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Mail Bag |
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Justice for all?
Editor;
While accepting that non British readers may not
interested in Britain’s areas of social injustice many old British codgers
like myself welcomed Des Gillet’s letter to David Cameron. Whether our
illustrious Prime Minister is really coming to the Land of Smiles courtesy
of the British tax payer I do not know, but whether he does or does not I am
sure if Mr. Gillet organises a bus for us old codgers, which we will
contribute to from our meager pensions, we will join him for a banner waving
protest at is holiday destination or the British Embassy.
It is a shame that ‘The Forces Sweetheart’ Dame Vera
Lynne is well past her ‘best before date’ like most of us or we could have
asked her to wage war for us as did Joanna Lumley for the Gurkas.
Ron Martin
Sattahip
Ignoring pedestrian crossing signals
Editor;
As reading the article last week regarding the new
signals I just have to comment. I hope this isn’t viewed as Thai bashing but
I think the mayor and officials who came up with this bright idea should go
out some nights and view for themselves - what a waste of money!
It is matter of time before someone is killed using these
lights. I did an unofficial survey on several nights where these lights are
placed and this is my conclusion. There are a number of signals on Beach Rd.
but they are seldom used and when they do, most vehicles don’t stop for the
pedestrians. The pedestrians are safer if they cross on their own rather
than allowing the newly install signals to give them the right of way! On
Second Rd, outside Central Festival to Pattaya Klang this long stretch has
no signals and there are plenty of pedestrians that need to cross!
When at the signals I rarely see anyone, including Thais,
using the signals and when they were used no one bothered to stop until the
pedestrian was right in front of the vehicle. Luckily the pedestrian didn’t
just assume they have the right away and looked, otherwise they would be
dead.
As for motor scooter stopping the answer is of course NO!
With vehicles driving so close to each other on several occasions I rode my
motor scooter down Beach Rd., and on two occasions I was lucky to catch the
red signal. On the first occasion when I stopped the car behind nearly hit
me from behind and started to sound the car horn rudely! The second time the
songthaw and motor scooters went around me and crossed the red signal nearly
hitting the pedestrian.
All in all for the money and time that was spent no one
ever uses the signal. To be honest it is safer to cross Beach Rd. the old
way than use these signals. Using them is like putting yourself in the
middle of a bullseye waiting to be run down! This is an accident waiting to
happen!
The intentions were good, just like wanting to build the
monorail, but I say save your money with all these bright ideas. Until you
can fill a pothole that doesn’t need to be filled again the next day, I say
save your money! Otherwise I suggest the mayor and the officials go out one
night without all the cameras and try crossing at these pedestrian signals.
But before that please appoint a replacement!
Jeff Chumunci
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Something should be done
about noisy South Pattaya Road
Editor;
If noise, as doctors say, leads to heart attacks and
stokes, then something should be done about all the noise in the South
Pattaya Road area, one of the noisiest areas in Pattaya. It really takes
more than ear plugs, tranquillizers, and intestinal fortitude to deal with
all the racket.
The creation of two huge parking lots across the road
from each other on South Pattaya Road is responsible for most the noise. One
of the parking lots is in Wat Chaimongkol and the other on the athletic
field of public School #8. The Wat lot takes care of the parking for noisy
events on the school field, and the school athletic field takes care of the
parking for Wat religious services. It’s somewhat of a symbiotic
relationship. I might add that Wat Chaimongkol has now expanded its parking
facility. There is now a 5 story parking garage. The fact that the city only
allows parking on one side of South Pattaya Road leads to greater use of
parking facilities. And add the 24/7 market with its accompanying all night
music and you have pure bedlam.
I wouldn’t presume to know everything that needs to be
done to make the South Pattaya Road area healthy once again. I do know that
many people are moving into inner city areas and they deserve some peace and
quiet. They are very tired of continual noisy performance. If it’s customary
to let it all hang out (I don’t believe this is the case, I’ve spoken to
many Thais and they are just as outraged as falangs) then I apologize for my
remarks. I would just like to suggest that a lot of these noisy performances
be kept under cover, and that loud speakers be confiscated if people don’t
know to keep them under control. They are dangerous instruments in the wrong
hands.
R. Standiford
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Shocking news
Dear Pattaya Mail:
A couple weeks ago I read in your paper that bars on
Soi 6 had been raided because they were actually fronts for
prostitution, and even provided rooms in the upper floors for such
activity. Now you report in your current issue (5 November) that a
massage parlor in Soi Buakaow was raided for providing extra services
besides massages and even provides condoms.
Wow! Who would think that sort of thing would be
going on in Pattaya? You really know how to shock your readers!
RL Holt
Zebra crossings
Editor;
It seems to me that the ‘zebra crossings’ would be
more likely to be effective if some of Pattaya’s finest were on the
scene to enforce these pedestrian crossings, instead of sitting in their
air-conditioned huts, looking at the CC monitors. I know that it doesn’t
make the headlines like, ‘Drug Busts’, or ‘Farang accused of Paedophilia’
but, it would certainly improve the safety of those tourists who choose
to walk through town.
Just my humble opinion,
Douglas Meyer
Submission of Japanese Visa
applications is simplified in Sriracha
All general visa applications to Japan can now be
submitted at the Thai Post Intake Center in Sriracha, Chonburi. Applicants
will be able to submit applications at the Thai Post located at 7/1
Jemjomphon Road, Sriracha Sub-District, Sriracha District, Chonburi 20110.
All courier charges covering the transport of visa documents will be borne
by VFS Global, the outsource partner for visa processing with the Embassy of
Japan in Thailand. Please note that diplomatic and official passport holders
as well as applicants traveling to Japan for humanitarian emergencies should
still continue to apply for entry visas directly at the Embassy of Japan in
Bangkok.
With these expanded visa services, applicants in
Chonburi need not travel to Bangkok to submit their visa applications in
person at the VFS Center which is situated in Bangkok. Once a visa has
been processed, an applicant will have the choice of collecting the
passport at the Intake Center or having it delivered directly to their
doorstep. The Intake Centers are open from Mondays - Fridays 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m.
Normally, most visa applications take a minimum of 7
to 8 working days to process and return, beginning with the date of
submission at the Thai Post Intake Center. VFS Global and Thai Post will
be responsible only for the acceptance and handling of each application
but will have no influence over the decision to grant a visa. The
Embassy of Japan retains the discretionary right for the actual time
taken to process visa applications in Thailand. The prerogative of
review, control and assess each application will continue to be the sole
responsibility of the Embassy of Japan, Bangkok.
For more information or to place inquires about the
new services, interested parties should contact the VFS Call Center at
(02) 632-1541, send an email to: info. [email protected], or visit
our website: www.jp-vfsglobal-th.com.
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E-mail:
[email protected]
Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
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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
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