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Signs of
the times
Hi everybody!
As a Bangkok resident who comes to Pattaya almost every weekend I’ve seen
something yesterday that made me think about the way how city officials in
Pattaya spend money.
Have you checked out the signs on Soi Buakao which should show you the way
to Second Road? There is writing in Thai, and then in what the responsible
people may think is English. Only I believe that few tourists understand the
meaning of “saisong”.
I think they could spend that money on more important things like the
enforcement of fire regulations. Speaking only of the hotel where I stay
every time (which was built after 1992 and 7 storeys high), there are no
emergency lights at all, no smoke detectors, no sprinklers, no fire exit
signs or plans, no water hoses and there are plenty of gas bottles stored in
the building.
All together I think these are 6 violations against the regulations. And the
manager of the hotel seems not worried at all.
With kindest regards,
Sigi Brandstaetter
Disdain for Foodland
Editor;
I have a restaurant and I have been a good customer in Foodland for about 5
years. But sometimes I don’t understand the management; every time there is
a special offer for sale, they always show it in the Thai language and not
in English. I know we are in Thailand, but the customers in Foodland are
about 60% Farangs, are they not? I tried to explain it to one of the female
managers and she said, “Good Idea,” but nothing happened. Also, why are they
so extremely friendly only to the locals and not to the Farangs, only
because it is HIM, HIM come every day. The last few weeks I went to the
butchery, they looked at me like they think, “What does he want again?” What
I want is good service, like a few years ago when they cut my steaks, they
gave me steaks and not half fat. I can’t sell fat to my customers, it’s
impossible to explain that to them. When you say something they let you
stand for fool or they all start to laugh, WHY? I think now I know why more
farangs go to the new supermarket in Pattaya Tai, Friendship. If this
doesn’t change, I will buy everything in other supermarkets, that’s for
sure!
Patrick’s Belgian Restaurant
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In reply to “Disputing the Fitness Column”
Dear Sir,
In response to the letter in the Pattaya Mail, “Disputing the Fitness
Column”, I would like to make the following points:
When white meats are referred to as being lighter, writer refers to the fact
that the majority of households purchase red meat without requesting lean
cuts. Lean cuts are generally a luxury for middle to upper class homes and
not all people can afford this. A second fact to this statement is that
white meat requires less effort from the internal digestion system of the
body to break down and digest. This is why vegetarian diets are said to be
healthy and upon research has proven that vegetarians live a few years
longer due to the fact that their digestion systems are put under less
strain than fanatical red meat eaters. This is why white meats are
considered lighter than red meats because they are easier to digest.
With regard to Salmon. Yes,the fat content in this fish is high but it is a
healthier source of fat than most and this is also due to medical research
haven proven that salmon oil is extremely successful in fighting high blood
pressure and maintaining good condition of the arteries of the heart,
preventing constriction. This is why in Europe in the new age Reform Nature
Shops, salmon oil capsules are being sold as natural remedies. Personally,
however, I always feel that to take a product in its natural form is always
best.
Last but not least, with regard to taking “one or two potatoes less” - the
writer would never suggest that one should omit nature’s wonderful
carbohydrate in any diet, but the point is, if one is overweight and tends
to overeat what tastes good, four potatoes are always better than five and
three always better than four.
I hope that these explanations serve to uphold and reserve the integrity of
the Pattaya Mail and writer.
Robyn
PS. I wish to personally pass on my condolences to any families who lost
loved ones in the fire disaster at Jomtien. Time heals everything but I know
that the process of healing hurts and is not easy. Also, a word of honour
out to the Pattaya Mail on their wonderful article wherein they remembered
and honoured the Medical Profession for their utmost care and duties which
they performed at that time.
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In search of movies
Sirs,
Seeing as how you are the only English newspaper in town, I wonder why it is
that you have chosen not to publish the movie schedules any longer. I know
that the movie houses are supposed to be closed down by law due to their not
passing the fire/safety inspection but in fact they are still up and
running. Please in the future publish the movie schedules.
I hate to have to take a trip from Suk Sabai Villa all the way across
Pattaya to Big “C” to find out what is playing. So again I am asking you to
please start publishing the movie schedules again. Thank you in advance.
Sincerely
Johnnie L. Smith
Editor’s reply; Thank you for showing interest in our paper. Your request is
not an unusual one, in that many of our readers look to us for information
on what is playing at the local cinemas. We were running the information on
a regular basis, but, unfortunately, it is a bit of a struggle to get
correct information from the movie houses. Even though we have Thai speaking
people phone them, more often than not, the people who operate the phones at
the cinemas do not understand that we wish to print what they will be
playing during the week of our publication, instead telling us what is
playing currently. So, instead of printing incorrect information, we have
chosen to exclude the cinema section until which time the cinemas can supply
us with correct info. We regret the inconveniences this causes. We will
continue to try.
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Home-made
fire extinguisher
Dear Sir,
The holocaust of Royal Jomtien Resort was horrifying news and my deepest
sympathy and heartfelt condolence to those who have lost their beloved and
dear ones in the inferno.
I sincerely hope that this be a lesson to those in charge of inspection of
buildings, and safety measures become a strict law. All hotels should have a
notice on the door of each room, stating what to do in case of fire. Regular
“Fire-Drills” should be practised, at least once a month,with the hotel
staff.
In Mrs. Beeton’s Household Management, I came across this:
Fire Extinguisher: Take 10 lbs. of common salt, 5 lbs. of Sal ammonia, 3 1/2
gallons of water. Mix well, bottle for use and keep in a handy place. In
case of fire, throw 1-2 bottles (so that they break) into the burning place
and this will extinguish the fire.
Yours Truly,
Mai Ben Arai
Latest visa update
by Barrie Kenyon
The crackdown on Thai non-immigrant “B” and tourist visas
in Penang is continuing with regular runners commonly receiving stamps
advising them they have made too many trips to Thailand in the last year or
so. Non immigrant “O” visas, which are mostly reserved for farangs married
to Thais or retired people over 55 or voluntary workers, are faring better.
But supporting documentation is necessary such as a marriage certificate,
bank statement or letter from the Thai organization sponsoring the voluntary
work.
However, the system is a discretionary one and each case is apparently being
assessed on its merits as perceived by the Consul General. The best advice
is to consult visa runners who have returned recently from Penang. If, for
example, you are an investor in a Thai company, but not actually “working”,
any special circumstances should clearly be spelt out in a letter from the
Thai company lawyer. The quality of the supporting documents can still make
a difference.
But farangs who are basically on long term holiday in Thailand, but do not
qualify for retirement because they are under 55 or do not keep substantial
reserves in a Thai bank, should avoid Penang at present if they have had
three recent visas from there.
It is reported that Vientiane and the Philippines are less restrictive, at
any rate on tourist visas. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Hanoi are liberal,
but a letter of recommendation from a Thai national is advantageous even for
a tourist visa. Of course, these destinations are more expensive to travel
to. Singapore retains its long held policy of not issuing consecutive
tourist visas without a six week break. The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh is
said to be open again, but safety concerns are still interrupting air
schedules. Very few difficulties are reported by farangs seeking Thai
tourist visas in Europe and the United States. Please be advised that, under
Thai immigration law, it is necessary personally to leave the country to
obtain a new visa as opposed simply to seeking an extension here. Travel
agency schemes, which obtain a visa abroad whilst you remain in Pattaya,
could cause problems even though they are understandably popular. If refused
a visa abroad, most Europeans are still allowed to stay in Thailand for a
month under the 30 days visa-on-arrival system at Bangkok or provincial
airports. From past experience the visa rules, especially in Penang, are
likely to be subject to change at short notice. So keep your ear to the
ground in Pattaya bars at all times.
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