HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Another ATM victim

Won’t come back

More on ATM fraud

Education and writing

Religious noise

Can Thaksin solve the baht bus problem?

Why do some people still choose to live in Pattaya?

Baht bus fare arguments laughable

Another marvellous holiday

Another ATM victim

Editor;
In support of Mystery Trevor’s email concerning stolen funds from ATM’s in Pattaya, my wife’s bank account has recently been stripped of a large sum of money from the Bank of Asia branch ATM on 2nd Road whilst we were away on a family day out. The discovery of lost funds was reported immediately to the bank but the treatment of the bank staff was a complete disgrace, even bringing my wife to tears. We made a report to the local constabulary which initially was very promising, as the duty officer was very professional and was not pleased with the action of the bank staff, but as often happens in Fun City the initial hopes were soon dashed by a lack of follow up by the “Boys in Brown”!

The money has gone for good, with that there is no doubt, but I wanted to inform other residents and tourist alike not to use the ATM at this branch as I believe that it is either being targeted by a camera or as like the UK a gadget that can be installed to read/copy the cards details. I wouldn’t be surprised that if Mystery Trevor was to examine his bank ATM slips again he would find that this was the problem machine.

After renewed enquiries we discovered that this branch ATM is one of the only in town without an internal video camera to catch the culprits using the card details without the owner’s knowledge, which also gives way to some other possible theories of the method of theft!

My words may seem strong but this is mainly due to the unbelievable treatment by the staff, with the manager even having the audacity to tell my wife, “No Problem you have a farang husband he can give you the money again”!

PM if you have any friends in the local constabulary I would suggest you have a word in their shell about this area of the town, as someone is having a laugh at our expense.

Regards
Lightweight Dave
Via the Desert

Won’t come back

Editor;
I am on my fifth trip to Thailand in so many years; this is my third trip alone in the last 13 months.

I enjoy coming to Thailand but cannot see my self coming to Pattaya again. I am simply sick and tired of having to pay 3-4 times the price of what Thai nationals pay. I do not understand why I must pay 3 times more than Thais at theme parks, or why I will always pay more than Thais for any item I purchase anywhere for that fact. I just get sick of Thais advising me that they will pay hundreds of baht less than any tourist.

Why must I pay different amounts for meals from a street vendor when I order the same meal time after time? One vendor charges me between 30-50 baht for the same meal. My Thai companion only pays 25 baht for the same meal.

My friend is married to a Thai national and lived in Pattaya for 12 months. She told me that when she was with my friend she would have to pay close to 200-300 baht more for no other reason than he stood next to her as a foreigner. As they were married it was not a case of use his money but it was her money also being thieved and that’s simply what it is, thieving.

For this activity to go unchallenged is nothing less than state sponsored racism. South Africa had apartheid based on skin colour, so it seems does Pattaya. Recently whilst in Issan I was not subjected to any price increase at all, all my costings were at the same level as Thai nationals.

I am aware there are many expats and so called foreign Thai experts (regular tourists) that are willing to defend this form of racism but we all need to draw a line in the sand and step back and look at this in a logical fashion. This is not an emotional issue but a very real problem in Pattaya.

For me this will no longer be a problem as I will not be returning to Pattaya. I have recently spoken to two other friends that have been travelling to Pattaya for many years; one now seeks travel in another Asian country while the other travels other parts of Thailand.

I suppose people will not address this issue and stand by the Thai national quote “up to you”.
Luke Hudson
Melbourne, Australia

More on ATM fraud

Editor;
In reply to Herbert’s letter, this has been going on in Thailand for many years now. My first encounter was way back in 1990 before cloning technology by external criminals was even invented. I believe the bank staff are responsible. They target people who find it hard to fight back and have no real standing or power in Thai society; mainly foreigners and Thai service workers. The bank staff alter the accounts and remove the money. At the end of the day the books tally - and the complaints are dismissed then the staff pocket the money.
Alex Pollock
Leicester UK

Education and writing

Dear Sir,
I would like to comment on the quality of Mr. Andrew Watson’s column in your respected organ.

He was gracious enough to quote me recently and despite his misuse of the subjunctive tense in his French quote I was most impressed by what he had to say. As an IB coordinator in the Philippines his injunction to educators to “act locally, think globally” is imperative. As national education systems become more derivative it is heartening to see that the transnational community of educators that make up the heart of the International Baccalaureate can truly make a difference in a challenging world. I look forward to Mr. Watson’s continued contributions to the Mail.

Yours,
Tim Knight
International School Manila

Religious noise

Editor;
A delightful little temple carnival at Wat Chaimongkol has grown in to a sound-amplifying monster. (I’m sure it also takes place in other temples.)

So much so that some people in the condo next door to the temple have had enough and are thinking about moving on. It seems that every innovation in sound amplification is being used. (Isn’t there a law against all this noise? Is the temple because of its religious nature immune to prosecution?) Boom boxes are used extensively. Sermons are broadcast at five o’clock in the morning. Just recently the wat introduced a machine (placed in the children’s area and underneath our condo window), the din from which is guaranteed to rock one out of a sound sleep.

Everyone knows that sound pollution in this modern age is on the increase, but isn’t it ironic that the very place where sound pollution should be curbed and spoken against is the very place where it is the worst? Temples and churches by their very nature should be quiet and peaceful. I’m sure that historical religious figures would be annoyed by all the din produced today. Religion should have more consideration for the health and well being of others. And the wat mentioned should be more considerate and come to terms with its neighbors.

We are not talking about routine noise. We are talking about unnecessary amplification of noise.

Irritated

Can Thaksin solve the baht bus problem?

Editor;
Some days ago I read the front page in one of our national dailies that “Mafia parasites in PM’s sights” and that “Thaksin’s patience with the mafia had run out”, and “the days of street justice are gone”, etc. This was with reference to the Bo Bae garment market center-scandal.

Then I sad to myself - “What a tough and rarely just and right-on-the-spot prime minister we have in this country!” The scoundrel parallel “culture” has gone too far a long time ago.

Now I have a new mission for Thaksin - because he and only he must be the man to exterminate the massive corruption and lawlessness that pervades the public transport business in Thailand! What we have seen for decades at airports, Ekamai bus and taxi station, Morchit taxi station and last but worst baht-buses in Pattaya is horrible. These phenomena are signs of something super shameful for Thais and Thailand and are very provoking to tourists and immigrants in Thailand. It’s high time that law, order and justice settle down and usher Thailand into the modern world. Please go on Thaksin!
“Anti-corruption”

Why do some people still choose to live in Pattaya?

Hello,
As a resident of Pattaya and an avid reader of your paper for about 4 years I find it amazing the amount of ex-pats living in Pattaya that do nothing but complain.

On many occasions I’ve sat at a bar and chatted with some ‘old hands’ and found that they hate almost everything about the Thais, the woman are all devious, the police are all corrupt and everyone is out for a quick buck.

Although in many cases this may be true, it still amazes me that these people still choose to live in Pattaya. Why?

If you ask me most Thai bar woman are only devious because after a certain amount of time listening to farang promises they learn to play us at our own game very quickly. Let’s face it, who hasn’t lied to a Thai girl?

And I’m sure everyone would agree a quick on the spot fine from a corrupt policeman is much preferable to your keys being confiscated and a hefty fine for a traffic violation, which you would certainly receive in a Western society.

Also concerning the ‘Wet blanket’ letter from a previous writer, I do agree Songkran is getting out of hand, but again we are all just visitors in a foreign land and we should be concentrating more on how to adapt to the culture and lifestyle, instead of trying to change it.

My point is that anyone out there finding themselves doing nothing but complaining about the Thai lifestyle, why not just go back where you came from, and leave only the smiling people in the ‘Land of Smiles’?
Andy

Baht bus fare arguments laughable

Editor;
Arguments about 5-10 baht fares make me laugh. So, some of your readers like to make noises about being ripped off for 5 baht on songtaews, ha! They should live in Patong Beach Phuket, where the only public transport readily available is rip-off tuk-tuks who charge between 400-600 baht per trip.

PJC
Patong, Phuket

Another marvellous holiday

Editor;
Once again myself, my wife and my teenage daughter have just returned home after a great 15 nights in Pattaya. We were treated fantastic again and we met up with old friends from previous trips and made new ones.

Please can I be allowed to thank some of these people? The staff in Noi Bar 11 on Moo 9 Soi 3 for looking after my daughter so well. The group in Toy Bar on the same block for allowing me to jam with them every night. Also all the staff at the Welcome Plaza for being so good to us.

Pattaya can be a great place for a family holiday and I could recommend that to any families out there who would like to visit.

Can’t wait for our next trip. Thank you Thailand.
Mr Steve Williams
Middlesbrough, England

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