HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

What are the traffic laws?

Not safe to walk on Soi Wongamat

My heroic buddies

Was there a sprinkler system at the High Five Hotel?

What are the traffic laws?

Editor;
Can anyone tell me if there is a published book or list of “Traffic Laws” in Thailand?

In the Friday, Jan. 9 issue of Pattaya Mail, on page two, “No major accidents in Pattaya this year” says head of traffic police. In this article he says, “I would, however, like to see motorists cooperate better with authorities and follow the rules of the road.”

OK. Good idea. But, where is the publication of “The Rules of the Road”? Seems to me the only rules of the road are, “If you can do it and get by with it, you’re ok.”

If there is such a publication, are Thai drivers required to read and take a test before being issued a driving license? Doesn’t seem so when I encounter 8-9 year old kids cutting in and forcing me off the highway on their motorcycles, without helmets, or I see police riding their motorcycle with soft caps on, not helmets, and carrying their kids on the back, also without helmets.

No wonder the general Thai public pays no attention to what the police or government tries to make you abide by, as they are rules that they themselves cannot follow.

Any comments will be appreciated.
Concerned Ex-Pat

Not safe to walk on Soi Wongamat

Editor;
I am writing to say how disappointed I am about the amount of muggings happening on Soi Wongamat. We have been coming over to Thailand for 18 years and have just bought a condo at Wongamat Beach and now feel quite concerned about how safe I will be walking about in this area.

I often come over with my children and my husband is not always with us. Surely, with the amount of muggings on this stretch of road, the police can crack down and catch the culprits, as they must be working the same patch all the time.

I was over in Thailand in October and in the two weeks I was there, I know of three people who were mugged on this part of the road. To make matters worse we were over again at Christmas with friends and my friend was walking with her children when a bike at high speed grabbed her bag just about knocking one of the children over.

I feel this is becoming a huge problem in Pattaya and especially in this part at Wongamat, as the street needs more lighting and with the amount of muggings going on police presence in the evening.

It was very frightening for my friend and the children who where all in tears. I have to say the police did arrive quickly. But the point is this should not happen time and time again on this road. I have always felt very safe walking about with my kids on my own but after this I am very wary.

The police seem to know who are doing all the muggings so why not catch them and lock them up? If they are now picking on women on their own with young children it is becoming dangerous for families coming to Pattaya.

If you want to promote this as a family destination you are going to have to clamp down on this as much as you have clamped down on the drug problem, so that visitors can walk without feeling unsafe.

I love Thailand and the people; that is why we have bought a house in your lovely country. I hope it is not going to be spoiled by some crazy youths making an easy living mugging women on their own.
Yours sincerely,
Val Greig
Part time resident Pattaya

My heroic buddies

Editor;
I would like to relate to you and your readers an incident that happened to me not long ago and express my gratitude and admiration for all those involved.

On January 5 2004, my friends and I were sitting by the Jomtien Beach Paradise pool enjoying the afternoon. I decided to attempt to swim two lengths of the pool underwater on a single breath, a feat that I have accomplished a couple of times before. This time, however, the outcome was far from successful. Upon completing the swim, I blacked out from lack of oxygen & sank to the bottom of the deep end of the pool and in effect “dry drowned”.

My friends Dan Tracey, Peter DeGruyter and Tim Blake managed to drag me from the pool, perform CPR and mouth to mouth resuscitation and bring me back to life all within minutes.

My wife Yui and my good friend Pharn had a truck at poolside ready to rush to the hospital before I was even resuscitated.

It was an awesome display of calm, cool, collective and organised life saving skills. I survived without any serious side effects and I am forever grateful.
Brad Sehn
Jomtien Beach Paradise

Was there a sprinkler system at the High Five Hotel?

Editor;
Concerning the recent fire at a Pattaya Hotel (and in light of the major disaster in Jomtien several years ago), if the cause of the fire was sparks from a malfunctioning mains transformer, why didn’t the hotel’s sprinkler system put this out? The hotel did have a sprinkler system didn’t it?

Regards,
Freddie Clark

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
are also on our website.