who share his views have gone to Chiang Mai or Phuket and good riddance say I and I suppose that Phuket would be a natural choice for Harry due to the lack of kathoeys!

This unique and wonderful city of ours has its faults, as does my previous homes of London and Miami, but I still feel its the best city on earth, a view also shared I believe, by my 88 year old father and 3 year old daughter, and we are well rid of the Harrys of this world.

Happy New Year,