Inquiring about the new footpath

Dear Sir,

Re: The footpath being built on Jomtien, Dong Tan Beach.

1. Are there any plans that we can look at? Could you publish them in your newspaper?

2. Is it a footpath with no provision for cars and motorcycles? We hope so, after all it is a beach, not a speedway.

3. Will something be done about the men who urinate in full view of the public, along the fence, leaving puddles of stinky urine and forcing families to step off the path? Will tourists have to put up their sign “Don’t (Urinate) Here” with graphic illustrations or will the city enforce this?

Please let us know what is happening. After all, it is a democracy and we shouldn’t have to accept whatever the city hands down.

John Hindle

Editor’s reply: 1. We have received no “blueprints” or plans up to now, other than written promotional material that we have already published. 2. It is a footpath. According to the promotional literature we received when the plan was being developed, all motorized traffic (motorcycles included) will be prohibited from using the new footpath. 3. This is a difficult question, as what you describe is a behavioral problem and would be difficult to change or enforce. As far as I know, there are no plans to place “urination police” at posts along the footpath. Although placing public, portable toilets at certain discrete places on the beach might help the problem, I have heard of no plans to do so.

Thanking Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital

Editor;

I would like to say a big Thank You to Dr. Punya Luenee and Bangkok Pattaya Hospital. On my recent trip to Pattaya I developed a sinus problem which required surgery. I was lucky enough to go to the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital for treatment.

I had my Functional Endescopic Sinus Surgery on May 24th and my ENT was Dr. Punya Luenee. Not only was the doctor extremely professional but on several occasions went out of his way to assist me. I would like to thank the staff of the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital publicly via your newspaper, especially Doctor Punya and Ms Neera Sirisampan of the international department for being there for me.

I would also like to congratulate The Bangkok Pattaya Hospital on winning the ISO 9002 certification. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the Hospital to the foreigners and locals in Thailand and the world over.

Amin Navrozally,
Teacher (Karachi, Pakistan)

The American side...

Dear Editor;

I hate to be a master of the obvious, but golf is a sport. Large scale sporting events, like the Ryder Cup, attract large amounts of spectators. Any time you get a large amount of people in one area, mix in 3 days of intense competition, and you will get more than a few outrageous individuals, no matter where you are.

One only has to look as far as the behavior of a small minority of English football fans at the World Cup. Having met a large amount of British people in my travels, I feel safe in saying that 99% of the British soccer fans are amongst the best in the world. Unfortunately, the rogue few that take it upon themselves to physically harm anyone who has views contrary to their own have cast a dark shadow.

The same can be said about the rogue few individual hecklers at this year’s Ryder Cup at Brookline. As an American, I apologize for their behavior. But I ask that you don’t group all American golf fans into the same category.

One could argue that golf isn’t like soccer, which is true. However, there are probably more people in the world, or at least in Europe and America, that play golf and are every bit as passionate about the sport. Just look at the coverage the Ryder Cup received in the press - over such a short period of time, the Ryder Cup may have received as much or more than even the World Cup.

The press also derided the American golfers for their actions on the course. Again, golf is a passionate sport. If you get down on Tiger Woods for scowling after missing a putt, then you must do the same for Colin Montgomerie’s demeanor when he does the same. If you scoff at the way the Americans shook their fists after winning a hole, then you must accept responsibility for the way Sergio Garcia, throughout the tournament, shook his fists at the crowd - probably egging them on more than any action from the American golfer’s side.

The thing I find most ridiculous about this whole affair is how the press, eager for readership, has played upon every sour emotion they could possibly dig up.

The 1999 Ryder Cup may go down as the greatest, most emotional event in the Cup’s history, no matter who coulda, shoulda, woulda won. Let’s bury the petty grievances and recognize it for what it was.

Paul Millard

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