HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Note of thanks

Not speaking for the majority

Give your poet his just due

From a big fan

ADSL availability in Pattaya and Jomtien

Outstanding

Late dues are better than none

It’s better to walk if you can

Touching poem

Lucky Shamrock

Note of thanks

Dear Editor,

In the latest edition of the Pattaya Mail I failed to see the column on boxing which I always look forward to, but not necessarily agree with. Also, after two weeks of beautiful and touching poems, your paper was also void of this. Which was a disappointment to me as well as to other people I have spoken with.

Disappointed as I was, I’ll get over it. Though the same cannot be said of my, sometimes, obnoxious friend. He is quite a hell-raiser and is still cursing (lightly) at the Pattaya Mail. Not because of the missing boxing column, but the absence of another poem on the tsunami and its victims, is what’s making him angry.

To be honest with you, I had no earthly idea he was in-tuned with poetry. (Shows you how much I know about my friend).

So for the benefit of my friend not going bananas again, would you please start running more poems in your excellent paper?

Cordially yours,
Arty Heetan
Brussels (formerly)
Budapest (present)

P.S. Also, on a more serious note, Mr. Editor. I enjoy the poems of your poet. Not only do I consider him one of the best at his craft but he seems to have a tremendous depth of knowledge and understanding of the human condition in its everyday ritual of survival on a planet whose beauties are marred by an enormous amount of soul suffering. Great examples were the two excellent poems he recently did on the tsunami tragedy.

Not speaking for the majority

Editor;

I want to respond to the letter posted about the cheap charlies poem that was posted last week. It is stuff like this that fuels the Thai mentality, that farangs should pay more for just about everything when farangs choose to live, or take their holidays over here, and the old argument that when foreigners visit farang land they pay more so it’s ok. Well, let’s take Disneyland, or Sea World where there is a 10% discount for locals, when shown proof of where they live, compared to 2 or 3, sometimes 5 times more that farangs pay in Thailand for aquariums, parks, temples, etc.

The baht buses are a great start to show all the Thais as well as farangs we are fed up with it, and we should all be on the same playing field, regardless if we are talking about 5 baht compared to 10 baht, or attractions 20 baht compared 200 baht. You so called farangs that say pay more and it’s ok, I can assure you are not speaking for the majority of residents and visitors to Thailand.

Respectfully yours,
David in California

Give your poet his just due

Dear Mailbag,

I am writing from the Bangkok airport (just missed my plane back to England and have an abundance of time to kill). It is with much reluctance that I leave your fair country but duty (I guess) calls.

The chap that writes the poetry for your newspaper is one of the best poets I have ever had the delight in reading and seems to always have a pleasing manner in his verse. Plus the fact that the precise timing of his verse of special events seems to always be in a timely manner and current.

I was in Thailand when, my hero, Father Ray succumbed. The poems you published in the Pattaya Mail following his demise were absolutely the finest and most touching poetry I had ever read. My heart rejoiced in reverence while reading them. I even cut them out and have them displayed in my office and in my home and often have people read them and ask, who is Father Ray?

This last effort on Mr. Webb’s part, “Each Day The Last” was a most touching account of what must be in a lot of people’s minds. Especially after what has just taken place in the south of Thailand and other parts of Asia.

This man and his poetry (I feel) is one of the best cultural things that has ever happened to Pattaya and, I for one, would like to see Pattaya Mail or another publication give this poetic genius his just due, with perhaps his own column.

Anyways keep up the great work with the Pattaya Mail.

Lots of happiness to you in the coming year.
Bryce McGhee
Solicitor

Oh yes, I love your travel program. Your host is quite charming.

From a big fan

Dear Mr. Webb,

How did you ever find the words (without actually being there) to describe the incomprehensible tragedy that took place on December 26? Most of us are speechless ... thank God, that you, with your wisdom, can bring to us such eloquence to try and honestly describe some of what all humanity must be feeling about this terrible holocaust.

It’s quite obvious that you are a poet of deep compassion. Your wisdom and knowledge of life and its complexities are quite prevalent in all of your outstanding poems. These last two poems met to mingle in the emotions that poetized these masterpieces.

You, sir, will (I predict) go down in history as one of the great true poets of all time.

I, am, a BIG FAN!
Sincerely,
Bryce Cantalonni

ADSL availability in Pattaya and Jomtien

To the editors:

I think it would be very interesting if your readers were made aware of the ADSL availability in this area. I moved to Jomtien in July of last year and was told by TOT that it would be available in late August. As of Feb., we still are not up on a broadband line. TT&T has it but it’s impossible to get a line from them. We even had to bribe a TOT technician to get a phone line installed when we moved here last July.

I think people who are moving to this area would benefit from this information.

A suggestion.
Tom Wells

Outstanding

Dear Editor,

The poems, Cheap Charlies, Healthy Eating and Garbage are very cute and could apply to several of my friends. Thanks for the wake up call.

The poem, “Our Will To Live” was outstandingly awesome, powerful and true. Once again, this outstanding poet has captured the essence of what life truly is.

Thank you for continuing to publish his outstanding works.

Yours Respectively,
Jack Clements
Consultant
American Standard Newspaper Group

Late dues are better than none

Dear Whomever,

I noticed in this week’s edition of Pattaya Mail that your poet seemed to have received some (in my estimation) long over-due praise from some of your readers for his excellent works in prose and poems. He seems to always be timely in his contributions to the readers with his poems.

I am sure that he has gained a lot of popularity in and around Pattaya and has created a following.

Thanks to Pattaya Mail for publishing his poems and please continue to do so.

God Be With You,
Father Alex

It’s better to walk if you can

Dear Editor;

I have to agree with the 2 letters in your paper on the subject of baht taxis. I think the new bus service is a very good step forward for a city of this size, and I hope that all the people of Pattaya use them. The cost of a ticket should be the same for everyone and if there is a discount then it should be for all residents not just Thai people.

I would also like to say to all your farang readers that use the baht bus, that if you don’t pay more than 5 baht on short journeys you will just get a lot of problems from the driver. I have been told of baht bus drivers having wooden bats and some use them if they get angry enough. I had so many problems with baht taxis about the 5 baht that I found only one way of beating them: I don’t use them anymore unless I really have too. I walk everywhere and it’s better for you as well.

I have been coming to Pattaya since 1986 and for the last 4 years I have lived here, the local government has said many times that the baht bus is a thing of the past and must go or be re-sized, but I know this will never happen. The only way this could happen is that we all walk, if you can, or use the new bus service if they ever get it started.

It’s only people power that can make this change.

Yours,
Alan

Touching poem

Dear Sir,

“Each Day The Last” is truly a very touching and moving written piece. How did Mr. Webb ever find the words to write such a poem? I was speechless ... thank God he can bring to your readers such eloquence and at the same time make us all take stock in our present situation on earth, as if it were truly our last day on earth.

It is from the soul of a deeply compassionate poet that this poem was written. His message, in this poem, came through in a very wise and loud voice. I listened to it and I’m sure your other readers did too.

I have become a true fan of Mr. Webb’s poetry and always look forward to his poems.

Have a blissful day!
Mrs. Bernie Abbotts
Min Buri (Bangkok)

P.S. Do you know if Mr. Webb has any books published on poetry and if so, where I might purchase a copy of his works?

Lucky Shamrock

Editor;

I’d like to use the Pattaya Mail to publicly thank the owners and staff at the Shamrock Bar, in Soi Pattayaland One, and to put the Shamrock up for the title of the most honest bar in town.

I left a bag behind after having a beer or three. It contained my passport, my bank book and 10,000 baht in cash.

The following day I got a phone call from Cameron, one of the partners who run the bar, asking me if I had lost a bag. He had spent some time going through a notebook I also had in the bag looking for clues that might identify the owner.

The only phone number he found was that of a travel agent. Cameron rang him up and explained the situation.

When he mentioned that the bag had a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) symbol on it the agent said he knew a Thai woman who runs a scuba diving booking office and she had a farang husband who is a PADI instructor. He gave Cameron her phone number and the next phone call was to my home.

So my special thanks to all the Shamrock staff who went to so much trouble to locate me and return my bag. In this day and age acts of honesty like this are, unfortunately, few and far between. The Shamrock certainly turned out lucky for me.
David Chandler
Najomtien

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