HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Thank you Asia Pattaya Hotel

Sex workers self-esteem and Ms Rahab of Old Jericho

Beach Rd is a mess

Ant Attack

Be careful, and wear a proper helmet

Bring on more baht taxis

ATM rip-off

Let’s get back to a sanook Songkran

Thank you Asia Pattaya Hotel

Dear Editor;
A few weeks ago an acquaintance of mine visited Pattaya for ten days and had a pleasant stay at the Asia Pattaya Hotel.

He returned to work in China where he got a call from home in the USA and was told that he had received a registered letter from the Asia Pattaya Hotel in Thailand.

He asked that the letter be opened and it stated that upon checking the safe in the room he had been staying in, the hotel staff had found $700 US. They wanted to know where to send it.

My acquaintance had forgotten all about putting the money there! He then made arrangements with the hotel and the money was promptly returned.

I say “Hats Off” to the management & staff of the Asia Pattaya Hotel. Well done! In future, I know where I will tell people to stay if they ask - The Asia Pattaya Hotel.
Ray Lepard

Sex workers self-esteem and Ms Rahab of Old Jericho

Editor;
According to a famous Old Testament bible story approximately 3,500 years ago, a prostitute named Rahab helped the historically conservative Jewish people win a war and they called her an honorable friend, regardless of her profession as a sex worker

Rahab then married a Jewish man named Salmon, and they are the documented ancestors of Joseph; husband to Mary, the mother of Jesus, my Christ.

It’s amazing that Rahab’s story did not get cut out of the bible (like astrology and reincarnation) over thousands of years of edits and translations, nearly always in an atmosphere of male dominance, that I believe is an over reaction to fear of female superior sexual intelligence; able, with a simple gesture or intonation to take a man to heights of confidence or crash. Rahab’s story having survived in the bible gives credit to us males, in spite of ourselves.

Sex workers of Pattaya, Thailand and the rest of the world can feel self respect knowing they have a matriarch example of responsible pleasures, with a magnificent and honorable history.

This immense phenomenon of sexuality will find expression, one way or another. Like house plumbing, if congested, as with male testosterone frustration, often backed up and over blown. Expressing itself with excess bravado, fists punching and what seems like endless attitude, child abuse and war cannon penis substitutes. Whether male or female, sexuality, like fire, will warm us or burn us down.

So here are these sex workers, available and mostly congenial and not to be thought less of, because love doesn’t come with the pressure relief.

Also to mention with my love for saint Joan of Arc, France 1431 and her irrefutable communication with the other side (let’s hear it if you think other). It is a reality that Joan broke her sword when she struck a prostitute with it (something most unusual about that).

Additionally; a thought regarding criticism and oppression of gay folks and various cross over feelings. One realistic and not so abstract way of confidence for everyone while considering these yin/yang variables is; although most people are naturally right handed, 95%, our gracious god, that generates both sexes, must itself be both genders.

Hopefully we are judgmental and involved with issues of general relevance like environment and capitalism with conscience or perhaps following the voting records of legislators as much as we do sport statistics, etc., leaving consenting adults live and let live regarding their intimacy.

In general it seems to me that responsible fun can also be a prayer, as with most anything.

All faiths in praise,
DH Giles

Beach Rd is a mess

To whom it may concern;
I am an Australian who has just spent 3 weeks in Pattaya. I am emailing you to show my disgust in the people who are running the city. I thought a tsunami had hit Pattaya and not Phuket. Beach Road is a disgrace, pot holes everywhere, pipes exposed reinforcing wire sticking out, this street is supposed too be one of the main attractions.

If the people who have been appointed to run this town want to take advantage of December 26 with many tourists looking for other holiday destinations you would think your top attraction would be given priority when it comes to looking good.

I have been coming to Pattaya now for 4 years and this problem is getting worse not better. Let’s hope when I bring my family back at Christmas this problem is fixed. If not we like many other people I have spoken to will find other places to holiday.

Mr Holly
Melbourne
Australia

Ant Attack

Dear Sir,
I found Ian Frame’s article on Red Ants in the March 25 issue most entertaining, and in my case, apt. Recently I was sitting beside the pool, almost - but not quite, under the branches of a tree, as I was aware of large red ants in the tree and didn’t wish any of them to fall on me. As time went on, I felt an irritation on my arm, but upon looking saw that there wasn’t an ant or other insect in sight.

The irritation got worse, and my lady came over to check what was happening. Upon close scrutiny she plucked a ‘speck’ from my arm and showed me a black ant which was not even 2 mm in length. Well at least Ian Frame’s red ants are clearly visible but this little perisher was not, and within a few hours the bites it had made turned into welts about 50 mm across.

Beware. 800 species of ants in Thailand, and they probably all ‘hurt’ in one way or another, regardless of colour and size!
Yours,
Peter Clements

Be careful, and wear a proper helmet

Dear Sir,
I would like to publicly thank the South African tourist and his wife and the English expat that assisted my husband and myself in giving first aid to 2 motorcyclists that had an accident in Thappraya Road on Thursday March 31.

In addition, many thanks to the person that made one victim’s neck lighter by removing his gold necklace as he lay severely injured and the person taking photos, I hope he enjoys his holiday snaps.

The sad thing about this incident is that had they wore a helmet they would have had relatively minor injuries, one had a helmet that was not done up and served no use at all.

Motorcycle accidents are now so commonplace in that they are accepted as part of daily life in Pattaya. Many people gather to look but the care for victims at accidents is almost non existent. The police were there immediately but were more concerned with drawing a line around the bikes than maintaining the safety of the injured and those assisting them, not even properly controlling the traffic.

The rescue services have little and inadequate equipment such as airway maintenance, and what appeared to be little training in preventing further complications in the way the victims are handled.

The moral of this letter is: look after yourself when you get on a bike, wear a good helmet and secure it correctly, because if you do not die at the scene of the accident, any help you may (or may not) get can often make the outcome worse. Until there is an adequate response from the police and properly trained and equipped rescue services many more will die or become paralyzed unnecessarily.
Donna Pollard

Bring on more baht taxis

Editor:
Regarding the baht taxi dispute: I am a visitor to Pattaya, staying mostly one month at a time. The baht taxi is just fine with me. They are convenient, easy to use, simple to enter and exit, and cheap at the price (5 baht). Pay no more! It seems to me those who want to get rid of them are the motorbike operators. Motorbikes are very dangerous to pedestrians and their operators alike. Incidentally, if you want to see lousy comparable public transportation, try the Philippine Jeepneys! Cramped, noisy, and filled with diesel fumes!
Bring on even more baht taxis, cut down on motorbikes!
“Frugal” Frank from USA

ATM rip-off

Editor;
Please notify your customers that it is true that ATM numbers are being taken and used. I was down in Ban Chang playing golf with the ATM card in my pocket as 30,000 baht was stolen from my account. I notified Bangkok Bank - they made out a printout of my account and it showed that while I was on the golf course, 10,000 baht was taken out at the Thai Military Bank at Foodland and 20,000 baht more was taken out at the Bank of Ayudthya across the street.

I was told by Bangkok Bank to make out a police report. I did this and reported back to the Bangkok Bank. I was then told by Bangkok Bank to go to the Bank of Ayudthya and the Thai Military to identify who took my money as pictures are taken when ATM cards are used. I was doubtful but did this. As I suspected, no pictures were taken. (Just a bunch of bull) No one seems interested and doubted my word that my money was stolen. They tried to accuse my wife or someone else in the house. It was pretty hard as the ATM Card was in my possession on the golf course. None of the banks want to take responsibility for the stolen money.

A few months ago when I used the Siam Commercial Bank ATM at Foodland a strange thing happened. When I inserted my card into the ATM, the ATM screen came up with this notice: YOUR PIN NUMBER HAS BEEN STOLEN. I was shocked and quickly looked around to see if someone was near. No one was around. I reinserted my card and all processed normally. I checked the money in my account and all seemed well. I almost forgot this until 30,000 baht went missing from my account.

After all the running around I have come to the following conclusions. 1) The banks don’t care, 2) the police don’t care, 3) numbers are being stolen - I believe that my ATM number was stolen at the Siam Commercial Bank at Foodland where they do have personnel working, or at Bangkok Bank at Naklua where I have my bank account. I also believe that the bank that has your account should be responsible to replace the stolen money.

Anyway, let your readers know it is happening - if an ATM screen ever says your pin number has been stolen, change you pin number immediately. Also, the banks and police do not seem to be of any help.
Herbert H. Ishinaga

Let’s get back to a sanook Songkran

To: [email protected]
It is to be hoped that the rain showers recently experienced in and around Pattaya are not to be interpreted by the visiting foreigners as license to once again go mad with the water canons that have reappeared for sale in some of the major stores and local shops.

City hall and the police authorities should emphasize not only the serious accident hazards created by unthinking water players, the yet more serious contribution to local water shortages such players will leave behind, but also the counter-productive reaction to such excessive water-play seen in the loss of revenue by the local area from the increasing number of resident foreigners who choose to take annual holiday or make visa runs over this ten-day period.

It is within the permit of city hall and the police department to create a local bye-law banning sale and use of water cannons and such anti-social behaviour exhibited in the excessive water-throwing so that we can get back to the sanook side of Songkran in its Thai Cultural practice to which no one would object.

From one who will be hibernating for the duration

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