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The baht bus debate continues

Get over it

Tourist attacked by shopkeeper

Death penalty

Stockholm Syndrome and the baht buses

Noised off

Taxis and bananas

Beware of motorbike thieves

The baht bus debate continues

Editor,

Re the letters of the last two weeks: It is more stressful to pay 5 baht in the high season when tourists are often coughing up 20 baht and songtaew drivers seem to be more aggressive. Although ‘in the know’, nowadays I more often pay 10 baht as blaring of horns and nasty language tend to spoil my mood for the evening.

Two tier pricing is widespread in Thailand. I read that the new zoo in Chang Mai charges farangs 500 percent more than the Thai price. Unless it has changed recently I am told that national banks refuse to pay interest on deposits for foreigners. Songtaew drivers just try to get in on the act!

I have met Thais just in from the provinces who are embarrassed by this, but in the main Thais think it justified even though they mostly don’t like the drivers! In addition to helping out friends, I have often noticed that many Thai ladies will assist in lightening a farang wallet by way of excessive tips etc., to the benefit of fellow Thais they have not previously met and will likely never meet again.

But if the rates are 10 baht for farangs and 5 baht for Thais, why do foreigners with Thai partners (and indeed the partners themselves) continue to hand over 20 baht?

Carry plenty of coins and pay 15 baht. Then at least you will have the pleasure seeing the driver’s face when he thinks he has been ripped off 5 baht instead of vice- versa.

Ken Bromley

Get over it

Dear Editor:

For over 8 years I have been reading all of the complaints about the baht taxi fares. Once and for all, it is 5 baht for Thais and 10 baht for all the rest of us; more if you are going from Naklua to Jomtien. This annoyance about whether it is 5 or 10 baht is too much to swallow day after day. The Thais need the money and we don’t, so give them a break and pay the 10 baht. If that is too much for your pocketbook, then go home and stop being a ‘cheap charlie’, your type doesn’t belong here in the first place.

I never could stand people who quibble over a few cents anyway, and don’t re-hash that old argument about principle ... get over it! 10 baht or even 20 baht for a ride around the city is a bargain and you all know it. If everything was truly relative, you would only be paying 25 baht for a beer, and not 50 or 60 baht plus, and I don’t hear any complaints about that from any of you complainers.

Yes, these baht taxi drivers are mostly an annoyance with all the ‘beep beeping’ at people, and stopping at every street, when it is obvious that if someone wants a ride, they will be looking for them and signaling to wait and not the other way around. Give them the 10 baht and get on with your day.

Hyde Parke
Pattaya

PS - If you have been here over one year and still don’t speak any Thai, you are insulting your hosts.

Tourist attacked by shopkeeper

Dear Editor;

I was attacked by a shopkeeper with canon pepper spray for simply touching his punch bag hanging in the shop front. The man sprayed a huge amount into my face and eyes and I was overcome so I staggered away further along the shops, then stopped. I was helped by passersby with water to bathe my face and drink. One woman even offered to take care of me and offered me 2 pills without her knowledge what they were, when I asked!

I asked for police, then when they arrived brought them to the shop and shopkeeper. I then awaited tourist police, as no one spoke enough English. (Eventually) I accepted B500 as compensation and was told I should have asked for B2000! The shopkeeper was very nasty and even mad saying next time, he will do it again. Pepper spray is legal here too!

Sincerely,
Michael McGovern
British Expat

Death penalty

Dear Editor:

Although Dr Michael Catalanello makes some good points in his arguments against the death penalty (Psychological Perspectives, Dec 23), he overlooked the most important point of all which is that innocent people often end up on death row. Several years ago DNA testing in the American state of Illinois showed that nearly half the people on death row were innocent.

A wealthy but guilty defendant can hire great lawyers (O.J Simpson - who in my opinion was guilty as hell - comes to mind) and beat the rap, while a man who is innocent but poor may have to settle for an incompetent lawyer who is no match for a shrewd prosecutor.

Another problem with the death penalty is that in America a black person who is convicted of killing a white person is far more likely to be executed than a white person convicted of killing a black person.

Wouldn’t a better alternative to the death penalty be life imprisonment without parole? Then if it turns out the convict was innocent he can always have his freedom restored.
Eric Bahrt

Stockholm Syndrome and the baht buses

Editor;

This is my response to a letter responding to my original letter to the editor. I write the Pattaya Mail every year with my current thoughts about the thieving baht bus drivers. Every year some falang is flushed out of the hole he resides in only to opine about how he doesn’t care that he is cheated on a daily basis. Back in the States, we call this the Stockholm Syndrome or Patty Hearst Syndrome where the abducted (baht bus rider) sides with the abductor (thieving baht bus drivers). Usually excuses are given by the farang afflicted with the mental disease: we are too fat so we use more gas and seat space. This is a nice theory but I often see very thin decrepit farang still stinking from alcohol and the cigarette hanging from their dry lips who take up no more space than any Thai.

Many health professionals have studied Stockholm Syndrome but I think they should base their studies here in Pattaya. With bar girls cheating farang and vice-versa, alcoholism, addictions of all kinds sexual and non-sexual we have a wonderful microcosm of poor mental health as exhibited by those who will write a newspaper to tell us that is alright to be cheated. We should pity this poor creature. If Mr. Lee would like to help, I will start a foundation. We can fund it by putting a cup on each baht bus where mentally healthy farang who don’t like to be cheated can drop the 5 baht coin that would have otherwise gone to the thief in front of the wheel into the cup where we can then pay for the mental health needs of those such as Mr. Frank Lee who enjoy being cheated.
Howard Bloom
Jomtien Beach

Noised off

Editor;

Why is nothing done by the local authorities regarding the amount of basically open air karaoke bars that appear to be opening up? By open air we shall say no walls with straw / thatched type roof.

I have lived for a number years in a residential village (Country Club Villas) behind Greenway Golf, off Sukhumvit Road. Some time ago an open air restaurant opened up very near to the village and other residences. This quickly turned into an alcohol selling restaurant, come karaoke bar. Which, despite numerous complaints to the owners and authorities continues to blast out the usual quality of karaoke accompanied singing (I use the word loosely), but I do mean blast out. To the extent where sitting outside is at times just not on.

The volume rises to the level whereby the noise (better term than singing) is clearly heard inside one’s house, even with the doors closed. This can continue into the very late hours, which usually depends on how drunk the so called singers are.

Representation to the authorities resulted in residents being informed that open air karaokes were not allowed. On being informed that one existed, residents were told that action would be taken. This later became a suggestion that a petition be drawn up with as many signatures as possible. When this was presented, residents were informed that the full name of the owner was required (no one bothered to ask).

However, from this a second question comes to mind, ‘Should not the food serving, alcohol selling, music playing open air establishments not be licensed and therefore the owners known to the authorities?’

Basically: Is it correct that open air karaoke bars are not allowed? If they are not, why are so many people fed up of living next to one?
Eric Carter

(For and on behalf of all karaoke bar pestered people)

Taxis and bananas

Dear Ed,

This really did happen last month, on my last visit to Pattaya. I got on a baht bus outside the old Pattaya Shoe, and pressed the buzzer near the 2nd set of lights. Like others I am quite happy paying 10B, but I got off, gave him a 20 baht note, and he refused to give me any change!

I proffered again thinking he was joking, alas no, he said you fat man, you 2 people you pay 20B. He was not going to give any change. If it had been a long trip I may even had gone along with it ... but not for 3/4 mile. More to the point, yes I am big 6 foot 4" and big, but not fat!

Anyway, on the passenger seat was a bunch of bananas, so I took it upon myself to take my 10 baht in fruit, and walked off with them. He shouted a fair bit of abuse, but sadly he had to move on as he was at the lights, and they had turned to green.

I was on my way past several bars and the girls found it highly amusing me carrying them (so did I). I never eat fruit so was more than happy to give them to a bar girl, as of the bin!
Robert
England

Beware of motorbike thieves

Dear Readers,

I know there has been previous letters written on this subject but feel after being robbed of my handbag last night that I should bring it to your attention and be very aware this is happening on a daily occurrence. I was robbed at 7.30 p.m. in Soi Diana Inn by two men on motorbikes. I have lived in Thailand for five years and my husband is Thai. It is such a shame that these few bad people taint the image of the rest of the wonderful friendly Thai people.

Yours faithfully,
Carol Reid

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