So sad

Editor;
Re: Swedish son of Rayong hotel owner killed in motorcycle crash (PM Friday, 04 October 2013) - So sad for a young man to die for no reason. Those big bikes are really dangerous, especially with the way people are driving in Thailand. From the photo it is not a Ducati 500cc but a Kawasaki ER-6n 649 cc. RIP.
Frank

New findings?

Editor;
Re: Pattaya mapping master plan for flood control (PM Friday, 27 September 2013) - Wow, what new findings are revealed. Storm drain canals are being blocked by whoever. Pollution is blocking drains. This is been talked about for many, many years. Just enforce the rules and regulations which are in place. No more delays or excuses from anybody.
Gunter

Giving tourists traffic tickets chases people away

Editor;
Re: Tourist safety (PM Friday, 27 September 2013) - Over aggressive police giving mainly tourists traffic tickets also chases people away. Do they think we don’t watch them on Beach Rd? When asking my Thai girlfriend about this she said ‘falang have money, Thai no money’. This sums it up.
Sabaii69

Home and hosed in no time

Editor;
Re: Same old horse new jockey (PM Mailbag Friday, 20 September 2013) - The “White Australia Policy” was abandoned in the 1970’s. However when you go overseas there are only 11 countries where reciprocal health care is available. Not one of these countries is Asia nor Asia Minor. Hip replacement in Australia may take months but go to Finland or any one of these countries and you are “home and hosed” in no time. Don’t go to the US, as you are not covered.
Bryan Patricks

Impressed with Dusit Thani spa

Editor;
Re: Wellness Spa Tourism in Thailand (PM Wednesday, 11 September 2013) - Thanks for posting. Very impressed with the spa menu at Dusit Thani... probably one of the best as far brand hotels! Also Tao Retreat Center in Chang Mai is a lovely place to focus on mind/body wellness. Am headed to Chiva Som today and looking forward to it.
Camille

Remembering Louis Pasteur

Editor;
Re: Chonburi offers free vaccinations for World Rabies Day (PM Friday, 27 September 2013) - Thank you for the article about World Rabies Day - I just wanted to point out that the date is September 28th, and it marks the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur.
Carla

Never thought it would snow in Thailand

Editor;
Re: Chilly weather greets residents in North (PM Saturday, 05 October 2013) - In April 1976, I was on Doi Inthanon helping to install a radar. It actually snowed. Never thought it would snow in Thailand. Always wanted to come back and see how the site evolved with newer technology.
Gary Cates

Finally doing something about flooding

Editor;
Re: Pattaya mapping master plan for flood control (PM Friday, 27 September 2013) - I am happy to hear that they acknowledge a problem exists and have taken the first step to develop a plan to reduce or avoid flooding.
Joe

Free for all on our roads

Editor;
Re: Where are we in the global road toll statistics? (PM Automania Friday, 27 September 2013) - Unless the police start enforcing the traffic laws, it will still be free for all on our roads. Red means drive faster, left and right turn lanes mean go straight on, coaches and taxis double parking. Window tints that are too dark. I could go on. I’ve only been here for three years but have seen traffic increase considerably and driving standards drop dramatically.
Tony

Animal life equal to human life?

Editor,
If Mark Hawkes feels that an animal’s life is just as important as a human life, I assume he is a vegetarian, does not wear leather shoes or carry a leather billfold, or use any products made from parts of dead animals. And given a hypothetical case, if he had daughter, and he had to choose between his daughter dying or every animal within a one kilometer radius, I think it’s safe to say which one he would choose.
R.L. Holt
Chiang Mai

Flooding problems on Soi Wat Boon Jomtien

Editor;
In 2003/4 Soi Wat Boon was completely dug up and drains put in. Unfortunately, this failed. In 2011 the floods came, from the market to Angket, small sois where Thai people live, homes were under water.
This year they dug up the road again, but this failed again. In the last week we have had the same problem: flooded out.
The cost must be phenomenal, and as the say, baht down the drain - unfortunately the drains don’t work.
Also they are unable to completely finish a job. For instance, they dug a ditch and left it 50mm below road level, causing possible damage/accidents to cars.
To add to the problem, more condos are planned for Soi Wat Boon.
Matt Jomtien

“I was robbed by the police”

Editor;
On Tuesday September 24th 2013, in Soi Khao Talo near the railroad tracks, I was pulled over by 5 policemen who I noticed were from the Nongprue Police station. I was asked to step away from my motorbike and the policemen asked to see my driver’s licence. I was wearing my helmet and thought everything was fine so I gladly handed it over. The policemen checked my licence but then they informed me that my licence was fake. I argued with the policemen for some time but it was hopeless, the policemen told me that if I were to be taken to the police station I would be fined 10,000 THB as well as wasting a considerable amount of my time. They asked me how much I was willing to pay them to solve my problem on the spot. They told me that since I was a foreigner I was in “big trouble” so after some negotiation they settled on the amount of 5,000 THB.
The next day I went to several police stations such as the Banglamung station and also the Tourist Police and told my story. I was advised that my licence was legal and that I should go to Nongprue Police station and lodge a complaint. However, since I could not remember any of the officers’ names and was not given a receipt, I realized that the situation was hopeless.
I commented that, “Even if you’re fully legal, or even if you’re wearing a helmet and following all the road rules… they will still find a way to get your money.”
Expat from Switzerland