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Dear PP Peter Malhotra,
I hereby accept with pleasure your kind
invitation to attend the 7th. Anniversary Celebration of
“Pattaya Mail” on 22 July 2000 at the Dusit Resort Pattaya.
I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate
you especially for your vision and initiative effort in founding
the “Pattaya Mail” 7 years ago, which has now proved to be the
front runner of all news media for residents of Pattaya and its
vicinity.
I wish also to congratulate your staff
particularly in the person of your Pattaya Mail Editor KIttisak
Khamthong who was recently elected as Chairman of the Pattaya News
Media Association. This is basically because the quality of news
and editorial articles as appeared in the Pattaya Mail has been
much improved in the recent years.
May the “Pattaya Mail” be blessed with
success and prosperity in the years to come.
With kindest personal regards,
PDG M.R. Ophas Kanchanavijaya, 1989-90 RC
Dusit, District 3350 R.I. |
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Dear Peter,
Thanks for the invite. Congratulations on
celebrating yet another triumphant year for one of Asia’s most
crusading newspapers.
With best regards, as always.
Imtiaz Muqbil ,
Executive Editor
Travel Impact Newswire |
Dear Peter,
Congratulations!!
Hope you have yet another very successful year ahead and many more
seven, seven, seven years of continuous success. Good luck and God
Bless my friend.
Best regards,
Herbert Williams |
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Dear Peter,
We received your invitation to the birthday
celebration of the Pattaya Mail. You have no idea how much we
would love to attend. Even though we will not be able to attend,
we will be with you in spirit and we will raise our glasses of red
wine to the newspaper and fine staff for the continued prosperity
and health of all.
How very proud we are of the Pattaya Mail!
Thank you so very much for seeing to it that we have a copy
delivered to our doorstep. While Sue was here I arranged for her
to meet with the editor of our Sugar Land newspaper, The Star. I
sent along my copy of the Pattaya Mail. I am sure they were quite
impressed not only with the timely well chosen articles but with
the excellent English translations. The quality of the paper and
the clarity of the photos (both color and black & white) make
for a very impressive newspaper. It is remarkable what you and the
staff of the Pattaya Mail have accomplished in just seven short
years.
Godspeed Khun Pratheep. May you sail calm seas
of world understanding through communication and may your good
ship the Pattaya Mail continue to serve you well.
Yours faithfully in friendship,
Catherine Bond |
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Dear Sir,
I would like to thank you for the news you
bring us of Pattaya. I visit Pattaya every year and find your
online news great. It keeps me up to date on what is happening so
I don’t run into any surprises when I vacation in Pattaya.
Please continue the great work. Thanks.
Don Cline |
Dear Peter,
Hard to believe that you started your paper the
year I came to Pattaya. So am I in your birthday edition too? If
you insist on Birthday suit, I will send my look-alike 40 years
younger.
Hans |
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Dear Pratheep,
We are deeply grateful for your gracious
invitation to the celebration, and we wish you every success with
the party and with the continued publication of your fine
newspaper.
We’d love to hop over there for a few hours,
but unfortunately have a previous engagement in Nashville,
Tennessee, USA. The part about popping over for a few hours is BS,
of course, but we are going to the Nashville area for a 50th high
school reunion. You didn’t know I was that old, did you? Say
hello to the Caj and Fred and Pete and Mike L. and all the rest of
the old bunch.
Cheers,
Bill Gilmore
Founder, Pattaya Sports Club |
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On behalf of all Rotarians in District 3340,
Rotary International, we would like to extend our sincere
congratulations to the Management and Staff of the Pattaya Mail.
In the 7 years of your publication, you have shown responsibility
and care towards the community and have assisted in countless
charity activities. You are the voice that is propagating the
ideals of Rotary that is ‘Service above self’, not only to the
community, but also to all the peoples of the world.
May God bless all of you. We wish you
everlasting years of success, that you may continue to do valuable
service to us all.
Yours in Rotary
Premprecha Dibbayawan
District Governor 2000-01
District 3340 R.I. |
My name is Bond... and
I’ll have a dozen...
Dear Sir,
Paddy Filed, Justin Case, Walter Wohrlkarpet, ages
45-65, employed, on holiday with partner. I have been all of these, and
more besides, during the recent months here, but please allow me to
explain fully, as your help is needed if you are intending to visit
Pattaya.
Walking along Beach Road before Christmas, I happened
to observed a large group of people completely blocking the footpath, so
naturally assuming they were just another crowd of Chinese tourist, groups
of which are usually about as impenetrable as the Berlin wall, I stuck out
my elbows and prepared for battle, hoping not to be forced into the gutter
yet again. However my fears proved unjustified, as, on closer inspection,
they appeared to be a relatively harmless group of locals, including the
usual quota of katoys and trainee katoys, surrounding 2 doubtful looking
Farangs; probably a couple of English teachers out for a stroll with the
class, I thought. Nothing could be further from the truth, as it
transpired. Before I can say ‘Jack Robinson’ (age 45, English,
employed, on holiday with partner, all of which will shortly, I hope,
become relevant) I have 30 clipboards thrust at me on which is a form
demanding name, nationality, hotel, age, employment & marital status
and claiming to be a holiday survey of some kind. So, being the sort of
tolerant person that I am, I duly fill in the form; again and again and
again..
The next morning I am telephoned by a fast talking
Englishman telling me that I have won first prize, a free holiday no less,
and that a car will be sent to my hotel to deliver me to an unspecified
location, no need to wear a suit, so that I can listen to a seminar and
could I possibly allow 2 or 3 hours as there will be a large number of
other prize winners there (just how many first prizes are there?) and not
to worry about getting home late as I will be given free food anyway and
would a 20 Baht bonus be enough for a taxi home afterwards? WOW! To hell
with the lottery, this is my lucky day! God save the Queen! However there
is a catch. You’ve guessed it? Read on McDuff (age 45, Scottish,
employed...)
Ever heard of Holiday Ownership? No? Then how about
TIMESHARE? Oh no; pass me the gun, Martha, I can’t take any more of
this! Seriously though, I will refrain from boring you with all the
details, but this is a plea to help rid Pattaya of these scammers, in the
absence of a donation of a bunch of one-way tickets to Kosovo.
This racket has been going on for a year now with no
end in sight and people are getting desperate. Apparently the Tourist
Office & Police are powerless to remove these clowns as they do indeed
have work permits, albeit printed in Khao Saan Road, but the residents
here are becoming tired of being accosted by gangs of scammers roaming the
areas like stray dogs chasing a wounded chicken. Even whilst writing this
I can see, from the window, a large mob of determined scammers forcing
their way in box formation past the Chinese on the pier in order to reach
a boat load of Westerners. Trapped at the far end.
With your help the solution is simple and costs
absolutely nothing: if every visitor and resident, instead of shouting
abuse at the girls, having been stopped for the umpteenth time, can fill
in a form (it only takes a few seconds and the poor girl will still
receive a paltry 10 Baht for each one) using an assumed name, age 45-65,
employed, on holiday with partner (sounds familiar?), then the company
will be so bogged down with paperwork and wasted phone calls that maybe,
just maybe, they will return to something at which they can undoubtedly
excel, such as selling used cars.
But do be sensible with your replies: after all, who
would believe, for example, a Mr. A. Hitler from Germany, in gainful
employment, on holiday with his wife for 2 weeks, would be staying at
Ludwig’s Guest Haus, fan room 150 baht, no questions asked? Well this
lot just might, I suppose, but only once! Next time choose a 3 star hotel
at least for your alter ego; it’s free.
Finally I would like to take this opportunity to thank
Mr. N. Bonaparte (age 50, French..) for writing to tell me that this same
company was cleared from the streets of Paris by using the scheme
heretofore described. Thank you, Napoleon, and keep taking the tablets.
And please forgive me for not using my real name when
sign off, but, after filling in about 30 forms a day for 6 months, I think
you will understand when I say that I cannot remember what I actually is!
Ricky Livid (age 45, American)
Terror of the town
Sir,
I would like to draw your attention to the hordes of
young men on motorcycles who terrorise this fair city of ours. These
‘Hells Angels’ and hoodlums, with their natty little coloured
waistcoats, tear up and down the streets and hang around in gangs on
street corners shouting to the passers by. Surely their bright clothing
and the fact that some of them even wear a number on their back should
make it easy to identify and stop these menaces.
I myself would bring back national service.
I remain, your obedient servant.
Major C. Petard
British Army (Ret)
Put my money
elsewhere
Dear Sir,
I have also been told that when my passbook runs out my
account will be terminated or even before. Having given this a lot of
thought, and have now come to the conclusion that the Thai’s really
don’t want us to stay, otherwise why all the silly regulations on
banking and immigration. Then I thought they only wanted our money, but
obviously not at 0.05%. But as usual, they have again shot themselves in
the foot; with this new regulation, as for visiting other Thai banks, I
won’t bother I am now moving my accounts to Singapore at 7% net, no tax,
no questions. My pension and all other transactions can be sent to and
from there, I can still gain access to them here via an ATM. So if they
don’t want me to have a bank account in Thailand, then that’s OK by
me, Banks in Singapore will only be too glad to Welcome you.
I am also a long time resident without a work permit,
as I am too old?
Sincerely,
JD Dixon
Thank you for your
critique
Dear Sir,
Other than for the few weeks I have been visiting other
destinations in the SE Asia region, during the two years I have lived in
Pattaya I have purchased and enjoyed reading the Pattaya Mail regularly.
‘Grapevine’ and ‘Heart to Heart with Hillary’ make for often
hilarious reading and via ‘Mailbag’ PM is ideally placed and often acts
as a forum where constructive criticism of the fair city may be aired. Dr.
Iain Corness’s columns are informative and well written, often humorously
so. I happen to agree with many of the opinions he express and am able to
agree to disagree with those I don’t.
I am however saddened and often frustrated that no-one
appears to have grasped the fact that the PM has not transferred well to the
small screen; not least because of the all too obvious inexperience of not
only the presenters but the program’s maker. Dr. Iain’s talents
certainly do not extend to those required to be a TV presenter and
interviewer. I’ve actually heard his glorious attempts at this
appropriately described as ‘broadcasting Karaoke’. Indeed, one is
tempted to suggest that in PM’s ‘modern medicine’ column Dr. Iain
could address that strange urge that makes otherwise sensible people inflict
their apparent exhibitionism on others.
The whole format of PMC needs radical change if it is not
to continue attracting the scorn and derision it now does, particularly from
tourists only here for a short period.
To end on a positive note the ‘nite-beat’ feature of
PMC is a good idea but a young, vibrant presenter is necessary. There are
plenty of Thai girls about who could do this job admirably. Incidentally, an
oft mentioned omission of PM and that would be of interest to many is the
sentences imposed on perpetrators of crimes that have previously been
reported upon. For instance: What happened to the guy who shot two tourists
in Soi 2? What happened about his boss?
T.Crossly
Dr. Iain replies:
Thank you for the bouquets and yes, we are prepared for
the brickbats. However, you are wrong if you think that no-one here
understands that Pattaya Mail did not transfer well to the small screen. In
June, there was a radical re-think and you will find that the channel is
becoming much more oriented as the “Community Information Station”.
There is more “farang” local news, a round up of forthcoming Community
events every Monday, Golf tournament run-downs every second Monday and
“where to whoop it up” (Nite beat) every Friday. There will be more
local involvement with other sporting and social groups in the community as
well. However, having been here two years, you will understand that
sometimes things take a little longer than they would “back home.” In
the meantime, while we look for your young vibrant English speaking Thai
girl presenter, I have booked myself into the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital for a
face lift and sex change.
Require update on
rape case
Dear Editor,
Tony, and C. Crater (Pattaya Mail Vol. VIII No. 22, 2
June 2000), John P., and Stephan Despopoulos (Pattaya Mail Vol. VIII No.
23, 9 June 2000), Jack Langlois (Pattay Mail Vol. VIII No. 25 , 23 June
2000), Ben (Pattaya Mail Vol. VIII No. 26, 30 June 2000)
First, allow me to apologize for misspelling anyone’s
name, sorry about that.
Second, I read with interest each of your opinions
about the rape that occurred in Pattaya; I commend you for having the
heart to write something about this incident. I noticed one of you did
make the comment in this newspaper that he was “present with the lady
concerned” at the crime scene and put his faith in the naval criminal
investigation service to properly do their jobs of investigating this
crime. I commend your belief in the American military justice system.
But, if this system is so good, why can’t I find any
information from Pacific Stars and Stripes, Naval Public Affairs (et al),
and even Pattaya Mail about what happened to these cretins after they left
Pattaya? For the benefit of all who are concerned about this heinous
crime, I for one would like a totally straight answer about the fate of
these “humans”. Were they tried in a court for their crimes? What was
their punishment?
I did write an e-mail to [email protected] and
a Lieutenant Darren Morton expressed ignorance about this incident. I have
sent an additional email to Morton, with no response as of yet. Again, if
anyone knows what has happened to these animals since this crime occurred,
please share it with us in this newspaper. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Terry-Ajossi
U.S.A.
Help! Bank of
Thailand where are you?
Dear Sir,
I read with interest and concern the letter from Mr.
Halfhide in last week’s ‘Pattaya mail’; there have been a number of
reports about somewhat peremptory action by the Central bank in the past
week or two. I took the opportunity to discuss this with my own Bank here
in Pattaya, and was informed that the Central Bank has issued no less than
three conflicting instructions in regard to accounts held by farangs,
within the past month.
It appears to be correct that those who do not hold a
Passport containing a Visa providing for retirement in the kingdom may not
open an account without a Work Permit (although it is possible that the
very restricted type of Account described by Mr. Halfhide may be a type
that such persons may have).
I hold a Savings Account Book with my Bank, and was
assured that when I complete one more page and need new book there will be
no difficulty in my obtaining one, and that the Account, which I have held
for over seven years may continue. It appears that, as of the instruction
in force as of today(!) a retired farang may also obtain such an Account
Book- but the good lady with whom I spoke was definite that and ID Card,
as well as a Passport, would be needed. It was hard required to carry any
means of identity, other than in wartime! I found it hard to convince her
that in general we were trusted to be the person that we claimed to be!
I am sure we are not yet at the end of all this, and I
shall await with interest further letters and reports in the ‘Mail’
and elsewhere. In the meantime, chaos reigns once more; I am certain that
the official who insisted on Mr. Halfhide closing his Account with them
had read the wrong instruction -or read it wrongly!
Yours faithfully,
John D. Blyth
Are we welcome
here?
Dear Editor!
My husband has just finished reading the article about
banking regulations in Thailand, written by Anthony N.R. Halfhide, and is
still trying to get himself up from the floor. What is going on! I am
concerned, as he is also an ‘old man’ living here on a year-to-year
visa. How can a person living here in the last days of his/her, life
obtain a work permit? Who wants to employ a pensioner?
The immigration authorities request that you have a
letter from your bank manager showing your balance and your income. How
can this be done without a bank account? It is obvious that the right hand
does not know what the left hand is doing. The hand balling from one phone
to another clearly shows that we have made a lot of Telegraphic Transfers
to our bank in Thailand, and we have paid well for it too. First the
amount for sending the money from overseas, then a fee for receiving the
money in Bangkok, then another fee for transferring the money from Bangkok
to our local branch, plus a small fee for the paper work.
We have used another system too. Use the ATM and
withdraw directly from our overseas bank, but the Immigration Authorities
do not prefer this way of transactions. They like to see the transactions
go through a bank here in this country.
Are we not welcome here? Don’t the banks want our
money? What are banks for? I know a lot of places in Thailand that are
willing to take his money. The local pub, the supermarket, the motorbike
repairman, the buffalo keeper, the list goes on.
This is a wonderful country and friendly people. We
respect the rules and regulations of the country, but this is unfair.
I would like Anthony to name the other bank that he
went to, where he got help, so we can fill in the form also.
Thanks to Pattaya Mail for their interesting letters
that are published, so we can be up to date on what is happening around
us.
I hope one of your financial advisers can throw some
light on this subject, and that further news will not make my husband hit
the floor again.
Yours.
Beancounter
Daddy, we want to
go to the Jester’s Children’s Fair
Dear Editor,
I visited Pattaya for the first time last year with my
family and must say we all had an excellent time. The food, hospitality,
smiles and attitude of everyone we met in the resort combined to ensure we
had a good relaxing holiday.
As we had such a good time we are now considering
returning this year.
The highlight of our holiday was the Jester’s
Children’s Charity Fair held in in the grounds of the Royal Cliff Beach
Resort. With this in mind could you let me know if such a fair will be
held again this year and when, as my two young daughters would so like to
go again. I am getting constant grief from them about returning to Pattaya
for this event.
Regards, John Walton
Dear Mr. Walton,
The Jester’s Care 4 Kids Charity Drive Fair will be
held at the Amari Orchid Resort on September the 16th. Start packing!
Leslie, do you have
the answers?
Dear Editor,
In the mailbag of your issue dated 30 June - 6 July
last, there was a quite informative letter from Leslie Wright (apart from
his brilliant weekly column) warning about the new banking regulations
devised by the Central Bank of Thailand, and, again in the mailbag of your
last issue, Mr. Halfhide (not an undercover as the name suggests but an
honest retiree) writes about his Bangkok Bank saving account being
cancelled due to this new regulation that forced him to seek shelter in
another more welcoming institution. I had a taste of it last week when I
tried to move my Bank of Ayudhya account from one branch to another (for
the sake of convenience, the second branch being nearer to my place). The
lady at the desk started by asking me if I had a work permit or if I had a
house on my name (now, I don’t know if she meant in Thailand and if it
is the case, this is an awkward question to ask to a foreigner!). On
hearing this (holding none of those and knowing about the new regulations
thanks to Mr. Leslie Wright), I snatched my savings deposit passbook from
her hands and told her that I had just changed my mind about changing
anything in my account. But as Mr. Halfhide helpfully testifies, I heard
through different reliable sources that other banks in Pattaya still do
not apply those silly-looking new regulations (which remind of the popular
saying “to shoot oneself in the foot”). Well, I guess the Managing
Director of Westminster Porfolio Services will keep us aptly informed of
the coming developments as this strange new policy is not totally and
clearly defined yet. Apart from this, you can tell that it’s
despairingly low season when the top banner headline on the Pattaya
Mail’s frontpage reads: “French can do more than play football”
because a police squad had to chase an inebriated fare dodger who refused
to settle for 30 baht and ran away before being caught (carrying 17, 000
baht in his wallet). How exciting!! Paradoxically, the sagacious and
shrewdly written new column entitled “Nightmarch” is hidden away at
the bottom of the antepenultimate page. But may be connoisseurs will
reckon that’s the best location: don’t cast one’s pearls...
Manao
US Marines, divine
keepers of the peace
Dear Sir,
In response to Mr. Garners “time and a place”
letter, from my many trips down Walking Street, I can only imagine the
response any non American without a chest of medals would get from these
linguistically challenged but “model” service men, if he asked them to
refrain from using vulgar language. And to our proud Mr. Ouimet. Where
does he suggest going in Pattaya while these service men are around,
they’re everywhere! As for them spending lots of money in the local
shops, it is commonly known that many of these “big spenders” buy beer
in local 7 elevens and bring it into bars using collective intimidation as
a means of not being ejected from the bar! Its good to know that a very
severe judicial system is in place for those that go astray, pity they
hold court martials in Japan now and not Thailand! Those five for the
price of one deals will never be the same again!
K. Guiney
Australia
Copyright 2000 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]
Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek, assisted
by Boonsiri Suansuk.
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Letters published
in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
are also on our website. |
It is
noticed that the letters herein in no way reflect the opinions of the editor or writers
for Pattaya Mail, but are unsolicited letters from our readers, expressing their
own opinions. No anonymous letters or those without genuine addresses are printed, and,
whilst we do not object to the use of a nom de plume, preference will be given to those
signed. |
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