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Baht busses - still tourists’ #1 complaint
Dear Editor,
As a long time resident of Pattaya, I make frequent use of the
Bangkok-Pattaya bus system on North Pattaya Road.
As usual, upon arrival from Bangkok we are asked by baht bus drivers our
destination and herded into a baht bus.
Lately I have noticed that it is only the Farang who is told in advance the
fare and not the Thai because they can’t be cheated since they know the
normal fares.
Tuesday night, 2-18-97, when I returned around 7 o’clock, it happened again
with baht bus driver 107 who told me 20 baht to go to Pattaya Klang while
the fare is posted as 10 baht.
When I brought this to his attention he told me he does not care and the
fare was 20 baht. It so happened that one of the other passengers (a Thai
national) wanted to get off at Pattaya Klang as well. I noticed that he paid
10 baht and when I rang the bell to get off one hundred metres farther I
handed the baht bus driver a 20 baht note and waited for change, which he
refused. I asked him why Thais pay one price and Farangs another. In the
same breath I told him that I have his baht bus number and that scared him.
He left his car and tried to return to me my 20 baht note which I refused
and kept walking away. He then took out of his pocket a 10 baht coin and
slapped it into my hand.
The moral of this story is don’t let them at the bus station treat you as
happened to me. To ask for their number of bus is a good tactic and will
prevent you from being cheated.
Dr. John
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Service to/from U-tapao needs improvement
To whom it may concern,
With great interest have I read your article about the push to make U-tapao
Thailand’s second major airport. This would certainly enhance the qualities
and possibilities of Pattaya. Going to Laos and returning via Chiang Mai
just last Sunday, I took advantage of the new air service by “Orient Express
Airlines”, flying back straight to U-tapao instead of congested Bangkok.
Even though their airplanes seem not to be the newest, I was pleased with
the service and punctuality. It took no time at all to get the luggage as
well.
But what really annoyed me was the ride back into Pattaya. There seems to be
only one provider for the mini-bus service, no taxi available. And this
mini-bus company charges an outrageous 150 baht per person. It was not the
company’s fault that there were two extremely rude tourists from Finland on
the bus who behaved more or less like pigs. But the ride to my home took
almost one and a half hours since the bus stopped everywhere else first. And
that for 150 baht.
If I ever should make use of the flights to Chiang Mai or Phuket again, I
certainly will make sure that a friend will pick me up or send me to
U-tapao. Anyway, trans-portation between Pattaya and U-tapao seems to be an
urgent matter of improvement, if Pattaya’s airport wants to gain stature.
Yours,
Hans Fritschi
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Not all baht bus drivers are bad
Dear Editor,
I’ve been enjoying your publication since arriving in Thailand in December.
Most recently, I’ve followed the saga of the baht bus drivers with the same
concern as many of your readers. I’ve just returned home from a shopping
trip to Pattaya, and I now have a baht bus story to tell also...
I and three of my friends began our shopping on Beach Road at the Royal
Garden and took a baht bus to the Amari Hotel. As we admired the
surroundings, it suddenly occurred to me that I was without my purse. As
panic raced through my system, I remembered quite clearly exiting the bus
without it. A quick analysis revealed that none of us had ever thought to
look at the number emblazoned both inside and out of the bus. Personnel at
the hotel were sympathetic even though there was little anyone could do. Two
ladies at the tourist desk suggested we file a report with the police and
took the purse description just in case.
We decided to split up after another bus ride along Beach Road failed to
turn up the run-away taxi. Two of us stood on the corner of Pattaya Tai to
scrutinise each passing bus, while the other two reported the loss to the
police box on the same corner and the station at Soi 9. It was while at this
station that one of the ladies, who had been left at the corner, strutted in
and triumphantly displayed the mislaid purse. As it turns out, the bus had
not been running away from us, but rather looking high and low for the
ladies that left the purse. They had found it almost immediately and tried
to return it to the Amari, but were told that we had already left.
Rather than dropping it off and forgetting it, or much worse just keeping
it, they made the effort, took the time, and drove the extra mile in search
of the owner. As well, the police officers at both locations were quite kind
and courteous. We were thankfully afforded a reunion with the baht bus
driver and his wife who waited at the police box until we arrived back
there. The whole ordeal had taken less than an hour.
While I understand that it is necessary to print the negative stories in an
effort to educate people of the dangers they might find on the streets of
any city frequented by tourists, I would also like to see stories such as
this, that renew our faith in the qualities of honesty, goodness, and
kindness that are still prevalent in human nature. If ever in doubt when
catching a baht bus in Pattaya, look for #161 and know that you’re in good
hands. My heartfelt thanks and undying gratitude to them both.
A most sincere Farang,
Peggy Wragge
Burapha Golf Club
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Change local radio back to English
To the Editor;
I am surprised that through the columns of Pattaya Mail nobody has
complained that the only English radio station in town has been taken over
by Thai Language Wireless. What is more surprising is that Pattaya, an
international resort, is being let down by the Tourist Authority of
Thailand, the sponsors of the radio station.
It was once reported in a Bangkok newspaper that according to the Tourist
Police and Tourism Authority of Thailand, trippers from Thailand were known
as visitors and those from overseas were known as tourists. Maybe the
Tourism Authority of Thailand should change their name to Visitors Authority
of Thailand.
Most international resorts have a radio station in English, it would be
great for Pattaya to come into line, even if only during daylight hours when
tourists are in their hotel rooms or on the beach with a personal radio, so
that they could listen to local news, information and sight seeing tips.
So please, Tourism Authority of Thailand, set an example for the local
business sector. If you want overseas tourists, promote in English, not only
with a local radio station, but with signs, too, including next year’s
Carnival. I’m sure the locals would also appreciate the effort, as it will
help them to understand the universal language.
David Arnold
British Travel Agent
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Higher phone bills/build a park
To the Editor;
Hold up your hands everyone that has got a very high phone bill over the
last month. Mine usually goes 100 for rent, 200 to 300 for long distance to
Bangkok. Normally, my local bill for calls around town has never been more
than 600 baht, now all of a sudden I get a bill for 1300 baht! I worked out
how many calls I made and it added up to an extra 3 baht a call. Going down
to the office, you get the usual “we will look into it”, but this is
Thailand.
My next moan is at all you super rich Thais that have made many millions
over the last few years. Why won’t one of you or a few buy that big piece of
land on 3rd Road just past the Village on the left running through to Soi
Buakao? Think of all that good karma you’d get from all those kids’ mums and
just people wanting to get away from all this ugly concrete and dust. How
nice it would be to have lawns, gardens, trees and running water. It would
be so nice to have a real park in Pattaya. You guys know who you are! How
much money do you need in cold ugly concrete? Why don’t you give some back
to the people that helped you to make it all?
My next moan is why this didn’t happen years ago and why a European has to
bring it up? So come on, think about how nice people would think about you
if you gave something so needed back to the people.
Disappointed Dave
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An accident waiting to happen
Dear Sir,
The construction of the new 3rd Road has created crossroad junctions for Soi
17 and an un-named soi further along. The new road is open, and being used
by fast moving light and heavy traffic. There are no road warning signs for
this traffic at either soi junctions. Both sois are at lower levels with
access ramps up to the new road, thus the soi traffic is hidden from the
sight of the oncoming motorists.
Please, I ask the road con-struction company to provide some temporary
inexpensive timber warning signs on the new road. That could prevent a fatal
accident from happening.
Yours faithfully,
A resident of Soi 17
Fining only tourists?
Sir,
In reference to the article in Pattaya Mail (Vol. V No. 7) “No Garbage
Project”, you mention the fact that “More than a few unlucky tourists have
found out the hard way,” the 2000 baht fine. That’s great, but why only
tourists? If there were no tourists, no litter law?? Same old story, bite
the hand that feeds you! Another law gone amuck.
Signed,
Mr. Imbroglio
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