HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Walk, it’s better for you

Public safety in Places of entertainment

Googie responds

Bangkok is dangerous for Businessmen!

Unfriendly to foreign investors

Not pleased with the British Embassy’s new Visa Section

An ATM for every farang?

Walk, it’s better for you

Hi Pattaya,
I’ve lived here in Pattaya for 15 years and run a well know restaurant. I am not one of those “nothing else to do writers” to this column, I just want to clear some things. For the “nothing else to do” complaining people, please note the following:
1. If you think the baht buses are cheating you, walk; it’s good for your health, or try motorcycle taxis - see the difference.
2. If you think vendors are cheating you, don’t buy, or just try the European markets.
3. If you think Pattaya is not safe, go on holiday in Brussels, New York or Paris, try to have a moon walk after 7 p.m.
4. If you think Pattaya is polluted, try healthy Phnom Penh.
5. If you think Pattaya is corrupt, try other South East Asian countries, or your own.
6. If all this is not good, what are doing here?
Just a memo for the local police: Please stop car parking in Soi Diana Inn, it’s a mess to cross with the car!
FF

Public safety in Places of entertainment

Dear Sir/Madam;
I am surprised at the last of hard hitting critical comment with regard to public safety in places of entertainment following the fire at Route 999 disco. The same group operates a disco on the junction of Soi 4 and Beach road which has NO fire exits. However, I think the worst example of the lack of safety is the disco on Walking Street where there is only one tiny entrance/exit. A fire or emergency there would be a disaster. Who is in charge of public safety? Why are you not as a newspaper campaigning to protect the safety of your readers and the public at large?
Mick Goldstein

Googie responds

Dear Editor,
I write in response to the letter from Herbert R. Powell, which I imagine is about my restaurant, Googie’s in Soi Day/Night. Mr. Powell is a most welcome diner at the restaurant and I thank him for his compliments about the quality of the food, service and decor. With regard to the price of his favourite breakfast, Mr Powell states our price has rose from 95 baht to 150 baht; sorry but that statement is wrong. If you check the menu the price is in fact 120 baht. It is a simple fact that 95 baht is no longer a realistic price for this very full plate.
Since opening in October 2005, we have been hit by two rent increases and very large rises in the cost of all meats (steak, sausages, bacon, etc.) and Mr. Powell’s research into the financial press could not have missed a tremendous hike in the price of fresh coffee beans (no instant coffee at Googie’s). In addition, I have indeed raised the salaries of the staff as well as provided full “medical cover” for them all. Also may I state I am not just the farang owner, I have a full work permit and as such pay all local tax and VAT and believe me sir that’s not cheep. Seems to me most people come to Thailand today thinking prices have stood still, well I am sorry they have not.
I can assure Mr. Powell that there will be no cynical variation to the prices at Googie’s according to the season and I hope your readers will agree that 120 or 150 baht for the Irish breakfast represents very good value for “one of the best” breakfasts in town (I’m not sure it would be possible to get anything more on the plate), and served with more than just a mere smile.
We look forward to serving Mr. Powell again soon along with any of your readers who would like to give us a try for themselves.
Yours,
“Googie”

Bangkok is dangerous for Businessmen!

Editor;
Just a little info on the dangers of being drugged and robbed in Bangkok, and the problems with corrupt and inefficient police:
OK, it’s my fault that on my second night in Bangkok I was drugged when someone slipped something in my coffee - in a sandwich shop near Nana Sky train station! I had gone to Bangkok to attend the Bangkok International Gift Fair.
I woke up 14 hours later in my hotel room. I had been robbed and the room ransacked. I went to the reception desk to report the robbery and was told to walk to the nearest police station. I walked a total of 8 kms that morning as I had no money.
I asked the hotel about the security video so I could understand how I got to the hotel. They refused to show me, or the police. They later said the video was “lost”. The hotel told the police that I had the key in my pocket (not true), that I often stayed there (not true) and “always” took prostitutes to the hotel (not true). Later the hotel manager said I had picked up the key from the desk, but the register was not completed.
Now my real problems started! The police were worse than useless! I have had no success in getting the Thai authorities take any notice. The police have now “lost” fingerprints and urine tests, looking for Rohypnol. They did not interview staff at the subway shop. They have told my Thai speaking wife that they were not interested in following up because they had learnt the “truth” from the hotel about what happened.
I later spotted the woman I suspect of spiking my coffee. She also matched the description given me by the sandwich shop staff. I called the tourist police but they refused to come.
Last week a Bangkok policeman was drugged and robbed. He died...
Disgusted

Unfriendly to foreign investors

Editor;
Yesterday my attorney went into the Pattaya Land Office to register a land transfer for a parcel of land in Pattaya from a private Thai name (seller) into a Thai company name (buyer). I (a farang) was listed as a 49% shareholder and five Thais were listed as the 51% shareholders in the company. For many previous transactions over many years, this has always satisfied the government regulations and the name change on the land title deed papers was always approved. Now - so sorry - new government directive from Bangkok. 1) all shareholders must be present at the land office and their identities verified for this type of transfer to occur, 2) if there are any foreign shareholders, the change will not be approved. Over forty transactions were rejected the first day of this new directive. Effectively this prevents any foreigner from investing in new property transactions; land or houses in Thai company names and condo projects exceeding the 49% foreign ownership rule. Way to go Thailand - a great way to make this country investor friendly!
Signed,
Looking Elsewhere

Not pleased with the British Embassy’s new Visa Section

To the Editor;
I would like to express my feelings in respect of the recent administrative changes which have taken place in the Visa Section of the British Embassy, Bangkok. Gross negligence and inefficiency have resulted in a six week delay in my return to England with my Thai friend. Many requests by telephone have been ignored and it took two letters before I received a short reply directing me to submit the application to the new section that deals with the investigatory duties relevant to visa applications.
My friend has been granted a visa on seven occasions, on the last five the whole process has been conducted by post.
Now, despite of this record, I have feelings of apprehension because of the negative tone of the staff within the embassy walls, and the letters of complaint that have appeared in the Bangkok Post recently. These have to be read in their entirety in order that the full impact of the bitter discontent can be appreciated. Here are a few extracts: “inquisition with a dragon lady” (Peter Bailey), “this is deplorable” (Ron Martin), “the discourteous treatment of some visa applicants” (John Shepherd), and “there is no better way for a Thai citizen to be insulted … pay 3,500 baht and visit the British Embassy in Bangkok” (Cho - Am, Jamal). These extracts give a fair idea of the scathing indictments that focus on the negative attitude of Visa Section staff.
My apprehension regarding this new company has made me consult an agent who is giving me advice regarding supporting evidence for the application, with the hope that it will be sufficient. Because of my complete ignorance of these changes I did not bring my bank statements, so it is feasible that a pedantic official will deem my evidence of income as being inadequate, which would prevent the application from going forward. The new company is V.F.S. (Thailand) Ltd., 2nd Floor, Regent House, 183, Rajdamri Rd., BKK. E-mail: [email protected] Website www.ukvac-th.com Agent tel: 06-1138111.
It is sickening to realize that British ex-pats are finding so much difficulty in obtaining visas for Thai nationals. The British people are putting up with the criminal activities of the riff-raff from continental Europe, some of which remain in the country after prison sentences – drawing state benefits. Thais in Britain, generally speaking, are well behaved and make positive contributions – So why is there so much resistance to them? It would be very interesting to examine the statistics relating to crimes associated with Thais in the U.K.; there is virtually nothing reported in the British press on this subject.
During this time of change, the Visa Section should be helpful and courteous, bearing in mind that people like myself who had no idea of altered procedures would not bring bank statements in view of previous requests being granted with no bother. I sincerely hope that this letter will put all ‘Brits’ in the picture and prepare them for the battle to be faced if a visa is to be sought.
Mr. B. Palmer

An ATM for every farang?

Sir,
It seems not so very long ago that during my visits to Pattaya I would, on a number of occasions, spend wasted hours traveling around Pattaya - sometimes even as far as Jomtien - looking for an ATM. It now seems that those days have long gone. During my recent visit to Pattaya I couldn’t help but notice the massive increase in the numbers of ATMs. Very convenient I must say! Could it be the intention that there will be an ATM for every farang?
James Bannister

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