HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Loy Krathong and ATM scam

Traffic situation costing lives

Image is everything but why not add some reality to the perception?

Handbag theft in Pattaya

Loy Krathong and ATM scam

Aloha Pattaya Mail;
Loy Krathong is a wonderful time for loved ones and friendships. As I have been cleaning the beach in Jomtien after the festivities, I have found that many krathongs were made with natural materials, but I also found many with nails through the banana leaves. Thousands of them have drifted to the shore line and now are rusting and dangerous to the beach goers. I also found many were made from foam not banana.
I’m sure years ago they were more user friendly, same as the kom loy. I think before they used bamboo instead of wire. It takes a little longer to make, but you’re not leaving rusty wire, which is dangerous to us and wildlife. I’m sure many of you might think I’m a nitpicker, and you’re right. I’m here for the long hall and I have concerns for you all - Mother Nature, the children and the wildlife.
If any of you are on the beach as often as I am, you would see the destruction of all of our waterways. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize we all need to take an active part in turning around the self destruction we are all a party to.
On another note, on 08/11/06, at around 12:20 p.m., two Asian men around 25 to 35, tried to rip off my ATM card at the Family Mart’s Siam ATM machine. They took off on a motorcycle with a white license plate, bottom number 50 (maybe a rented bike). I would like to nail them before they rip off many more. They did a good job, but the keeper of the ocean was just a bit smarter (thank you Buddha). If the bike was rented, I’m sure there would be a record. I also have two Thai people that saw them, so if we can pick them up, we can point them out. It is the least I can do to try and clean up our playground.
Speaking about cleaning up our play ground, I want to thank Pattaya Mail TV, production manager Paul Strachan and his crew for meeting myself, Steve 1, Steve 2 and Fun at 7 a.m. at Ocean Marina to do a special on what just four people can do in a few hours waster-sizing, and all the wonderful Thai children that gave a helping hand.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
The Keeper Of The Ocean
[email protected]

Traffic situation costing lives

Editor;
I know wars and battles having lived fought in World War II (The big one); nothing compares to the endless battle with city hall over the death and dismemberment at the hands of city hall officials.
First we had to endure (and still do) Pattaya Thai being ripped to shreds where two lanes of traffic became one. The ensuing snarl of traffic both on Pattaya Thai and from Sukhumvit became a cauldron of death and injury. Do the people who dig these holes, then leave them open have any thought in their heads as to the mayhem left in its wake? When two lanes of traffic turn into one, inevitably there will be accidents.
Now Sukhumvit approaching the right turn to Pattaya Klang is backed up for at least a kilometer. The same thing is taking place, a hole is dug, it is left there with no work performed and traffic that was using two lanes is now using only one. The domino effect from Pattaya Klang all the way back to Sukhumvit for kilometers creates a dynamic where people die or become seriously injured.
Retired Colonel Lloyd Bonafide,
US Army
Pattaya, Thailand

Image is everything but why not add some reality to the perception?

Editor,
I find it very interesting that the politicians in Pattaya have made such a big deal about budgeting 16 million baht for public relations to make Pattaya’s image better. Why don’t they just make Pattaya better and the word of mouth will spread on its own? As you might recall, my husband Steve Dooley was treated unmercifully by the baht bus drivers in Pattaya. In addition to double charging us because Steve is too slow to get on and off the bus do to his fragile medical condition, we were also ridiculed by the baht bus drivers and some of the passengers.
One horrific day’s happenings is seared into my brain, I will never forget the name nor the face of the baht bus driver who yelled at Steve when he tripped and fell onto the floor of the baht bus because the baht bus driver pulled away before he was fully inside. A few of the Thai riders pointed their fingers at Steve and laughed, causing him 3 days of depression in “fun city”. I have never experienced such heartlessness for people to bask in my husband’s misfortune. We will probably never return to Pattaya no matter how much money the mayor spends on his propaganda.
Bobbi Dooley
President Western Estates
Western Estates, California

Handbag theft in Pattaya

Editor;
On the 9th November whilst walking back to our hotel in Pattaya on a stop over, a scooter with two persons on board traveling towards us in one of the sois off Beach Road grabbed my girlfriend’s handbag from her side. I ran in hot pursuit of them and was joined by local Thai men on their scooters but they got away in the traffic on Beach Road.
Now I have come to Pattaya on many occasions with my girlfriend but have never had any trouble like this, nor was aware of any repeat crimes such as this being common place.
We were told by locals that this is a growing problem and seems to be linked around the salary time of the month. These people seem to pick on quiet sois with little or no people except of course the ones they want to rob. So that this makes for an easy get away/plus no witnesses I guess other than the victims.
Now we thank ourselves lucky that we were not shot or stabbed for our belongings. They did make off with about 800 pounds worth of our gear, camera, money, phone, etc, but would like to see an effort of some kind being made by the media and the local police to try and stop this from happening again, plus to warn people visiting Pattaya that this is going on right now and to be more careful, as in do not carry anything with you valuable at night if you can help it.
We are street wise and live in Bangkok and always protect our belongings as best a possible, my girlfriend had a good grip of her handbag but with the strength and the speed of the scooter it was too much for her. I had grabbed her away from them as they nearly knocked her over in the process.
Regards,
Julian

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