LETTERS
HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Please rid Beach Road of she-males

Intrigued by list of items

Unusual “robberies” in Pattaya

Should’ve named names

Fountain of Life says “You did it again”

Motorcycle crackdown

Third time lucky

New tour in Pattaya

Please rid Beach Road of she-males

Editor;

The recent completion of the Beach Road improvements and the beautiful landscaping make this such an enjoyable place. Early the other morning (about 7 a.m.) my wife and I with our small child went for a little exercise before breakfast and were somewhat frightened by the alarming number of she-males and their unwanted solicitations. There also seem to be a growing number of underage Thai girls being ‘pimped’ by their Thai boyfriends. Why does this go on day after day?

That same evening we went down ‘Walking Street’ to visit a seafood restaurant and enjoy the fresh evening air. As my wife and little girl went window shopping I was approached by no less than (3) Thai males offering to sell me a variety of drugs all within sight of the tourist police? If you want families and quality tourists to come here you need to clean this up.

I was actually disappointed to read of the cancelling of the ‘Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair’. The one chance for visitors to see something of real Thai culture and a day when families can visit the beach in relative safety. It is a shame that policy makers have such a noble idea but it is twisted by the minority of greedy business owners.

Concerned Retiree


Intrigued by list of items

Mailbag:

I’m writing about your lead story “Customs Dept Squashes This Year’s Lot of Seized Contraband”. Am I the only person intrigued by the list of items involved? Perhaps the writer omitted the items you would expect, but where were the designer jeans, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, Walkmen, liquor, and the 1001 items using trademarked logos that are to be found all over Pattaya?

Looking at it another way, I’m speculating that “game machine circuit boards” are listed because unscrupulous dealers import legal game machines and then stealthily retrofit the chassis with circuit boards that repersonalize the machines into gambling terminals. Tsk: this means there’s *another* type of shophouse that I’m going to idly glance into and have to hurry away from when the residents freeze what they’re doing and stare at me.

Danny Willis

Banglamung


Unusual “robberies” in Pattaya

Dear Sir,

I am wondering if you are aware of a new sort of robberies committed in Pattaya recently? The culprits seems to be girls at different age, neatly looking and often with a lot of gold.

My girlfriend was one of endless victims on Tuesday, at the market in Soi Buakow. She claimed that she was hypnotized, but I don’t know what I should think about it.

Maybe the robber uses some sort of drug, to make the victim helpless. Usually I would join my girlfriend to the market, but this particular day she was alone and that was of course an opportunity to the robbers, who dare to do this amongst all these people at the market. And afterwards, when I went to the market with my girlfriend, nobody seemed to have seen anything even when my girlfriend was sure about the place where the robbery was committed by these two women in their forties.

After that we went to the police station, but the police seem to be unable to catch these women. I have heard that the market is a common place for these robberies, but also at other crowded places, such as Soi Post Office or shopping plazas. And there always seems to be a lot of people around but nobody ever takes notice of anything unusual going on. I find this very strange and disturbing.

My girlfriend was relieved of six baht gold, about 9000 baht in cash and personal things and photos which she kept in her wallet. They took everything. And please take note: the victim is sort of paralyzed for a few minutes. So we are not talking pickpockets here. And all the victims seems to get nine 1-baht coins in their hands in either a piece of cloth or tissue paper.

Sincerely yours,

Been there, been robbed


Should’ve named names

Sir,

I refer to your newspaper’s reporting on the front page of the hotel member of staff wilfully stealing 180,000 euros from a customer who entrusted that money in the hotel’s safety deposit box. A few pages on in the same newspaper you did a big two page write up on the ninety German travel agents who recently visited Pattaya and seemed most impressed, ‘With the versatility and professionalism of the Pattaya hospitality industry.’

Of course the Pattaya Mail named many of the local hotels and organisations whom did so much to make these people feel welcome but getting back to this very serious matter you omitted to tell your readers the name of the hotel which could only say “Sorry” without any further comment on compensation for cash lost from a ‘safety deposit’ box supposedly under the hotel’s protection.

So might I, on behalf of those people like myself who actually buy your newspaper expecting in return to be properly informed of the local news, ask you to name this hotel (which I presume is in Pattaya) and also to print the name and position of the spokesperson pertinent to this hotel and its guest policy or lack of it.

Yours sincerely,

J Smethust


Fountain of Life says “You did it again”

Editor;

One of the very important events of the year for the Fountain of Life Children’s Center took place on the 15th and 21st of September. This event is well known in Pattaya, in many parts of Thailand and overseas as Jester ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive.

This is the fifth year and each year it gets bigger and better. New events and new helpers are added to make this a very significant annual feature in Pattaya. This year is said to be the best so far.

The Family Day took place at Diana Driving Range in North Pattaya, the Pub Night was at Shenanigans Irish Pub and the Jester’s Pledge for Kids was launched at the Dusit Resort in June this year.

To Woody, his committee, their many associates in this event, the Jesters and every one who gave of their energy, time and money, please do not underestimate the great difference you make to the lives of underprivileged children in and around Pattaya.

Many of the little children who come to our center do not understand what efforts go into generating enough money to provide this service, so they would not know how to thank you. However, they are very happy children when they are at our center. Many children and their families are helped through your generous efforts.

This year 72 children entered the government school system. This means that each of these 72 children has a birth certificate and a house registration. Many poor children of their age do not have these very important documents starting out in life.

The Sisters, staff and volunteers of Fountain of Life Children’s Center do know what planning; organizing and dedicated hard work went into this year’s Jester ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive.

However, we don’t know how to thank you enough.

Everyone needs to know in their inner being that what they do matters. Our hope and prayers for all of you is that you feel what you have achieved does matter very much to yourselves. We can tell you it matters very much to the little ones who may find a way to say thanks many years from now. It gives us adults a sense of achievement and a sense of our own dignity and worthiness.

There is a saying in Irish that comes at the end of important events: “May we all meet here again this time next year”. Let’s hope that we can and let us be ready for another great Jester’s ‘Care for Kids’ charity drive.

Sister Joan and Sister Jemjit


Motorcycle crackdown

Sir,

Finally, upon orders from “above” Pattaya’s finest have seen fit to round up a mere handful of the motorbike crazies. Why they could not act on their own initiative amazes me. Those involved were not junior policeman but police majors!

However, from your report, the offending bikes are confiscated until such time as their riders are thought to have cleaned up their act. Who is to judge? No other punishment? What about speeding, reckless riding, no safety helmets and for many it is probable they had no driving Alicences, tax or insurance, and quite likely ineffective lighting. Is it too much for the police to deal with more than one offence at the same time?

Under new regulations, each offence carries a points penalty, and over a certain number of points, a driving ban is automatically imposed. Surely many of these motorbike maniacs would have exceeded the maximum number of points. A 3 month driving ban would probably produce results. Temporary confiscation of their precious bikes will achieve very little, especially as they can no doubt borrow their mates’ bikes!

Laws are made to be enforced in full for the safety and well being of everyone!

Isaan Nick


Third time lucky

Dear Sir;

Do you believe in the saying “Third Time Lucky”! Well, let’s hope it’s true. I see from the Pattaya Mail of September 6 that our mayor stressed the importance of the environment in his speech to the German Speaking Eastern Seaboard Club, saying that his main target was to make Pattaya cleaner and keep it clean.

In the Pattaya Mail of September 27 our mayor was shown handing out awards for environmental awareness, i.e. keeping areas clean and free of garbage.

Now to my point: the third time of mentioning it! Yes, the Pattaya City Council is doing a good job of beautifying the city and trying to keep it clean but, please, what about Thepprasit Road Soi 17 and Jomtien Beach Road Soi 5 where revolting piles of rubbish have remained unmoved for a very long time? Surely the council can do something about this disgrace by first of all removing it and then keeping an eye out for those who still brazenly drive up and dump their rubbish there.

Action please!

Yours faithfully,

Observer


New tour in Pattaya

Dear Sir;

I would like to inform you of a new and amazing tour started right here in Pattaya. It is simply titled “swimming with dolphins”. What an incredible experience it is. Firstly, you are taken by minibus to Chantaburi (a province south of Pattaya around 2-2 and a half hours) where you are escorted to your seat for the wonderful half hour show by both Indo Pacific Humpback dolphins (pink) and Arawaddy (stubby nosed) great dolphins. After the show you are again escorted around to the swimming area, where you are given lots of information about these gorgeous mammals - then off to get changed and the chance to swim, play, feed and train both species in the vast lake-like area.

After your experience of a lifetime and a shower you are taken to the restaurant area where a buffet of excellently prepared Thai food awaits. A leisurely walk followed lunch to take in the antics of a number of exotic birds and a couple of mischievous otters.

Getting back on to the bus at around 2 p.m. we were back in Pattaya at 5 p.m. All in all a wonderful day and for the small price of 1,500 baht (fully inclusive). What a wonderful experience and at a bargain price.

Anyone interested can contact [email protected] or call Khun Marasri on 01 687 4373.

I will definitely be going again!

A Reader


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It is noticed that the letters herein in no way reflect the opinions of the editor or writers for Pattaya Mail, but are unsolicited letters from our readers, expressing their own opinions. No anonymous letters or those without genuine addresses are printed, and, whilst we do not object to the use of a nom de plume, preference will be given to those signed.

 

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