Howdy,

The article that Peter Cummins posted this week (Week 30 2001) was among the best I have read ever. Since I didn’t get to Pattaya until 1971, I had to learn much of the “history” of Pattaya from Barbos and the publicans that were there back in those days. Oh how I miss the clean, clear waters back then. The water at the islands was so clear that you could see the bottom in 12 ft. of water (probably more). There were so many fish in the bay.

As I returned every year from 1972-1996 after living in Pattaya while working at the US Army Satellite Communications Station at U-Tapao and as Station Chief of the Microwave Station at Sriracha, I saw the changes to Pattaya both good and bad.

Given the option, I would say that I would prefer Pattaya as it was back in the beginning but is that really so? Probably not. Why you ask? Well, now there are very many hotels to choose from and hundreds of international restaurants from which to choose. I usually ate at home or visited Barbos. There are good if not great malls and grocery outlets that sure weren’t available back then. We usually shopped at the open market in Sriracha back then for fresh food. There are also hundreds of bars, gogo’s and clubs to pick from. Back then there were only about a dozen or so that could be called inhabitable. Yes, I would still probably say that I would choose for Pattaya to return to what it was in the beginning, but I’d probably be wrong...

One thing I’ve been wondering about. With all the writing talent you have available and all the access to the history, do you think that perhaps you could put out a Pattaya City map with all establishments shown for each year starting with say 1965 to now showing the correct locations on the sois and maybe publish them one a week? What a joy that would be to the old hands and frequent visitors. It would bring back such memories...

I’ll get off my soapbox now.

Dear All,

Our warmest appreciation goes out to all those who attended the Saturday’s Grand Opening (21/7/01) of Center Point Pub at the Green House Entertainment Complex, 2nd Road.

Special thanks goes out to Chanyut Hentrakul for his kind word during the opening speech, Pattaya Mail, Doctor Iain and Brendan for covering the event, Boonkird Viwatdecha, managing director of FM107.75 Mhz Sunshine Radio and his lovely wife, and everyone who contributed in one way or another to make this occasion a huge success and put Center Point Pub firmly on the Pattaya map.

Last but not least, if you missed out on the grand opening, fear not, Sophon Cable and Pattaya Mail will keep you posted of all the events and activities planned throughout the year.

Thank you once again and for as long as you keep arriving we’ll keep providing.

Sincerely,

Center Point Pub Management

Sir,

It seems Winebibber really did start something when a few weeks back he joked about the bowling green provoking complaint. Presumably the jesting note was because it seems unbelievable that such a staid pastime could cause offence. Was someone telling ‘porkies’ when saying his protest about 5 a.m. motor-mowing went unheeded or was it much Mailbag comment that moved the bowling-green management to action?

Joint-owner Kevin Springett (another plug Kevin) argues the point and says (PMail 20/7) he acted immediately when he heard from a ‘disgruntled resident’ (and why not?); but his sour and entirely unnecessary puerile sarcasm indicates not with good grace. He in fact appears to take the attitude the early-morning ‘noise pollution’ should have been suffered in silence. Someone should point out to Mr Springett that many who were woken up at that time might have been prompted to more direct action than properly advising of the disturbance. Given that the condos of the people being disturbed directly overlook the green it wouldn’t have been difficult for the occupants to ensure the green didn’t need mowing at 5 a.m. or indeed at all. A few good squirts of one of the Songkran water-projectors filled with an appropriate growth-retardant (any weed killer) would have done the trick. I doubt Mr Springett’s dubious PR skills have recruited many customers from that direction but he might be grateful his next-door neighbours have more sense of propriety and are better ones than he appears to be.

In PM’s 27th July issue a letter from D. Johnson confirms the noise pollution problem and regulatory neglect is widespread throughout Pattaya and T. Tighe also points out that the resort misses out because visitors can’t get a good night’s sleep. Meanwhile it was reported that the crackdown on lewd entertainment will continue. Last week this comprised a popular and long-standing go-go bar in Soi Post Office being closed down. The lewd entertainment the owners provided without keeping anyone awake? No more than what may be seen on many public beaches in the Spanish and Greek resorts that yet another writer recently pointed out have made giant steps forward while Pattaya has marked time.

The writer who a couple of weeks back said he thought Pattaya could change was indeed an optimistic soul. Don’t the priorities of the local authorities indicate that the writer who quoted the ‘you can lead a horse to water’ adage was much nearer the mark.