HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Use natural materials for making krathongs says deputy mayor

The PC Crowd

Not happy with Supersport

Little insects?

Use natural materials for making krathongs says deputy mayor

Aloha
Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon has asked citizens and tourists to make their krathongs out of natural materials when they take part in the Loy Krathong competition on November 24. It would have been wonderful if he had thought about the competition with Mother Nature and asked that “all” krathongs and komloy made should be made out of natural materials.
Last year and the years before, most of our lakes, streams and ocean was filled with foam, plastic, and rusting nails from the krathongs and rusty wire from the komloys, as most were made improperly. It was not that long ago that the people used only natural materials. Now, too many people are interested only in the baht and the easy way out. One would think that due to the fact that Loy Krathong is for loved ones and friendship, that we also should have love and friendship for Mother Nature. It is a shame that so many people are only interested in the baht, or their own personal lives, with no concerns or awareness about the children, or the future, of this place we call earth.
Mahalo Nui Loa (Thank you very much),
KOTO, Keeper of the ocean

The PC Crowd

Dear Editor:
The politically correct elitists never stop amazing me. I guess that’s why it’s Amazing Thailand. I must respond to “Stupid farang tricks”, because your paper is read internationally and some things in that letter went over the line. My original letter “Thailand is Thailand” pointed out that there are poor drivers everywhere and that excessive laws don’t stop stupid drivers. No one likes to be told they are 2nd rate, much less a whole society, especially in print. The author of “Stupid farang tricks” seems to think he knows something about Thailand, but only displays his boundless ignorance of Thais, Thai History, Thai Society, and the Thai Government; exceeded only by his arrogance. He not only has convinced himself that he is superior to other farangs, he forgets that he is a guest in Thailand. He condemns a society for not coming “close to a western standard”; and that’s over the line. I thank Buddha that these elitists become so mentally drained that after a few years they return home, but in the meantime they give me, my expat and Thai friends a good laugh over their shenanigans. Thais have a divine gift that allows them to tolerate us farangs, after more than 15 years, luckily some of this has rubbed off on me. But even the Thais have their limits.
One of the reasons that we in West have few “real” friends around the world is because we keep telling everyone how wonderful, (politically) correct, and smart we are. We send our “governments” out to convert everyone to “friendly” nations where we can do business. What a crock! Where do the PC types get off judging societies that have traditions and roots going back to B.C. Thailand is Thailand! By western standards, Thai drivers are not as “professional” as us westerners. But Thais for the most part try. Wide spread motorized transport is only about 25 years old here. Thais are generally more polite than the AAAA+ personalities that occupy the Beltway and most large American cities! Most Thais are not prone to road rage - it’s rampant in the Beltway. What PC types don’t understand is that Thais don’t want their government in their face all the time. The Thais I know, complain about too much government (and corruption). Thais understand that government is power and power eventually leads to oppression. Thais understand government, it’s most westerner’s that don’t; and this was part of the point I was trying make.
Here in America we are supposed to exhibit some minimal level of maturity behind the wheel, but since we, as my wife puts it, “Are in a hurry to die!”, we have come up with rules for every aspect of the driving experience which now replaces all aspects of common sense. As Ben Franklin said, “Common sense is truly uncommon,” and this is very much so in the West. I actually remember when driving was fun. Yes, using a car seat, a seat belt, a helmet, etc. are all good ideas (when I was a child, these things were options), but government shouldn’t be telling me how to live my life, raise my children, or what I should eat. If I want to take a short trip without my helmet that should be my call. If the wife wants to hold the baby for a 1 kilometer trip to the market when we won’t exceed 30 kph, I’m not going make a big deal of it. It’s about common sense and balance.
There are things I don’t like about Thailand, one is the double pricing. I can afford to pay, but it’s the reasons behind it that I object to; and just because Westerners have a lot of money, it doesn’t mean we are always right. A westerner may be able to afford what would be 2 months salary to a Thai for an “imported proper car seat,” but many Thais and even some expats can barely afford the payments on the “broken down, second hand” motorbike.
Many farangs come to Thailand for many reasons - I can’t stand winters. There are also poor expats in Thailand because their meager pension does not allow them an affordable living in their home country. Probably because of all the expensive laws, mandates, and high taxes. Why do we keep trying to import this to Thailand? Most expats come to Thailand to live a better, less stressful life, but I guess some people seem to come so they can feel superior to everyone else. To them I say, “Get a Life!” Thailand is not going to change just for you; and just maybe they reject the “western standard” and are trying to return to their tried and true traditions. Take and do a little touring of Eastern Thailand and you will find temples over 2,000 years old. These people had great societies when it was we that were the barbarians.
Pattaya Beach Bum

Not happy with Supersport

Editor;
On 30/09/2007 I purchased two sets of golf clubs for my kids from “Supersport” at Big C in North Pattaya. The clubs were on special and I thought they would be great starter sets for the youngsters. My daughter got Callaway and my 12 yr old son got “Hippo”. Two weeks after purchase the head flew off one of the Hippo drivers at the driving range, fortunately no-one was injured. We took the two pieces back to Supersport and the staff said it would go to Bangkok and it would be about one month before we learnt whether it would be replaced or not.
One week later the metal head of the 5 iron cracked open and under advice from a golf professional we stopped using the clubs to avoid injury. We took the club back to Supersport on 25/10/2007 (less than a month after purchase) and I asked the staff to give me a credit for the Hippo clubs and I would purchase a better quality set and they agreed to talk to their boss (the advertised duty manager was absent and we were informed she was in Bangkok). When we returned the staff member said that his boss only wanted to take the broken club to Bangkok and would inform me within a week of his verdict.
I asked to speak to the boss on the phone and was duly connected to a Thai man who snapped “Yes?” as if he had not been informed of my request. I repeated that I would like to upgrade to a better quality set of clubs as I was afraid for my children’s and other people’s safety. He stated that he would not do that but he would look at the damaged club and decide if he would replace it (I had been told that there was a 12 month warranty when I bought them). I asked him if he expected me to run up and down like a taxi driver bringing broken clubs back to his shop until they were all finished and he laughed at me! I asked him if I could give him the hospital bills if someone was injured and he said it was not his concern! I then asked him how he would feel if I wrote to the newspapers and he said he didn’t care! I asked him if he cared about my children’s safety and he said he didn’t care and that I should speak to him nicely.
I have bought trainers, socks, tennis and squash racquets, shorts, golf balls, tees, gloves, tennis balls, squash balls, badminton racquets, shuttlecocks and now golf clubs from this shop and I would ask your readers to judge for themselves if they would do business with this kind of establishment?
I have witnesses to all these incidents and have retained all receipts and returns as well as photos of the damaged clubs should anyone wish to see them.
Regards,
Uneasy Rider,
Chonburi

Little insects?

Editor;
Hi there, I wonder if any of your readers can shed light on some very strange little insects, under 1mm long, sort of silver. They stick themselves to the walls, usually near the ceiling and I don’t know how they get there in the first place.
I live on the 18th floor, they don’t seem to have any wings or lay any eggs that are visible. The resident geckos don’t seem to be interested in them, but I am!
Help,
RW

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