Impressed with Pattaya Mail

To the Editors:

I found your website through the Washington Post. My husband has participated in an Earthwatch project for the past two years — excavating Khmer sites in northeast Thailand. This next year will be the last visit; in the meantime, I have endeavored to find out as much as I can about Thailand.

Although it is unlikely that I will get the opportunity to visit your country, I intend to visit your website every week. I have found it most interesting and a good example of engaged local journalism. Sometimes I have been ashamed by the behavior exhibited by farangs and by the letters that you have published from them. (The worst was the letter that proclaimed a justification for indulging in sex with minors.)

Re the dual pricing, I cannot imagine why there are so many protests about that; it is prevalent in every other third-world country as well. My husband spent almost 3 weeks in Egypt on a business trip; because he spent his lunch hour at the Cairo zoo, he was initially charged a higher price. Eventually, he was charged the normal price; I do not find such practices so reprehensible. It is very understandable that local persons would perceive any farang better able to pay more.

Many years ago when we were living in southern California, Mexico had devalued the peso to the point at which it was ridiculously inexpensive to go there. I did not want to take advantage of that, thinking that I would be an exploitative gringo. Nonetheless, it turned out that people like us made a difference in turning around the Mexican economy; there was also not very much time before which every hotel, restaurant, and resort adjusted their prices to make up the difference in the exchange rate.

What I have discerned from reading your website is that there is a really engaged and concerned community that is committed to enhancing and promoting Pattaya — trying to make a difference and trying to make a society that relies on a mix of Thais, expats, and truly concerned citizens. I am very impressed by the Pattaya Mail.

Many thanks,
Kay Fitzpatrick

Reply to the letter from Mr. Ernie Lee

Dear Sir,

By this letter I would to say something about Toi’s Place. First of all Laurie and Toi have been very good friends of mine for a long time. They are well known for their low prices so I don’t believe you have to spend 5000 Baht so you can stay there. I think that you are one of those Kiss and Food eaters or balloon chasers or what so ever they call them who spend the whole night with one beer and occupy places from other customers. The best thing you can do is buy your beers in a supermarket and drink it at home so you don’t bother anybody.

No hard feelings, only the truth.
A long time resident

Dolf does it best

Dear Editor,

I have read and re-read Dolf Riks article in the current Pattaya Mail (The Clinton Saga and the loss of sexual mystique) with great appreciation. I will deliver a copy of the Pattaya Mail to all my State-side family and my elected representatives from the Proud State of Texas upon my arrival there. I will leave BKK for Texas on the 17th of this month. I must drop in on Dolf to express my thanks... he said it all but with such great style!

Catherine Bond