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Missed the point
Editor;
I think that Alan F’s response to Olof S missed the point. I think the point he was trying to make was that no “festival” based solely on sexual
preference should be embraced or promoted by city hall or the local tourism authority.
And please don’t call me a homophobe, because I have nothing against gay people (I have a family member who is gay). However, I have to agree with Olof S
and am disturbed by the thought of the city embracing a Gay Festival. Any “festival” based solely on sexual preference can do nothing but harm the reputation of a resort
that is trying hard to improve its image. I would say the same thing about a “heterosexual festival”. Think of it. People celebrating the fact that they are straight
dress themselves in their sexiest, most revealing outfits, strutting down Beach Road in a full on, city-sanctioned parade, complete with floats celebrating nothing other than
the fact that they enjoy “straight” sex, and that Pattaya is a great place to get it. City fathers are approached to not only sanction, but also promote parties and
events celebrating heterosexuality in the local go-go bars, nightclubs, and wherever else they can set up a stage. The international press would have a field day! As they
will if/when this Gay Festival is held.
Also, the argument that Olof S’s letter goes against Thai tolerance to liberal sexual attitudes is not only a crock, but also shows a lack of respect and
understanding of traditional Thai values, and is obviously just a poor excuse to give Alan F a clear conscience to go ahead and flaunt his/her sexuality. Traditional Thais
are very conservative concerning sex. Traditional Thais would never flaunt their sexuality, gay or straight, down the middle of the street for all the world to see. If a
festival and/or parade based solely on sexual preference were to happen at all, it would not be because Thai folk want it, but more because “Westerners” were taking
advantage of their gracious hosts to push their Western mores and values (or lack of) on the indigenous population, and shows sheer arrogance on the part of the organizers
who seem to think that the “locals need us to educate them in matters such as this…” Think about it. Whose idea was this, and who are organizing it? I can almost
guarantee that the original idea didn’t come from a Thai person, and that if there are any Thais helping to organize this, they make up a very small percentage of the
“committee”, and are doing so at the urging of their Western friends.
Finally, it doesn’t matter how much money can be raised for what cause, as there are better ways to raise just as much money without the focus being
entirely on sex, straight or gay. Pass the hat, hold a yard sale, put a one-baht surcharge on every drink sold in your bar that will go straight to whatever charity you wish.
Be creative, but at the same time do your part to help keep sex where it belongs, off the streets and in the bedroom.
Frank Lee
A tip of the hat
Dear Editor,
A tip of the hat to the Jomtien Palm Beach Hotel. Without realizing it was disturbing the neighbors, the staff was contacting its bus drivers with a loud
PA system. We complained and immediately they graciously stopped. When there are no zoning laws in towns, only kind cooperation between the residents can make life pleasant.
Now if somebody would just shut down the tent show by the Jomtien Market whose PA system has blared away from 6.30pm to 10.30pm almost every night since
late December, things would really be nice.
Yours sincerely,
Dudley Cooke
Mailbag veggie
Dear Editor
I’m happy to see that my letters on vegetarianism generated three (so far) replies. Two letter writers mention 5 Star vegetarian restaurants located on
Third Rd and Pattaya Tai and also at Duck Square. While 5 Star is a good restaurant, it’s not the easiest place to find and probably 99% of the tourists never heard of it.
Another letter writer suggested we learn some Thai so we can communicate with cooks at food stands who can prepare vegetarian food. While that idea also has
merit, can one be certain that the cooked food they buy from food stands has no hidden animal ingredients in it? And again, is this practical advice for tourists who generally
come for short holidays?
In my letter I noted there are fruit and vegetable stands, salad bar and Indian, Arab and Italian restaurants here, which all have good vegetarian food.
So it’s obvious vegetarians don’t have to starve in Pattaya but wouldn’t it be better if more Thai restaurants added vegetarian dishes to their menus,
which in turn would attract more customers?
If Pattaya wants to be known as being more than a ‘sex town’ then attracting tourists who care about animals, human health and the environment would be a
tremendous step in the right direction. Why let Chiang Mai get all those tourists?
Sincerely,
Eric Bahrt
Mott’s promotion
Dear Sir,
This is to say to say that I appreciate your newspaper every week and all the good advice given by Dr. Corness, Dr. Zykanski, Mr. Wright, Mr. Aamlid (the
world renowned numismatic), Ms. Terry Diner and others, but last week’s issue with Dr. Mott the Dog made me jump in my chair. Maybe I am too young to remember a group called
“Uriah Heep”; in any case Dr. Mott should not call the record in question a “classic”, but rather an “oldie”. He goes on to say (because he did not like a review in
the Rolling Stone Magazine some 30 years ago) that the journalist in question now probably is reviewing Mozart. Dr. Mott should know that this would be a promotion for the
journalist, something like from a sergeant to a field marshal!
Best wishes,
Harald Nord
How to reduce tourism in Pattaya
Dear Sirs,
I am forced to write to the Pattaya Mail because of the intolerable situation at the beach at Jomtien. I am of course referring to the so called pedestrian way
from near the police box to Pattaya Park. I know that there is no word for safety in the Thai dictionary and so pedestrians (mostly tourists) take their lives in their hands when
trying to walk to their destinations along that road which has now become almost as busy for motorbikes and car as Sukhumvit Road.
They force the pedestrians off the road and have glanced my ninety two year old farang friend, who lives in Pattaya, twice, as he could not get out of the way.
Not only do they use the “pedestrians only” road but they do it at speed.
The police do absolutely nothing and indeed they are also culprits. The only ones not apparently affected are the low lives who use the walls and fences to
urinate causing vile smells and danger to health, especially where I have seen the vendors preparing food.
The Pattaya council have a lot to answer for, besides the police, and their inexplicable inaction is causing Pattaya to lose many return trips by tourists.
Indeed the word goes around quickly about these deficiencies and adds to troubles of the decent vendors trying to eke out a living here.
Signed: Disgusted
For gay festival
Editor;
My dear Olaf S what a bitter and twisted arguement you put forward last week when you wrote against holding the Pattaya Gay Festival on the weekend of World Aids
Day December 1st 2001. You should read the article by David Holden, Director of Marketing and Sales at Royal Cliff Beach Resort, for a balanced view of the valuable role of Adult
Entertainment in this City, but you have missed the main point of holding the festival and that is to raise money to help HIV/AIDS and drug abuse victims locally, straight or gay.
1. Pattaya has never been a family resort destination and will always appeal to singles and mature couples at best. These are the big money spenders and cities
throughout the world spend a great deal of resources on promoting to this group.
2. Despite some steps towards widening the appeal of Pattaya it took 10 years for the water treatment plant to open and it will need a further 3/4 years to see
real improvements in clean sea water. There is still raw sewage on the streets, see Soi VC, Wongamart Beach Road or Naklua Beach to name three locations now.
3. The biggest threat to Pattaya today is AIDS and HIV. The city has benefited enormously in the past from the sex industry and it is time to repay and invest in
services. What does the city do for sex education and those seriously ill with HIV at present, very little?
4. The Gay Community through the Pattaya Gay Festival plan to raise money directly for the local organisations supporting HIV and drug patients and their
families. There is no discrimination in this, gay or straight, all will be helped.
5. Gay venues that operate outside of the law by employing under 18 staff have not been invited to sponsor the festival. It is up to others in the city to
control that problem but don’t forget the underage girls walking Beach Road with Falangs far out number gay boys.
6. We have a right to celebrate together as a valuable group in this city and the City Fathers should support the event totally. I challenge Olaf and the
straight community of Pattaya, the owners of entertainment venues and operators of beer bars and staff to raise as much money for HIV and drugs treatment as the Gay Festival. Put
up, or just shut up!
Brian a Gay resident
Problems with Pattaya
Dear Editor,
I only have two problems with Pattaya. First refers to missing post. I’m glad that I am not the only one that has post opened; sometimes parts or all of it
goes missing. I was supposed to receive a letter from the British Embassy posted on the 26th January 2001 and as to date still not received it. And that’s from Bangkok!
I also get post from South Africa: this is always opened or mutilated, even when cello taped up to the hilt. I even had a large envelope from my solicitor with
some very important document for me to sign, and yes it had been opened and parts had gone astray.
I then have to go to the main post office in Banglamung to collect said mail. This is not only inconvenient but a waste of time when your post is not only not
delivered but has been grossly abused as well, and by whom? I did take them to task about this; they always say it was done in post from England.
Secondly, this is to the district chief, Vichien Chawalit, as to the problem of very loud, late night music. I am hoping that the area covered by his
administration also includes Soi Bungkot, as we have what can only be described as an open air karaoke type bar (tine roof bamboo walls). This cacophony starts approximately 11.30
until early morning, seven days a week; this is then closed in the day. I think that this could be a problem for his staff, because most people really do like to sleep at night.
Sincerely,
Jay Dee
Copyright 2001 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]
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