Enjoyed Pattaya’s hospitality

Dear Sir,

In reply to Peter Smyth’s letter in the Pattaya Mail 11/12/98, I too visited Pattaya for the first time recently and I can only repeat what he said. I found Pattaya to be a fabulous place for a holiday and I couldn’t believe how friendly the people were and how safe the streets are.

I not only had the pleasure of meeting Derek at Mad Mick’s Bar, and indeed he is a fountain of information, I also met Bob Beddoe, a Welsh/Aussie expat and I could not believe the generosity of the man. He ‘rung the bell’ so often I believe his wallet is still in intensive care recovering!

In finishing I would like to wish everyone in Pattaya a Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year and I hope the Pattaya Mail keeps up its good work with its excellent website keeping us ‘Pattaya fans’ informed.

Best Wishes,

William F. Landy,
Fareham, England

Re: Show me the money

Dear Sir,

Although in five years and more of electronic transfers of funds from the UK to a bank in this country I have only once experienced a problem, I have much sympathy for the troubles experienced by ‘Concerned’ in last week’s ‘Mail’. I do not profess to know the answer, unless it really is a fact that some banks, or their branches, are indulging in the form of skullduggery suggested.

I originally had a monthly transfer from the UK which, to save money on the transfer fee, I later made two-monthly. There was also a quarterly transfer from an ‘off-shore’ UK account, initially transferred by non-electronic means, but later changed to electronic as in the former case the transfer was slow and uncertain.

In all this time my money has been in my Pattaya account in four days normally, and never more than seven days, with one exception. This had nothing to do with my local bank, but was due to a typist in the UK preparing the advice from a copy of the previous one, mistakes and all! The address became so badly rendered that the local Post Office could not deliver it, and when the typist left off the final digit of the account number the bank, rightly, would not credit, until I had been to see them.

A suitable ‘rousting’ to the manager of my UK bank soon put this right!

Yours faithfully,
John D. Blyth

Stop the senseless injuries during the holidays

Dear Editor,

Over the years I have been reading your wonderful newspaper, but somehow you never seem to report what really happens in Loy Krathong. Is this a cover-up or what?

Each year I’ve watched the day transform while the marvelous women of this town queue up for hours for dresses and to get their hair done for this spectacular evening. The pavements are packed with vendors trying to earn a few extra baht making krathongs in amazing artistic designs, and the magic is alive in the air. As dusk settles the families make their way down the sois to the sea and temples, all making a special effort to dress up for this wonderful evening.

But someone in their wisdom allows these bomb type bangers into town to blow up this charming Thai event! Why?

I’ve seen young babies scream with horror when these "fun" bombs are thrown at them. I’ve seen these stunning beauties who have taken many hours to look so graceful have their dresses blown and torn and their flesh splatted with pieces of the giant banger after the explosion.

I’ve also seen holiday makers turn their faces to cover up and put their hands to their ears to stop their eardrums from exploding, and then pick bits and pieces out of their hair and eyes!

You can feel the blast of these monster bombs for many meters. Can anybody please tell me how can these bombs be fun?

I love fireworks and little bangers, but what do these monsters have to do with Loy Krathong? I suppose it might be fun for the morons and no-brains who think throwing these bombs at families are a laugh.

With all these do-goody self made committees that appear in your paper each week eating and drinking and getting nothing done, why can’t somebody stop this carnage? We will get the same at Christmas and New Year and Songkran. It’s not fun watching your child being blown up! How come you never report on one injury? The hospitals must be full of people getting maimed but somehow you hold your silence! Is this the policy of the tourist board as not to scare the money away? (Almost like the "Jaws" movie).

Where is Pattaya’s soul?

Will they sell anything to make a few extra baht, no matter who gets hurt and then cry bad press? Do something now, it might be your child that goes blind next year! Stop selling your soul (maybe its too late).

I know they make money selling bombs to morons but that’s not the sort of people Pattaya really wants.

Hey, I love this town. Why is it a minority spoils it for the majority?

Signed,
An Aching Heart

Copyright 1998 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand 
Tel.66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax:66-38 427 596; e-mail: [email protected]
Created by Andy Gombaz, assisted by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek.