HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Safety helmets again an issue

The passing of a love one

Thanks for the good service

Don’t leave your valuables in your car at carwash

Re: TOT phone booth

Contemplating with despair

Mr Mayor, noise pollution is out of control

Thai Postal System

Safety helmets again an issue

Editor;

I note that once again the police state that pillion passengers will be fined if they are not wearing safety helmets. This statement was also made several months ago and only seemed to be applied for a limited time to farangs with helmets, driving their Thai girlfriends who were not wearing helmets. This happened to two friends of mine.

However, the police apparently failed to inform the motorcycles taxis that this law would be enforced and that they must provide helmets for their passengers as happens in Bangkok. At that time I asked the motorcycle taxi drivers if they had a helmet for me and they replied “no problem”. It apparently was true because on many occasions we drove past police without being stopped.

Can the editor ask the police if the law will be applied to motorcycle taxis and will they now be required to provide helmets for their passengers?

Bill McKain

Editor’s reply: From we’ve observed over the past week or so, the police, at least in some areas, seem to be stopping motorcycle taxis, too.

The passing of a love one

An open letter to Judy Hoppe (President of Jomtien-Pattaya Rotary Club) - Dear President Judy,

Many of your friends would like to offer their condolences on the passing of Mr. Figaro, your beloved cat. Twenty years is a long time to get attach to something and to lose the affection of your beloved feline is in itself very sad. Our grief is your grief in your time of sorrow. We heard they had to put Mr. Figaro to sleep. I hope the following poem will bring you a modicum of comfort.

Final Kindness
He’s old
Losing control
Over bodily functions
Teeth gone
Hearing hampered
Tail listlessly wagging
At the sound
Of my voice
Favored toys
Stored neatly in a box,
Disregarded
Yet eyes
Still bright with love
Unceasingly
Striving to please
What to choose?
Continued frustration
And pain
Or well-deserved repose?
Slumber or wakefulness?
Because I loved him so much.
We love you, President Judy,
From your family of friends

Thanks for the good service

Editor;

There are many letters complaining about the services provided here and some not without justification. But to buck the trend, this week we called the Sattahip Council, Cleaning Department, to ask them to pump out our domestic waste tank. They pointed out that we came under the Plutaluang District,’ but never mind, if you come into the office this afternoon to fill in a request we will be there tomorrow’.

Sure enough, the next morning we received a phone call from the truck driver to say that they were on their way and would be here in two minutes. They arrived in a sparkling truck, pumped out the tank, hosed everything down and were gone. Total cost for the truck and three men: 250 baht. Now that is service.

Thank you Sattahip Council. Keep up the good work.
Ron Martin

Don’t leave your valuables in your car at carwash

Dear Sir;

I would like to forewarn all your readers the dangers of leaving valuables in your car, even when your car is being serviced by a recognized garage.

I had my parents over on their holiday and I was taking them to Koh Chang in my car. I stopped for fuel at PTT garage on Thepprasit Rd and thought I would get the car cleaned too.

I took all of my belongings out of the front of the car, my wallet and so forth, but forgot about my telephone. I had left it on charge in the car.

The staff cleaned my car from top to bottom and did a splendid job. I then paid them, gave them a tip and drove away.

I had only traveled 100 meters when I realized my phone was missing. I stopped the car and we all did a thorough search for the telephone. Of course, it was gone!

My wife tried to call my number on her mobile phone and now it was switched off, going directly to voice mail. I never switch my telephone off, so of course I knew it had been stolen; not only the phone but the in-car charger too.

I went directly back to the garage and of course no one new anything about it, even though there were at least four people working on my car. The manager didn’t really look concerned, only pointing to a notice in Thai stating not to leave valuables in your car.

Normally I would not but this time I did and it cost me a lot of money plus all the pics and video I had of my newborn son left on the memory card.

It left my wife and I quite sad that my parents were here to witness it all.

I’m sure this kind of thing isn’t the norm in most carwashes but readers please be aware that it does go on. So please be careful.

ND

Re: TOT phone booth

Editor;

“Local Pedestrian” wrote that the TOT phone booth blocks the pavement. The photo clearly shows that it was already blocked by two electric poles, so in fact they sited the phone wisely. It even has its back to the roadway for protection and traffic noise reducing to users. Had he thought of asking “The Curry House” to move their sign which is clearly blocking the clear part of the pathway?

As for “mental disturbance”, that is surely part of a discussion about mobile phone radio waves!

Signed,

Retired BT Phone location team staff

Contemplating with despair

Editor;

I contemplate with despair at the latest flurry of ‘baht bus’ letters. I have lived in Pattaya for nearly four years and rely on baht buses as my mode of transport. When I experienced the anger and threatening behaviour of drivers, after I had paid a fare of 5 baht, I decided to seek some solution to this unpleasant problem.

I fasted for six days and sat in silent meditation upon my balcony that overlooks the Beach Road and the beeping baht buses and used my powers of concentration. Eventually I found a solution.

Now I pay baht bus drivers twenty baht, whatever the distance of my journey. The results in the past three years have been wonderful to behold.

I am well known now as a ‘twenty baht’ subscriber of their service. Baht bus drivers remember me, they stop for me when hailed, I have befriended some drivers, others waive the charge, drivers who are not familiar with my payment system often shout at me to come back for change of a twenty baht note.

Fellow passengers, please learn from my example, it is a metaphysical impossibility to ‘receive’ if you do not ‘give’. For more than three years it has been a pleasure for me to travel by baht bus, and I pity people who contribute to the Pattaya Mail letters page complaining about the ‘5 baht rate scam’.

Kind regards to all, especially my good friend Ignatius Reilly who recently married a fine Thai woman in this ‘land of smiles’.
Diego Vedda

Mr Mayor, noise pollution is out of control

Dear Khun Niran;

I know you are a very well meaning and a very busy man. I also know that it is not always easy to manage all aspects of this big city.

However, we will try to put our faith in you.

We are the owners of a long established popular hotel in a quiet part of Pattaya. We cater to European tourists, employ 70 staff and pay our taxes on time.

Recently a small thatched karaoke hut has opened opposite us on an empty piece of land. They play loud out of tune music well into the night. The other night the singing went on till 9 the next morning.

So far, several calls to the local police station have been left unanswered.

Our guests are complaining, and several have moved out.

It is kind of mind boggling that a small, illegal, unlicensed, non-tax paying karaoke hut actually could be responsible for us being forced to layoff staff, and eventually even the closure of a long established and respected hotel.

Please sign me,

“Pattaya Hotel Owner”

Thai Postal System

Editor;

It seems that the Thai postal system must have a lot of mail stored somewhere waiting to be delivered because I am missing a great deal since the first of the year. They even have trouble delivering for example the UBC bills which I received more than a month late the other day.

Dave Richardson
Pattaya

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