HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Who said we have water shortage?!

Did the good news leave some long faces?

Not worried about being ripped-off

Traffic plan for Pattaya – more ideas

What’s happening to Pattaya’s seafront promenade?

Where are the solutions?

Not Strange At All

Who said we have water shortage?!

Dear Sirs,

Shortage of water in Pattaya? Well, certainly not in Soi Siam Country Club!

(Shown here are) a couple of pictures, evidencing the generous amount of wasted water - probably in the tens of thousands of liters per day – badly needed in many households. This has been going on for weeks!

The only “improvement” in the situation has been the neatly written notice warning about the danger (the hole is mighty big!) and informing of the obvious cause of the problem: A broken water pipe… This improvement materialized last week. I guess it was deemed advisable after a few innocent people got acquainted with the abyss, which of course is invisible at night time.

By the bye: The water pipes, large diameter, have been laid just a few months back. Another one!

A Waterlogged Citizen

PS - Dear Pattaya Mail Team, Do you have magic powers? When I came home one hour ago, I saw a backhoe, a large orange repair truck and several sections of water pipe around the abyss. How did you do that? Best regards and THANK YOU!

Did the good news leave some long faces?

Letter to the Editor:
In an interview, published in the April 22 issue of one of Thailand’s leading English-language daily newspapers, the Nation, the American ambassador to Thailand, Ralph Boyce, repeated the remark of his boss, Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state, that there is no indication that foreign terrorists are involved in the Malay Muslim uprising in the southern provinces of Thailand.

To some, no doubt, this was good news. But it might have disappointed others, like the Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, and the chairman of the National Reconciliation Council, Anand Panyarachun, who seem incapable of facing up to the situation on their own and hope that American troops will suppress and occupy the region.
Geoffrey Lambert,
Klong Toey, Bangkok

Not worried about being ripped-off

Hi,
Concerning the Life in Fun City cartoon of shoe shines: I was on Walking Street and Ok’d an offer for a shoe shine. A pleasant young man did a good job but had no change for a 500 baht note. He said he would get change and I said ok. I did not even look to see which way he went and the bar girl seemed to notice this. It took a couple of minutes but I showed no concern. He returned with the funds and I tipped him nicely. I was rewarded with smiles from him and the bar girl.

I could be ripped off hundreds of times in Thailand and it wouldn’t cost me what one dishonest auto mechanic could do to me in one day in the U.S.

Don’t sweat the small stuff,
Ken
California

Traffic plan for Pattaya – more ideas

Editor;

Following on with discussions on this point here are a few of my ideas, even though I think it a waste of time as no one in city hall ever seems to listen, read or give any feed back until the crisis is total, e.g. current water crisis.

1. Beach Road to become Walking Street extension up to Central Road from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m. daily. Only traffic to be allowed is the new City Bus Route 3 (if it ever shows up) in a single lane only. No parking to be enforced at same times. Baht bus and taxis only to be stationed in the short road at the turn by Walking Street entrance up to the traffic lights. Move once and for all the permanent parking on roads of vehicles for rent in the central area, why should they pay no rent for premises?

2. Second Road to revert back to become fully two way from Dolphin Island to South Pattaya Road. Central barriers of wire and posts should to be built on its length to separate traffic, small access points for pedestrians only and 4 vehicle crossing points with traffic calming procedures to be introduced. (Humps, gratings or whatever to stop speeding.) No parking to be enforced 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. on its entire length as it would become the main arterial road north to south in the city. Two lanes, no parking, each way should get the city moving again.

3. South Pattaya Road from Third to Second Road would be no parking 12 noon to 1 a.m. as would Pratamnak Road (the south extension of Second Road) from traffic lights at South Pattaya Road to fly over at Third Road. Market Vendors should be moved off the road and parking facilities organised in the area.

4. Thappraya Road widening to be brought forward to this year and property on right side (going away from Pattaya) to be removed where necessary. This is long overdue and needed now.

5. Beach Road extension behind Walking Street to be abandoned (save the money and spend it on street lighting) as it will bring yet more traffic to a jammed Beach Road without any parking facilities which are desperate in the city. No more building permits in the central area without ample parking for public and residents on site on a 50-50 basis.

6. New city car parks to be introduced at Bali Hai pier for 500 cars. Soi Buakhao 300 cars. Soi 11 500 cars and by Tops Supermarket 250 cars. The land is there and the private sector should be eager to get their hands on the long term licences which the city should offer.

7. Sukhumvit Road and many other main roads in Pattaya have had and will have many surveys and proposals but a good going over with new lighting and clear road markings on the road and above for right and left turns and straight on lanes would help and be cheap to implement and enforce as in Bangkok. Introduce traffic calming measures as urgent to stop more deaths; speed limits are only worth it if they can be enforced. Vehicles travelling at over 60 kph in the city are on a death wish and should be stopped.

8. How to enforce and pay for all this? Well the tourist police and volunteers to be increased in number and have additional duties as a new Traffic Enforcement Division for parking and other traffic offences. Instead of chasing vendors off the beach, give them a worthwhile job. A vehicle tow away contract to be negotiated would help pay the cost of these volunteers. In cities I know in the USA & UK these tow away trucks earn a fortune and parking is quickly respected due to the huge cost of getting your vehicle back on the road from the impound.

I am mildly confident these cheap or self paying proposals would see Pattaya into the future with good traffic flow and increased safety on the roads.

BBW Resident

What’s happening to Pattaya’s seafront promenade?

Dear Editor
I have been visiting Pattaya for the past 10/11 years and have seen great improvements with such things as the Walking Street, but what is happening to the promenade along the beach? I cannot recall when there have not been large and dangerous excavations along the seafront. Doesn’t anyone control this? It seems the works are going on forever and the contractors pay no heed to the health and safety of visitors.
NGG - London UK

Where are the solutions?

Editor;
What a pleasure it was to read the letter from N. Williams in the April 29 edition. Everyone living in Pattaya must surely be concerned with many of these important issues. Look at the reservoirs, they are almost completely empty! With still no sign of any substantial rains, continuous uncontrolled construction all around them, how does anyone expect them to refill? Pattaya will be a sad place with no water.

The recent clamp down by police on drunk driving and wearing of helmets was well managed and definitely reaped short term benefits. However, it’s clear today they it had no lasting effect as everything is sliding back to normal. Motorcyclists actually put the helmets on when approaching junctions where they believe the police maybe situated and then promptly take them off again after passing the junction. They just do not understand that the helmets save lives. Also, how long will the practice of 4 even 5 and sometimes 6 people to a motorcycle be tolerated? Another annoying practice is motorcycles with no lights, or just a front light poorly lit or blocked by a bag in the front basket. As cars approach and suddenly see the motorbikes in the shadows, almost hitting them the riders seem puzzled as to the problem.

Mr. Williams I believe like all of us loves Thailand and only wishes the best for everyone, but if the authorities fail to act in the interests of the people then sadly Pattaya will be a pitiful place to live.
Concerned Resident

Not Strange At All

Have you approached a certain place
Or knocked upon a certain door
Where you were really certain you
Had never been before?

And yet you had the feeling that
Sometime you had been there
And when you struggled to recall
It vanished into air?

Or have you ever met someone
Whose name was new to you
But who in some vague manner seemed
Like somebody you knew?

It is a vision weird that comes
Upon you now and then
As though you had been born before
And you were here again

It is a strange reaction, but
Don’t let it worry you
For it is just a fantasy
Most normal minds go through.

B. Phillip Webb Jr.

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