A dithyramb in our defense

Dear Sir,

Oliver Minto seems to me to be a momus and I think his “On the snooze”, Vol. VII No. 38 in bad taste. Thus, I thought up this dithyramb...

Pattaya Mail is a newspaper
Certainly not a snooze paper.
Although can cover face when snooze
On beach after drinking cool booze.

Local news not the only feature.
Social scenes in many a picture.
Adverts for the lonely mature...
Willing ladies in bars to greet yer.

What to do & where to go.
“Hillary” advises on heart-throbs low.
Crossword puzzles for brain flow.
Winners in sports with faces a-glow.

So read with zest the Pattaya Mail
And recall good times without fail;
The pleasures that Pattaya offers
You may have to dig in your coffers!

Fan of Pattaya Mail

Once bitten

Dear Editor,

I am concerned about the way a friend of mine was treated after being knocked from his motorcycle on Saturday, October 2. A black Jeep, that was out of control at the time, caused the accident. The driver was a young Thai employee of Sport Tires on Sukhumvit Road, South Pattaya. He had another young man with him.

My friend being concussed was not sure of what was happening immediately after the accident. However, the two occupants of the Jeep were quick to react and get him into the Jeep and his motorbike to the premises of Sport Tires, which was only a short distance away.

The Company made assurances everything would be taken care of as soon as the boss returned from Bangkok. My friend was taken home by another friend and his motorbike delivered later by two employees of Sport Tires. Once again assurances were made that the boss would take care of everything. The boss never even bothered to make contact.

The driver of the Jeep no longer works for Sport Tires and the company doesn’t have his address. The identity of his passenger is a mystery, and the black Jeep has disappeared. Sport Tires made an offer of 5000 Baht compensation. This was to come from wages owed to the culprit. This won’t cover the cost of X-rays and hospital visits, let alone pay for repairs to the motorbike.

Sport Tires deny liability although both the Jeep and the driver were allegedly in their care at the time of the accident.

One can only wonder what the consequences would be if the roles had been reversed!

Sincerely

A Concerned Resident

Going further with names and photos of pedophiles

Editor:

As a matter of introduction, I am the Executive Director of a small not-for-profit organization based in the U.S.A., whose “mission” involves helping orphaned teenagers in Asian, third world and emerging nations. I am also a person who is very new to the Internet, and because of a desire to learn more about Pattaya, I logged on to your Internet version of the Pattaya Mail.

I am writing in regard to a letter published in the 15 October 1999, Internet version of the Pattaya Mail. The letter from a Travis Pitt tried to castigate the “Mail”, and the Pattaya Police, for putting the pictures and names of farang pedophiles who have been arrested for having sex with children. I found his arguments to be lame, and the editor’s response to be right on target.

I however, would suggest taking the “names and photos” one more step, and have them mailed to the newspapers in the farang’s home towns. While I do not believe that prostitution in any country operates solely for the benefit of tourists, I do believe that letting the “people back home” know what their husbands, sons, and neighbors have been up to, would significantly reduce the number of farang pedophiles needing to be arrested. As your editor said, “if you cant do the time, don’t do the crime”.

Patrick H. Degnan
Exec. Director, CEO

Project Open Door
International

Editor’s reply: We do, in fact, do just that.

Whinging Farangs

Editor:

On reading your newspaper, most editions from when it was started, I have noticed that most of the letters from farangs have one thing in common. That is whinging.

To all (whinging) farangs ...This country is not YOURS!

Let the Thai people do their own thing; Thailand would not be Thailand without the Thais. So if you don’t like it, go somewhere else or stay at home.

Geordie,

Farang of the non-whinging species

Cost of local telephone calls 

Dear Sir,

In this week’s Pattaya Mail you advised that the cost of a local call is 3bt - unlimited. Strictly correct if one ignores VAT.

However, it is almost impossible here in Jomtien to be on-line for more than 30 minutes, without being cut off for no apparent reason. There are also the many occasions whilst logging on (in my case to Loxinfo) when after “verifying user name and password”, I receive “unable to make a connection”. Each additional log-on costs 3bt+, and it makes one suspect that the ISP’s are in collusion with the TOT!

Sincerely,

Nick Fisher

Thanks Mr. Town

Sir,

Ivan Town’s letter in last week’s Pattaya Mail about the Baht Busses was excellent. I have visited Pattaya ten or eleven times and stayed for many months at a time. Only after learning (sometimes from bitter experience) the modus operandi of the baht busses did I find that they provide an excellent and cheap service. If one knows where one is going and follows the useful tips outlined in Mr. Town’s letter then it is my opinion that one will not have a problem at all. How about Pattaya Mail summarising his tips and publishing them?

Robert Creasey

Boston Lincs,
England

Lao visa update

Dear Editor:

I returned yesterday from Vientiane, Laos. Prior to departure from Chiang Mai, Lao Aviation presented me with a visa on arrival form at the check-in counter. They did ask for a photo, which I had but understand it is not necessary by Lao immigration. On arrival Vientiane I presented the required visa on arrival form with photo, and paid 1,300 Baht which admitted me on October 3rd until October 17th, or approximately two weeks. In view of Mr. McNee’s write-in I hope this sets the record straight.

I have heard that Lao immigration requires the departure tax to be paid in U.S. dollars but I was not asked about this and paid my departure tax in Lao Kip. The four day stay in Vientiane was pleasant except the muddy streets with plenty of pot holes which was attributed to heavy rains.

Bob Johnson

Another view on bank interest rates

Editor;

Having been told by Thai Farmers Bank that regardless of work permit, etc., the rate is now 1%, I did some checking around. Bank of Asia (now part of ABN-AMRO) pays everyone - Thais and foreigners alike, 3.5% on savings accounts and 4% on term deposits. They have branches on 2nd Road and Naklua, both with English speaking staff, and are happy to have the business (Thai Farmers told me they had too much money!).

Actually, there is another twist: term deposits are taxed at 15% but I’m told that savings accounts are tax free at 3.5% - by my calculations, 15% tax on 4% means 3.4% net!

Regards,
Bernie

Privatize public water

Dear Sir,

Why not privatize the Pattaya Public Water Company?

I live in a Moo Ban of more than 100 houses that is privately owned. Some times we are out of water just because one of the main pipes is broken inside the village. When it happens, the owner manages to have it repaired in never more than 24-36 hours, even on Saturdays or Sundays.

Last Thursday in the morning, a main pipe belonging to the Pattaya Water Company was broken, on Soi Siam Country Club, a hundred meters from our village (Country Club Villa). Workers started only on Friday, and today is Sunday and we still don’t have water... and nobody is working, probably because state workers don’t stoop to work on Saturday and Sunday.

Is this public service?

Mark

The Hour of Power

Editor;

For Expats and all Christians who have Sophon Cable and have not yet discovered The Hour of Power with Dr. Robert Schuller, it’s a worldwide uplifting Church service for nearly 30 yrs. coming to Thailand via Australia each Sunday 8 to 9 AM on Channel 25 or 29.

Thank you,

Ernie

PS The Apex buffet dinner is B130 and the BF is B75, both excellent value.

Copyright 1999 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Updated by Boonsiri Suansuk