HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Under better than over?

Not so fast food troubles

Pattaya quiz

To catch a thief

Pack it in, pack it out

Radio station reasons

Pattaya bay radio?

Pattaya bay radio in Thai

Under better than over?

Dear Sirs,
Re: Letters from endangered pedestrians trying to cross Second Road in Pattaya or Sukhumvit in Bangkok.
I have the answer, city hall.
Forget those silly overhead pedestrian bridges. Instead, construct underground pedestrian tunnels with gently sloping entrances/exits under the road. They would provide risk-free crossing of busy roads and be user-friendly for the handicapped. Just an idea from someone who looks four ways before crossing on one-way street.
On the other hand, maybe we could organize a new Pattaya marathon with prizes for the speediest crossing of Second Road without body armor, dodging motorcycles with helmet-less children passengers. Sanuk!
Sincerely,
Arthur Lee Gordon

Not so fast food troubles

Dear Sir,
On Wednesday 21st Feb about 10.30pm I went to the ‘world famous hamburger’ drive-thru on Sukhumvit Rd for a late dinner after driving down from Bangkok. After waiting for 15 mins to get the food it was given to me without comment. When I asked the server if he could possibly say thank you, he responded with, “I look your face, I see you in Pattaya, you are dead!” I thought that ‘reputable’ establishment had a strict code of conduct. Perhaps I was most offended when I called over the female manager, who looked at me and then walked away totally ignoring me.
I received a comment from my 10 year old in the back seat asking why they are so rude. I was absolutely speechless to answer.
I’ve been living in Pattaya & Bangkok for the last 8 years and accept most things as culture differences but this is ridiculous.
Regards
Graham Jackson

Pattaya quiz

Dear Mailbag;
A small quiz for experienced Thai watchers. Can anybody help me with the reasons behind the following:
1. Large supermarkets such as Big C and Tesco will not allow customers to purchase alcohol during certain hours. However, in smaller places such as 7/11, Family Mart, and local Thai shops you can buy alcohol at any time.
2. Police will regularly stop motorbikes where the driver or passenger is not wearing a helmet (especially farangs), but when the school near where I live finishes each day, police will stop the traffic and allow out a whole convoy of students travelling home on their bikes, none of whom wear a helmet.
3. Police will occasionally arrest traders at markets and on the street who sell counterfeit goods, but there are two whole floors at a shopping centre on Pattaya Tai where illegally copied software and DVD’s are displayed openly for sale.
4. It is legal to work in bars if you are 18, but customers have to be 21.
5. Thailand is one of only a few countries to demand its departure tax to be paid in cash at airports and other departure points. All other countries with grown up computer systems add it to ticket sales and the money is passed into government coffers electronically.
Hopefully there are reasoned and sensible answers to these questions and perhaps the Pattaya Mail can publish any answers it has.
Regards
Lester

To catch a thief

Editor;
I was disgusted to see Pattaya police on Walking Street with the help of police volunteers rounding up flower sellers and buskers to be carted off to the police station for fining. Haven’t they got better things to do? These people are simply trying to earn an honest living. If a flower seller approaches me I just say “No thank you” - no problem! The buskers add colour to the place.
If the police want to tackle some real crime in this beautiful city, ask a couple of farang police volunteers in plain clothes to act as decoys and ride in a songthaew (especially along Soi Buakhao on market days) for a few hours with fat wallets full of paper and a couple of marked notes hanging out of their back pockets. With some plain clothes police riding at a discreet distance behind ready to make arrests. Same, same strolling along Beach Rd and Jomtien Beach at night.
You’d rid the place of the real pickpockets and bag snatching criminals within a week!
Robert Beswick
N Pattaya

Pack it in, pack it out

Aloha;
Just a short story on a bad subject: A few days ago I saw a mother with her one year old baby boy at the beach on Beach Rd in Jomtien, near Soi 6. The baby started choking and the mother was able to take two cigarette filters out of the baby’s mouth. Again, I need to talk to the people that smoke. Filters are made out of cellulose acetate tow, and after nicotine gets in the filter, the filter become toxic and can make children and wildlife very sick and sometimes kill. Please, please, dispose of your cigarette in a proper manner, not in storm drains. Buddha, God, children and the wildlife will thank you, plus all of us non-smokers. The life of the people is in the land.
Mahalo Nui Loa (Thank you very much)
KOTO (Keeper Of The Ocean)
pollutionsolutionthailand @yahoo.com

Radio station reasons

To: mailbag@pattaya mail.com
Dear Anon: With regard your favourite radio station, 103FM, and not being able to understand what they say, as most the adverts & some chat are in Thai let me give you a clue why this is so:
a) The Thai companies are the only ones willing to pay for the adverts on the radio & the talk is relating to the adverts.
b) Do you think if a German company approached them and asked to buy radio adverts in German would they refuse?
c) There are still a few more radio stations in Bkk that you can tune into to.
D) But if the worst comes to the worst, ever heard of internet radio? Go to your favourite radio station in your native country, and listen to thorough the net?
If all else fails, try your hi fi.
If that fails ... pass me the nails I’ll do it myself. (All said in good humour and jest)
Robert Splaine
(Part time resident for 26 years)

Pattaya bay radio?

Hello Editor,
I work at Pattaya bay radio 103FM as a DJ every weekday 8-10am, and I just wanted to give an explanation to the reader of last week’s letter about the considerable amount of Thai language on 103 FM.
1. Does this reader realise that this is a community station where the presenters get no pay! We do it for love.
2. The knock on effect is that the English speaking DJs are usually working over here, and are not available during the working hours.
3. We are a truly multi language station, with not only English and Thai spoken, but also Swedish and Norwegian spoken.
4. Another reason for Thai speaking DJs is that being in Thailand, to be granted our broadcasting license we have to output 40% Thai.
5. We now have a 24 hour worldwide listener audience on the web through our website, which is advertised every few minutes; here there is information in Thai and English, all about the station. http://www.pattayabayradio.com
6. We have advertisers in Thai as they believe that a lot of Thais also listen to the station - truly a community radio station.
Finally we are always on the lookout for new DJs; why not give the station a call on 038 245 740, and speak to Anna.
Support your local station!
Tell everyone about us, and make us the biggest and best in S. Eastern Thailand.
DJC

Pattaya bay radio in Thai

Editor;
I would like to comment on the letter from anon: Pattaya Bay Radio is a community radio station. First, a big thanks to the mayor of Pattaya and the governor of Chonburi Provence, for without them there would not be 103 fm. Under Thai law we must broadcast 60% English and 40% Thai. Also, everyone works very hard to keep the music going. We hope you enjoy our shows. The ads are in Thai if the sponsor wants it in Thai; ok, they are paying for air time. Also, all of the DJs are not paid - they do it for free to keep you entertained. We are volunteers and it’s hard to get good DJs that do not get paid. I hope you all keep listining.
Kuddly Ken (DJ) 103 fm

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