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22 frustrating hours at the airport
Dear Sirs,
I endured 22 frustrating hours at Suvarnabhumi Airport last Tuesday and
Wednesday, whilst waiting for my Cebu Pacific Airlines Flight No. 5J 932 to
Manila, with a further connecting flight to Iloilo. I was to spend 8 nights
with friends at a hotel in Boracay, Philippines.
Due to the political protests, the check-in desk never opened, and the
flight was cancelled. Now I am informed by both the airline and the travel
agent, that I am not eligible for a refund. They want me to re-book, but as
I am due to return to the UK on 14th December, and there is now no hotel
booking, this is not feasible.
Had this happened in the EU, I would qualify for a full refund, under EU
laws. So, I have suffered the disappointment of losing the holiday, and the
loss of the return airfares, of around 12,200 baht, or 235 pounds as well.
But this is Thailand, where selfish political activists are allowed to close
down the capital’s International airport, severely disrupt tourists travel
and holiday arrangements, and rip them off financially. Because I stay in an
apartment, not in a hotel, I am also not eligible for the 2,000 baht daily
subsistence payment.
Will I return to Thailand in the future? Not if I can help it!
Steve Paul
England
Truly Amazing Thailand
Editor;
I was fascinated and saddened by this snippet in a national English language
daily:
“Sea freight is also blocked. Another vital supply has been broken by the
closure of the airports. Under the trade agreement with China, Thailand
imports temperate fresh produce not normally grown here. Form E must be
certified by the Royal Thai Customs before clearance can be gained to exempt
duties and taxes of up to 40%. Thai customs have located this vital process
to Suvarnabhumi Airport and the person responsible has not been at work
since last week. More than 400 tonnes of time and temperature sensitive
fresh produce are rotting in Laem Chabang Port with no-one available to
endorse the vital E form!
Sad but true!
Two things that rather saddened me: during the airport closures many
countries eventually reacted to the plight of their nationals in Thailand
and were offering help. Not so the Brits, the Hon. Consul in Pattaya said on
the local radio, “We can help with advice but not with finances, that has to
be organized as best as possible on an individual basis by the individual.”
Not the Hon Consul’s fault, he is a splendid fellow “Just following
directions from on high!”
Immigration responded splendidly by announcing that overstays caused by the
closure of the airports would not be charged the 2,000 baht per day and in
response to complaints that the toilets at Immigration in Pattaya were
disgusting they closed them down. Obvious solution!
Living here is certainly not boring!
RW
1337 works against noise pollution
Editor;
An open letter to Mayor Ittiphol, Pattaya’s police chief and the editor of
Pattaya Mail.
I want to thank all three of you for making 1337 work against the noise
pollution I have experienced as a resident of Center Condo on Pattaya Tai. I
have had a problem with the loud music played by a daytime music vendor for
over a year. Then the a night market opened 4 months ago and my nighttimes
become awful. That music vendor had a much larger speaker than the daytime
vendor and played loud music from 7pm until six the next morning. I was
living in a noise pollution hell 23 hours a day every day.
Then I read a letter to the editor saying that I could call city hall at
1337 to report noise pollution for help. I decided that moving my condo was
not possible and I needed help if this was ever to be a livable place again.
I am pleased to report that I have gotten a positive response from the
excellently trained professional English-speaking people who answer the
phone there. They have been super. The police have been sent out to the
noise offenders every time and the noise volumes were turned down
significantly. I must give a big thanks to all of city hall’s 1337 operators
and to the police who never failed to go tell the offenders to turn down the
volumes.
For anyone using 1337 though they must be patient after they report a
problem. The police have other more pressing things they must take care of
first at times. And the polluters will press to see the limits. They may
wait an hour or 2 and then turn up the volume full again. Or they may wait
until they think you may have gone to bed and do the same. One vendor
started every night playing very loud to see if I had gone out for the
evening. And so they will play games. I urge all of you who are having
problems with noise pollution to call 1337. You will get a nice helpful
person every time.
And I sincerely thank the editor of the PM for giving me information about
this important tool to combat this problem.
Sincerely,
Uplana at Center Condo
Thanks to the thieves
Editor;
While I certainly do not condone the ever increasing crime rate in and
around Pattaya, it’s good to see someone taking up the slack for the police
(Student’s motorbike stolen) in unintended ways. A 7th grader has no
business on the public roads, yet it is all too common in here.
Let’s hope these thieves continue their work getting these spoiled brats off
the roads.
Why don’t these parents just purchase their little darlings guns? It’s not
much different from a motorcycle.
Scott Benson
Caution motorcycle riders
on Sukhumvit Highway
Editor;
I’m sure some of you are aware of the nice repaving of areas on Sukhumvit
Highway, Jomtien, Pattaya area. If you’re riding a motorcycle or a bicycle,
be very careful if you’re going to make a right turn. When they repaved the
highway they left a raised lip between the center divider and where you’re
riding to make a right turn, leaving a narrow space between. Even if you’re
an experienced rider you can have an accident. I’m an experienced rider and
I almost went down. I have also seen a few people have accidents in that
motorcycle lane. What we learn from one might help us for another. Be safe,
wear your helmet.
KOTO
Eric Bahrt’s warning about Angeles City
Sir’s;
I ask but two questions:
1. Eric Bahrt. Just what gives him the authority to comment in public about
another country and another city? Why does he not just comment on his own
country if he is such an expert?
2. What gives Pattaya Mail the right to print bad comments about
another country or city? In the last 13 years living between Philippines and
Pattaya I have never seen any published articles in a Philippine newspaper
written by foreign people giving such adverse comments about Pattaya. Are
you into world politics now?
Signed,
Kiwi Subic
Ed’s note: That’s 4 questions…
MJB possesses rare talent
Gentlemen,
I have been a reader of your fine publication longer than I care to mention!
Among the fine attributes of the newspaper is something I turn to with
anticipation each week: Life In Fun City by MJB.
I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting the gentleman, but he possesses the
rare talent of being an artist and capturing the flavor of the fun city
almost beyond comparison. His weekly renderings are humorous and to the
point. I identify with damn near everything he does. Were there more like
this man the world would be a better place.
Perhaps you could entice him to capture this brand of humor and adapt it to
the messed up world!
Fred Huff
Spoilt children throwing
temper tantrum
Editor;
As a resident of Thailand for over 13 years, and as a parent, the political
protest situation reminds me of a spoilt child. Can’t get what I want when I
want, stamp feet, throw temper tantrum, in total disregard for anyone else.
I could be wrong but did not HM the King approve this new prime minister and
these middle class so called Royalist’s are now denouncing his choice? Is it
not reasonable for them to give the new administration a fare chance to
prove themselves before condemnation? If you include the improvement of life
for poor and the underprivileged, health care and education as vote rigging,
then every real democratic country in the world is wrong.
Now I am not saying that previous administration are saints. I always say
you can tell when a politician is lying when their lips move. But for an
administration to turn a country’s national debt around…
Regards,
Peter Pinfold
100 baht carpark surcharge
after midnight
Editor;
Tonight I used the Avenue Carpark on Second Road, arriving at 11:02 pm when
the carpark was emptying with many clear spaces. I did some shopping at
Villa Supermarket and then decided to take a baht bus into town.
I returned at 3:05am and was prepared to pay the extra 40 baht parking fee.
On leaving, they demanded 140 baht saying that there is now a 100 baht
surcharge for using the carpark after midnight. (Villa is advertised as a 24
hour supermarket.) This is new as I have used the carpark often and never
been asked for this surcharge before.
When I pointed out that no such surcharge was on the pricing notices affixed
to the entry/exit booths, the cashier pointed to small writing on the back
on the ticket saying it listed the fee. The writing was so small that I
could not read it even with reading glasses.
When I said I wanted the tourist police to come and sort it out, as the 100
baht fee was not on the price notices, they called a supervisor and after
about 5 minutes deep discussion, they let me out the carpark for 60 baht,
which was still over the 40 baht fee as defined on the carpark fee notice.
Graham Hunt-Crowley
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