- HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:
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Please rid Beach Road of she-males
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Intrigued by list of items
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Unusual “robberies” in Pattaya
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Should’ve named names
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Fountain of Life says “You did it again”
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Motorcycle crackdown
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Third time lucky
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New tour in Pattaya
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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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