HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Trekkies axiom

Ways to reduce traffic congestion

Water festival was a very unpleasant experience

Disappointed

Trekkies axiom

Editor:
Mr. Andy’s confusion as expressed in “Why do some people still choose to live in Pattaya?” (Letters, Pattaya Mail, April 22) seems to arise from false assumptions.

Farang apologists for their own victimization usually fall into three groups and combinations thereof: the Robin Hoods (“We deserve it”); the Olympians (“What? Me worry?”); and, like Mr. Andy, the Trekkies (“Do as the Romans do”). Followers of the Star Trek Prime Directive, the Trekkies hold that for farang “guests” to question anything about the wisdom and beneficence of our gracious “hosts” would be to commit a dastardly act of Western cultural imperialism. Hence, for the Trekkies, what would otherwise seem to be foolish cooperation in one’s own victimization, like, say, jumping gladly into the boiling pot for a tribe of cannibals, is actually the noble preservation of cultural diversity.

The truth is, however, that average Thais also don’t like unfairness and dishonesty, which do violate the traditional teachings of Thai culture. Hence most Thais also deplore corruption in their government even as they recognize its occasional expediency. Thai newspapers regularly expose and condemn corruption, and they frequently print complaints about corruption and various scams. Whenever feasible—which is of course to say not always—corruption and cheating are prosecuted in Thai courts.

As for the tourist-inspired madness of Songkran such as that seen in Pattaya or Kaosan Road, most Thais do not approve of that either, and rightly so.

It would seem to be an unfortunate mixture of innocence and ignorance that leads the Trekkies thus to demean the very culture they profess to admire: first, by assuming that deplorable deviations—even if “official”—represent the accepted mainstream, and then, as does Mr. Andy, by proceeding to excuse and defend them.

When farangs protest and complain, they often give voice to what the good Thai locals also think and believe. Sometimes they have even been able to contribute to change for the better. Evidently, though, Mr. Andy still hasn’t lived here long enough or yet read enough editions of the Pattaya Mail to discern how much suffering and unhappiness lie behind polite Thai smiles. Perhaps for his greater enlightenment he might find someone to translate for him some Thai newspapers. While most locals are too poor to leave Thailand for better prospects elsewhere, farangs remain here because of the weather, the prices, and some aspects of Thai society they find attractive. Yet Mr. Andy really has no reason at all to expect that knowledgeable farangs should share in the reticence and resignation of the browbeaten merely so that he may cling to superficial, patronizing, pretty postcard views of Thailand.
Ptyrider

Ways to reduce traffic congestion

Dear Editor,
Approximately a year ago (May 2004) I was pleasantly surprised to see an announcement in the Pattaya Mail regarding the replacement of the baht bus taxi service with an air conditioned mini bus service in central areas of Pattaya. Elaborate details were given as to the planning of routs and fares along with comments by the operations manager of the company to be implementing this service regarding the benefits this transport system would offer in relieving Pattaya’s traffic problems.

As a long time resident of Pattaya, it indeed sounded to me that someone had finally taken a positive step towards tackling one of the biggest problems the city faces. However, I must say that upon reading the article I remember commenting to my associates that this sounded much too good to be true. As I recall there were subsequent follow-ups to this article and unless I have missed something, the last word was that the project had been postponed due to red tape or some such thing. The original date for implementing the new service was to have been January 2005; so far no sign of it.

I suspect that the most obvious solutions that would immensely relieve the city’s traffic problems simply are not addressed because they may possibly point fingers in directions they are not allowed to be pointed? Without even addressing traffic control or traffic law enforcement, the following are simple ways to vastly improve the traffic situation in Pattaya.

There are some 800 baht busses in Pattaya City; I dare say that this rivals density figures for taxis per square kilometer virtually anywhere on earth. Simple solution: Even numbered baht busses on even days and odd numbered baht busses on odd days. This is not a complete solution but it would certainly go a long way to help in easing congestion as well as pollution. As for the baht bus revenues; I think they would be up or at lease unchanged since more buses would be full and much less fuel would be burnt.

Anyone who has driven along the main loop consisting of Beach Road and Second Road and explored the many crossroads will have noticed the hundreds (perhaps 1000’s) of neatly parked motorbikes that occupy vast sections along these areas. Ah yes, motorbikes for rent. Some sois become almost impassable due to motorbikes sometimes parked 2 and 3 deep along both sides of streets. Prime examples are Soi Post Office and Pattayaland 1. As far as I know, this is clearly not legal and a tremendous difference would be made in alleviating congestion if they were removed.

There are many simple measures that could be taken as a start to freeing up the gridlock of the city; however it appears that the tough choices necessary for whatever reason have not been seriously considered.

Respectfully; what say the city fathers?
GG

Water festival was a very unpleasant experience

Dear Sir,
I do not as a general rule write to newspapers, as I feel it is unlikely that my opinions could be of the slightest interest or consequence to any of your readers just as their opinions are of no import to me. On this occasion I make an exception and crave your indulgence.

My wife and I have recently returned to the UK after our first visit to Thailand. We are seasoned travellers and have visited many parts of the world for extended holidays and are therefore well aware of the different attitudes and customs that can be found when travelling. We have been in flower fights, tomato battles, bull running, and most sorts of festivals all over the world. Thailand sounded absolutely wonderful from its advertising etc. The Land of Smiles – great we thought and so we arrived in Pattaya at the Sunbeam Hotel; on the advice of travel agents and from advertising we come for Songkran, which again sounded wonderful - a three day water festival with people sprinkling each other with water in the streets etc. The reality as they say, is somewhat different.

Pattaya – fun city they call it in UK., did not disappoint, a bit grubby in places yes but I’ve seen much worse at three times the price. But the water festival? A very unpleasant experience to be honest, ten days of having water flung at you by drunken fools (mostly, it seemed, I’m ashamed to say – English) not really very pleasant. My wife, having had a large bucket of water flung in her face at close range with enough force to knock her over and break her glasses was so scared afterwards that she refused to leave the hotel again until we got into the taxi to go home, and quite frankly I don’t think I have ever been so glad to do so.

This festival is punted around as being fun – it isn’t unless you’re a drunken tattooed oaf taking a break from football violence for the summer, or one of the shrieking harpies from a bar who’d laugh at a fatal car crash if she thought the drunk wanted her to. Quite frankly the naked aggression with which these guys were using their high pressure squirters and big buckets was frightening. Most of them appeared to make a point of aiming for the faces of their victims especially when they were motorcyclists – it’s got to be really dangerous surely.

Please don’t misunderstand me, I am not as a rule in favour of control or of legislation, I believe minimal government is good government and the same goes for policing, but if your fun involves causing fear, misery and pain for others then the time has come for the police to do a little more than pose with their shiny boots, guns and tight brown uniforms.

Thailand – Land of Smiles? I don’t think so, I shall certainly never return and will do my best to dissuade any of my friends foolish enough to contemplate the same mistake we made i.e. visiting Thailand the land of the drunken oaf.
P. Grant, U.K.

Disappointed

Editor;
I have been living in Pattaya for over a year and the city never ceases to amaze me. The city is contradiction in itself. It is touted as tourist attraction but the city decides to do the most construction on its main tourist road in the high season. It boasts of beautiful beaches but one cannot see them for the multitude of barracks and the mountains of trash.

Even with this the city is pleasant and interesting. In the last year there has been construction of a park close to Royal Cliff Condos that includes a lighthouse (no light and always closed) and a helicopter landing pad. The park idea was a good one but unfortunately the results are not. To start with the construction people left all the rubbish behind (concrete bags, plastic covers for lights, drink bottles and every other item that they used).

The construction quality is appalling. It has been less than 4 months since the steps were finished and most of them are falling apart.

The road along the waterfront is littered with trash even though there are some receptacles. The trash containers that are used are full and trash is lying next to them.

I cannot understand why the city would build such a place and then let it degrade so fast. Maybe this was the reason they built the helicopter pad so that from up high, the park looks good. The other purpose of this pad is for gatherings all night long. People drive up on the pad and conduct all kind of activities from drug dealings to intimate encounters to singing. At the end of these encounters, the evidence is left behind (used condoms, broken bottles, and empty food containers).

I for one am very disappointed that the city would build something that could be used for walks, gatherings and looking at the beautiful flowers that were planted but now it is a complete disaster. Apparently the city officials never come to this park or are completely oblivious to the disaster.

If this type of park was build in a seaside city in Europe or US it would become a focal point for the locals and selling point for tourists but here it has become a haven for drug users, loose dogs and a complete trash bin.

I have to believe that no official ever walks or drives by this place otherwise they would see what it has become. I cannot believe the government would just let it become this bad or maybe they don’t care.

Worst of all it seems that people themselves just don’t care.
What a shame.
M.D.

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