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Clean-ups haven’t changed much
Sir,
Your paper of Fri. June 6 Vol. V No. 23 “World Class Tourist Destination” by
Tourism Authority of Thailand has humour. I wonder what they are smoking and
to whom they are blowing the smoke? I just returned from a five week holiday
to find things back to normal after the “Big Clean-up Campaign” of litter,
pollution and the eradication of crime. Taking my usual walk about I see
Beach Road and others full of litter again (usual amount). The police are
still sitting on their duff and polluters still polluting and still
littering... What, no tourists so no litter fines? Nice work mayor.
Mr. Imbroglio
Disheartened by slumping businesses
Dear Sirs,
I am a Farang from California currently living in Bangkok. I returned today
after spending four days back in Pattaya relaxing on the beach. I say “back
in Pattaya” as I have stayed there for months at a time during the last
eight years.
Marketing is seldom practised in Thailand the way it is in the States and it
seems that off site operators open businesses giving little thought to
implementing professional management and sustaining quality control. A new
business will open with enthusiasm and when service and expected customers
start to dwindle, the business will continue it’s downhill slide rather than
reviewing their operation and standards, experimenting with new policies and
creating some unusual advertising.
An example is the computer cafes that have recently opened and closed in
Thailand. On my last couple of trips to Pattaya, I used the Cafe in the
Royal Garden Plaza to scan the internet and send email. At first the young
knowledgeable staff gave assistance and encouragement. The last visit found
a disheartened group hidden in the back room and the front area unoccupied.
Now I see it has gone out of business.
I usually eat at the small family owned Thai restaurants in Pattaya and am
seldom disappointed. The owners work on site and the quality seldom varies.
Now the franchised outlets are opening in the commercial shopping malls. On
my last trip, a friend dragged me into franchise shop. I was surprised at
the delicious fried chicken for which the chain is famous. It was crisp and
juicy served with a warm fresh biscuit and a small order of cole slaw for 55
baht. The staff was accommodating and friendly and I made a mental note to
return.
On this trip, I went back and ordered the same meal. This time the server
was gruff and inattentive. I received my order without the biscuit, which
never arrived. While at the counter, another customer complained that the
french fries were cold and the hamburger was dry and tasteless. The manager
(with shirt and tie) had a “mai ben rai” attitude and I left with no desire
to return.
The franchise businesses will always draw a group looking for a quick cheap
product. They can never compete with the local business person who is
committed to giving personal one on one service and is willing to slowly
build up a customer base that will sustain the operation through slow off
season periods.
Gary Hacker
Bangkok
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Alternative view
Editor Pattaya Mail,
I was very sorry to see the death penalty handed out to Timothy McVeigh in
America with such gusto. It was a terrible thing he did but was it any worse
than killing a whole village of old men, women and children in Vietnam? Was
it worse than BBQing a little black boy in Africa or murdering men, women
and children in Bosnia and other parts of former Yugoslavia? These acts all
done by “soldiers” gone mad for some reason or another. If you are going to
“fry” bad soldiers, “fry” them all not just the ones that kill U.S. citizens
on their home territory.
Or better yet fry none of them as it is only another state-run barbaric act.
Sincerely,
Don Morrison
Canada
Pattaya Mail may change a life
Dear Sir,
I am Chandra Kumar Rai, a nationality of Nepal and I am 28 years old. Now I
am in Bangkwang Center Prison because about 4 years ago I was arrested by
Thai police accused with drug and just 5 month ago I got life sentence and
the prison authority transferred me from Lardyao Klong Prem to here.
Well, just last week I got the opportunity to read a newspaper named Pattaya
Mail. It was published on 11 April 1997 and on page no. 5 was mention about
“Kalsa” and Sikh religion in brief.
That is why I would like to know more about it. Please can you tell me the
teaching of Guru or how it leads to heaven as I am a sinner and I don’t want
to go to hell. If there is any way to be saved please write me soon.
Thank you.
Sincerely yours,
Chandra Kumar Rai
BBC found
Dear Editor,
For those people who are still searching to receive B.B.C. World TV clearly.
It’s available on the D.T.H. satellite system. 100% clear reception from
“Thai Sky TV”. There is a monthly subscription to pay, but you have the
added bonus of receiving Sky Variety, Hong Kong schedule, Cinemax films, Sky
films, and 2 sports channels, all in English along with Thai channels.
Yours Sincerely,
A BBC Viewer
An open letter to the chief of police
Dear Sir,
Don’t get me wrong, I agree that it is important to wear a helmet when you
drive a motorbike. But could somebody tell me why only the driver and not
the passenger are getting a fine when stopped by the traffic police? It
could also be nice to know why it is that the same people enforcing the law
can drive around without a helmet? In one day I counted 7 policemen on
motorbikes without a helmet. Is there something special about their head?
Should they not show a good example and not preach one thing but practice
something else themselves? When you then get to the police station to pay
your fine, there is a beautiful sign, all writing in Thai, the price you
have to pay in fine. Show some respect to all the farangs there is here on
holiday and can’t read Thai. To place a sign only in Thai is top of
arrogance, at a holiday resort where almost 90% of the people are getting
butter on their bread from the tourist, one way or another.
Kind regards,
Bjorn Falkenbrink
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Quips from Chiang Mai
Dear Sir,
The following I saw in a magazine and thought you might like to use them...
From student remedial tests:
Music Theory: Beethoven was deaf, so he composed loud music.
World War II: It started when someone got shot.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa: Built to attract tourists to Italy.
Why the Sun never sets in the British Empire: Because most of it is in the
East and the sun sets in the West.
What does it mean, “A dog’s bark is worse than its bite?”: Because it eats
garlic.
A dowager asked a fisher-man, “Doesn’t sitting all day on the jetty give you
a headache?” The fisherman replied, “No, madam. Quite the opposite.”
Alternate Definitions:
Bank: A place that will lend you money if you prove you don’t need any.
Future: No longer what it used to be.
Genius: Someone who re-wraps a new shirt and has no pins left over.
Hangover: Something to occupy the head that wasn’t used the night before.
Penny: Fair price for the thoughts of many people.
Old Age: The period of life when actions creak louder than words.
Optimist: Someone who believes that a house fly is looking for a way to get
out.
Mai Ben Arai
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