HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Two bicyclists attacked near Ambassador Jomtien

Re: Thailand coup

New visa regulations

Construction noise suggestions

Baht buses unfriendly to the handicapped

Storm drains & clean tires

New visa regulations

Two bicyclists attacked near Ambassador Jomtien

Editor;
On September 18, at 7:00 a.m., as two tourists were riding their bicycles near the train station on the road opposite the Ambassador Hotel, Jomtien, they were attacked by two Thai men on a motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle drove close to the bicyclists while the passenger swung a heavy fishing pole aiming for the face of the bicyclists.
Riding in a column the first cyclist was able to duck his head and the blow of the pole was deflected by his helmet on to his shoulders. As the second cyclist was concerned about the speed bump he was not able to see the attacker and was struck on the chin making him fall off the bicycle.
The attacker then got off of his motorcycle and attempted to take the backpack from the downed cyclist. A fight continued till the first cyclist was able to come to the aid of his riding partner at which time the attacker got back on the motorcycle and sped off.
No serious injuries were encountered but there will be several days of pain from the wounds encountered from the fishing pole and abrasions from the fall.
Bill

Re: Thailand coup

Dear Friends;
The situation is almost as if nothing has happened. Everyone is working, getting on with their lives, even the stock market had only a slight correction today and the baht is holding steady.
As Luzi Matzig, MD of Asian Trails was quoted recently, it was “a coup as smooth as silk” to paraphrase THAI International Airlines slogan. Even the military apologized for any inconvenience when they went on National TV yesterday. Something unheard of on previous occasions.
Airlines-all are operating normally and Bangkok Airways even started to use the new airport “Suvarnabhumi” ahead of the official opening which took place on Sept 28.
TTM - The Thailand Travel Mart is also still on - taking place next week with over 300 buyers still confirmed to attend.
Banks, schools... in fact everything is all open and operating as if nothing happened.
In order to prove sincerely that they do not want to hold onto power any longer than is necessary, the military re-affirmed that they will hand over power in 2 weeks time.
Yesterday I suggested it may take two weeks to get back to normal. Now I think it IS back to normal. My hotel occupancy has steadied and we will be running between 65-85% occupancy over the next 3 days and over 90% for the following week, which is a few percentage points above budgeted levels.
So I think this may well be my last update as I honestly do believe it was the quietest coup ever. In order to support the normalization of the Tourism Industry, please do feel free to pass this message on.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew J Wood
General Manager Chaophya Park Hotel, Bangkok
& Skål Int’l Councillor-Thailand

New visa regulations

Editor;
As usual a few irresponsible idiots spoil things for the majority. We all know it happens and I understand that the authorities want to prevent the abuse. But is this 90 day limit the answer? It seems to me that this is a case of “throwing the baby out with the bath water”.
Whilst individual farang might not bring a vast amount of money into the country, collectively the contribution to the economy is quite considerable. There must be a better answer. What is wanted is something between a tourist visa and the “retirement visa”. This cannot be too difficult to work out – can it?
Trevor Oakes

Construction noise suggestions

Editor;
There is no question that construction and growth are essential to Pattaya’s future. But there needs to be some regulation so that this industry does not interfere with residents’ peace and quiet, or offend the tourists who come to relax in Pattaya.
Most contracting companies are quiet and consider the neighbours around them. But a few make a bad name for the rest of the companies. A good example of this is a company building condos on Pratamnak Soi 1, directly across the street from Buddha Hill Temple. This company will go from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., disturbing the surrounding residents, visitors, the Wat devotees, and the Royal Residence nearby. Police and representatives from city hall have told them to stop the rudeness. But these owners and supervisors continue the very next day, as if immune to the directives of city hall and their enforcement arm. This smells of arrogance and unwillingness to observe the rights and culture of Thai people.
The obvious compromise to this problem would be to have enforceable legal hours of construction noise between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., with no construction at all on Sundays (Family Day) and National Holidays. Enforcement would be to give the construction company one warning. The second offence would be to fine the company 25,000 baht for the first offence, 50,000 baht for the second offence, and 100,000 baht for the third offence, with court action and cessation of building on the fourth and subsequent offences. Phone calls to the police should be acted on immediately, and the noise made to stop at once, and the resulting fine imposed.
Pattaya has such a great potential to grow and prosper as a quiet and relaxing tourist resort, but not as long as this serious problem in the infrastructure remains unaddressed.
Thank you,
Name supplied

Baht buses unfriendly to the handicapped

Editor:
My husband Steve and I came to Thailand for vacation and we plan to stay several more weeks. I am appalled at the treatment Steve and myself got from several baht bus drivers. When we got off the bus, we noticed that Thai people who got on the bus at the same time, only paid half the fare that was demanded of us. Steve to say the least is perplexed. We can’t figure out why they are getting charged less, unless it is because Steve took so long to get on and off the bus. My husband is a cripple from a stroke he suffered by not taking his medicine.
I only mention this because when we asked one driver why he charged so much he told us “you husband slow get on off”. We can’t believe that the people here would allow this to happen but it is true. Steve tries to get on the bus quicker now but they still charge us more money each time. Why is Pattaya so handicapped unfriendly?
Bobbi Dooley
West Hills, California
Staying at the Royal Cliff Hotel

Storm drains & clean tires

Dear Editor:
I read the letters with a bit of tongue in cheek and also raised eyebrows this week. The letter form the gentleman obviously from Hawaii, hit home with me a bit as I use to live in that beautiful state. The points he makes are quite valid. So long as those people doing the building here keep putting their garbage, refuse and construction waste in the storm drains Pattaya will continue to have flooding issues. Education is necessary to teach others that sending this junk to the sea is not the answer to proper disposal ... it only clogs the drains and causes more strain and drain on city resources. When responsible disposal is undertaken, progress can occur.
As to the satire on the clean tire program, it too falls back on this previously mentioned item here. In addition, unless and until the city fathers begin to act more responsibly the flooding will continue. My humble opinion is that construction on every available square inch (or centimeter) of land needs to be halted until the city and those doing the construction come to terms with the fact that the infrastructure here is not capable of supporting all the continued building here in Pattaya. The city and the developers need to build the infrastructure as part of any continuing construction projects. This must include adequate storm and sewer drainage to handle the heavy rains we get here in Thailand.
To further enforce what I am saying, there was a program approved a couple of years ago to place all the electric and power lines underground along Beach Road. This is a great idea since all those wires are not only unsightly but potentially dangerous. Yet the project was stopped in its tracks when “High Season” came back around. This project still has not been completed nor even restarted. In my opinion, I do not mind being inconvenienced for a few weeks or months if the end result is going to be a better and safer Pattaya. I have mentioned before we need to work together to make this a world class city and the attitude of ME, ME, ME won’t get it done.
I recall when Beach Road was a barely paved thoroughfare and Sukhumvit Road was only 2 lanes ... one each way. This city has made much progress since that time and unfortunately not all of it is good. Let’s find a good workable solution for all of us who not only visit Pattaya, we need a solution for those of who live here and call Pattaya home.
Jim Gilmore
Pattaya

New visa regulations

Dear Sir,
I must say I agree with James Bannister when he says that he feels that the new visa regulations are meant to keep out all the “undesirable Farangs”.
As there are so many ways to get a one year visa, marriage, retirement, and dare I say, work or business. Why would anyone with a brain want to have to go over the border once a month, unless of course they do have a criminal record, or a communicable disease, which prevents them getting a proper one?
Sounds to me like the authorities have it exactly right! I am sure Thailand can do without them.
Unfortunately you may have to find a new theme for page four of your paper (which I admit is the first page I read) without them!
Yours sincerely
James MacDonald
(Rayong)

News | Business | Features | Columns | Mail Bag | Sports | Auto Mania
Our Children | Travel | Our Community | Dining Out & Entertainment
Social Scene | Classifieds | Community Happenings | Books Music Movies
Clubs in Pattaya | Sports Round-Up

E-mail: [email protected]
Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
62/284-286 Thepprasit Road, (Between Soi 6 & 8) Moo 12, Pattaya City
T. Nongprue, A. Banglamung,
Chonburi 20150 Thailand
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596

Copyright © 2004 Pattaya Mail. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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