A night to remember: “Thank You for the Music”

Dear Editor,

I was recently invited to a charity function at the Jomtien Garden Hotel. I must confess that I went reluctantly as I have attended many of these so called events over the years and have left somewhat disappointed.

Well that was not the case last Monday 31st January. We were all in for a show that had the audience standing and dancing in the aisles. Don’t let anybody tell you here in Pattaya (it was) “same same”, as this was a well produced show that entertained from Rock music to Opera. I cannot remember the names of the performers, who were incidentally all Thais and not imports, but the entire evening was perhaps the best night my husband and I have had here in Thailand over the last 14 years, and the best part was that not only did you get great entertainment and value for money it was all done for charity. In particular the backing band and singers were exceptional.

I hope this letter may find its way to the organizer and they will consider putting it on again so all those who didn’t attend could enjoy as much as we did. Well done performers; great night, great performance, let’s show Bangkok we can do it here in Pattaya.

From a very happy Pattaya resident.
Mrs Maureen Johnston-Smith

Was Lipton Tea reading?

Dear Editor:

Great news! I recently had a letter in your newspaper complaining about how Lipton Tea was engaging in cruel animal research. I’ve just been informed that after receiving 40,000 emails, Lipton Tea has agreed to end all animal tests. For publishing my letter you should pat yourself on the back since you contributed to our effort to end that barbaric research.

Contrary to what some people may think, “little people” like us can and do make a difference.

Eric Bahrt

Pedestrian lights a welcome relief

Editor;

Returning to Pattaya after being away for 6 months, what do I find? Pedestrian lights. What a welcome relief, providing the authorities can educate some drivers to stop when it is red. To be fair the majority do, but like everywhere there is a hardcore who will always try to be clever and go through them.

Now that we have the lights, wouldn’t it be good if we could get the public toilets brought up to a hygienic standard? I do not think anyone minds paying 5 baht if the money is used to keep the facilities up to standard. No doubt your readers have a gripe about one facility; mine is the first one after the police box on Dongtan Beach. This one is totally disgusting.

Yours,
John
Wales UK

Victim of road rage

Dear Editor;

I am a victim of a road rage here in Pattaya. I was struck by a car on my motorbike. The car deliberately ran me off the road in a rage. I am now left with a broken leg and broken shoulder in 5 places and will be on a wheelchair for several weeks, and four months estimated until I recover.

Morgan Freeman

Safety should be first

Dear Sir,

On Thursday, 3rd February, I watched the Chinese Dragon Parade taking place outside Friendship supermarket, an annual event, but one I haven’t attended for many years. It was an enjoyable spectacle, but was marred at the end by an accident that revealed once again the lack of concern for safety that is so often apparent in Thailand. The climax of the show was a symbolic battle between a boy perched on the end of a bamboo pole about 8 to 10 metres high and the paper dragon being manipulated by a human tower on a nearby bamboo structure. At the end of the show the boy’s pole was lowered to the ground, but when he was still about 3 metres from the ground the pole snapped and he fell to the ground, landing on his back. It was obvious that the bamboo was rotten, probably as a result of termite infestation. It appeared that there had been no attempt beforehand to test the strength and integrity of the pole.

The distraught father picked the boy up and carried him to another spot, an action that was understandable, but ill-advised in view of the possibility of spinal injury. The boy should have been examined by a medically trained person before being moved. After about five minutes the boy revived and was able to stand up and walk. Miraculously he seemed to have suffered no more than shock, but he should have been sent to hospital for an X-ray to ascertain whether there had been any internal injury. As far as I could see this did not happen.

For want of a few simple safety precautions this event could so easily have ended in a terrible tragedy. I would like to think that lessons will be learned from this to avoid a similar accident in future, but I suspect that is a forlorn hope.

Yours faithfully,
Andrew Stewart

A night to remember: “Thank You for the Music”

Was Lipton Tea reading?

Pedestrian lights a welcome relief

Victim of road rage

Safety should be first