HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Advice from a professional dog handler

Compelled to respond

To the man that was born on the 4th of July

Can see topless in most cities in the world

Some tourists give Thailand a bad name

The feeble one replies

Advice from a professional dog handler

Dear Sir,

I read with interest your weekly column Roll over Rover by C. Schloemer and in particular the edition regarding the importation of dogs to Thailand.

I am a member of the British Institute of Professional Dog Trainers, and prior to residing in Thailand was the team leader for the British International Search and Rescue Dogs, an organization that at a moment’s notice deploys a Search and Rescue Team including Search Dogs to any natural world disasters, earthquakes, floods and volcano eruptions. As one can imagine the logistics are a nightmare.

However, on many occasions I have traveled with the Search Dogs on route from the UK to disasters in Japan, Turkey and South America. On one of these missions the dog was a young 18mth old Labrador and I can honestly say that from leaving the UK to arriving at the disaster zone, sometimes traveling for 24hrs, the dogs have never suffered from stress or anxiety.

It must be pointed out, however, that all Search and Rescue Dogs are used to being kenneled. But for a pet dog, that for most of its life has been able to have a free run, the traumatic experience of being enclosed in the sky kennel will undoubtedly be the main reason the dog may suffer from stress.

I would like to offer some advice to any one who is considering taking their dog on any long journey, by airplane or other means.

Dogs are creatures of habit so if they are introduced and get used to being put in the sky kennel well before the departure date the dog’s stress level and anxiety should be minimal.

On a final note, since the 11th September 2001 many airlines for whatever reason have been reluctant to carry dogs as excess baggage. We Search and Rescue Teams have always traveled with our dogs in this way but I can see that in the future this may not be as easy as before.

My thanks to C. Schloemer for the continuing training examples educating not only the owners but others who may be thinking of owning these wonderful animals.

Philip Thomas Coghlan M.B.I.P.D.T.

Compelled to respond

Editor:

I am compelled to respond to the “An ordinary Thai” letter of 28 June. From his command of English, he is clearly not an ordinary Thai and appears to be engaging in nothing more than “damage control”. Being “tactful” just makes it easier for the Thai “elite” to ignore the obvious problems surrounding all of us and continue with corruption as usual. With sm_thai only living in Thailand for a year he may not as yet fully understand the true extent of Thai racism and corruption. I wish to expand on the obvious, because trying to shove Thailand’s problems into a closet only hurts those who are truly ordinary, middle-class Thais.

Thai racism is most clearly evidenced by government venues charging higher prices to foreigners. A minor thing, but it sets a tone. Thailand’s policies in relation to foreigners living here, owning businesses, property, and even their ability to visit relatives and children are questionable. The fact is, many Thai policies are racist by Western standards. That’s just the way it is!

Thailand’s present leaders openly exploit the basic undercurrent of racism by blaming the ills of Thailand on foreigners. This is not denounced by the Thai people in any meaningful way. Thais must take social responsibility for both their government and their personal actions if they wish to have any respect from western investors. Thais are ultimately responsible for Thailand and the actions of their “elite” leaders, not foreigners.

Soft peddling Thai corruption by “An ordinary Thai” is disingenuous. Thailand’s corruption is world class. I have worked in many countries and in the last 10 years Thailand has become one of the worst places for investment (decreasing productivity) and is quickly becoming a place of last resort for a holiday (increasing pollution), both a product of truly amazing corruption.

Last year’s lack of a quick, clear, and concise policy on terrorism (tact, Thai Style), coupled with recent government action against the foreign press is of special note as it has raised serious concern throughout the U.S. and Europe - anything but a good thing for tourism and investment.

The open exploitation of children (Sunee Plaza), business scams, theft of intellectual property, harboring of criminals, rape of the environment, and increasing crime are all things observed throughout the expat community over the years. The all night noise generators, drug dens, and other truly offensive bars in Pattaya are owned almost exclusively by Thais. In the “Information Age”, Thailand can no longer hide behind smoke and mirrors, or mystery. There are online web cams that allow the world to watch the stupidity live. Thais are fooling no one and westerners are tired of their tax dollars giving the Thai “elite” a free ride without meaningful return or even a level playing field for their investments here.

To be a developing country there must be something representing progress. Progress would mean things like curtailing corruption, protecting and educating children, control of pollution, respect for and enforcement of the law, equal application of the law, and open trade. If Thailand continues its present course, don’t expect those less than tactful investors and the countries they come from to bail Thailand out in the future. “An ordinary Thai” is laboring under the misconception that investors and tourists “need” Thailand; the truth is, Thailand has to make itself attractive to them or they will simply continue to go elsewhere.

Pattaya “Beach” Bum

To the man that was born on the 4th of July

Editor;

During the past 10 months, there have been many of our folks that have been identified as “heroes” since the Sept 11 debacle, but I would just like to take a moment here to talk of one of my favorite American heroes that was a longtime denizen of your fine city. That hometown hero of mine is no other than Jerry “hotdog” Bryant, former proprietor of the Saloon in South Pattaya.

I first met Jerry in 1978 while our small destroyer group was on liberty in Pattaya. We all fell in love with this fun loving guy. He seemed to have had a pretty good standing in the local community, but was extremely amiable to us, and loved to stand around his hot dog stand and tell war stories about the Vietnam era GIs from his days in Utapao where I believe his father was a USAF mortician.

Well, over the years I would return on leave and could always see Jerry at that big ol’ Tamarind tree spreading it thick to various and sundry ne’er-do-wells from every corner of the globe. He always had a big smile and was usually laughing most of the time. He was quite a magnet for those early visitors of Pattaya. He even one time gave me a guided “tour of his body” showing off a myriad of bizarre scars and wounds that came from God knows where.

The good ones die early as they say, and alas poor Jerry passed on in the early 90s, but he is not forgotten by a lot of us guys up here in Japan that still talk of his unusual antics even to this day. To the man that was born on the 4th of July, we all miss you Jerry!

Jay “Japanese Jack” Langlois, Tokyo

Can see topless in most cities in the world

Dear Sir;

I have just returned to England having spent the ‘winter months’ in Pattaya, as I have for the last four years. I was having a drink in Soi Pattayaland 1 a few weeks ago when the police ‘raided’ a local go-go bar and took away 6 girls for dancing topless! This you can see in almost any city in the world and of course topless pictures appear daily in The Sun Newspaper in the UK.

However, what you would not see in most places is ‘freelancers’ plying their trade as they do along the whole of Beach Road - even opposite the police station. If the authorities want to make Pattaya more acceptable to holidaying couples then clearing Beach Road would be preferable to the majority, rather than raiding bars where there are just a few male falangs.

The other concern is that there are now many Koreans finding Pattaya - which is fine except their tour guides must explain to their visitors how to behave in hotels! I have a friend who had to be moved 4 times in two weeks due to the noise factor.

Having said this, I shall be back later this year for a few more months - can’t wait.

‘Happy in Pattaya’

Some tourists give Thailand a bad name

Editor:

I read with interest the letter from Ralph E Revill (or should that be Reviled?) in which he accuses the government of Thailand of trying to get rid of the gay tourist. He quotes dirty beaches, unclean water and air pollution as contributing to an anti-gay attitude; I’m confused.

Mr. Revill, and other tourists like him, should remember why they visit Thailand. It is a developing country in many respects and still offers relatively good value for money. But visit any developing country and you will find that awareness of the environment, air pollution and (may I say it?) corruption are issues still waiting to be addressed. You get what you pay for - go to a high-cost private resort and you are entitled to complain if the beach is dirty, but go to a public area where prices are much cheaper and you cannot expect the same standards to be upheld.

The values of the people of Thailand are not those of peoples of the West and that is what endears them to us. They smile, they are helpful and they pamper to our needs at very reasonable cost; they are only trying to make a living for themselves and their families. There is always the odd bad apple in the barrel. Thai swindles Thai is of no interest (to foreigners) and happens all of the time. Thai swindles Farang and immediately Thais get a bad name. What does give Thailand a really bad name is the attitude of some of the tourists who think they can exploit the good nature of the majority of the Thais through their corruption of the very values that most of us visit Thailand to admire.

Stay at home Mr. Revill and I’m sure you will be happier. I know I will be.

Colin Clark

The feeble one replies

Dear Ordinary Thai,

If you had bothered to read my letter properly you will have understood that my criticisms were not aimed at ordinary Thai people but at corrupt government officials and politicians. Indeed, the letter is supportive of ordinary Thais who I see as the victims of corruption and the letter states ‘so the money can go where it is needed’ i.e. to ordinary people. I’m sorry if I insulted you or any other innocent Thais but I think you need to read my letter more carefully (perhaps some English lessons?). You have also embarrassed yourself and the Thai people by lowering a serious intellectual debate by using abusive language, i.e. ‘feeble’. When you start to get abusive and insulting you have already lost the argument. So do yourself a favour and buy some new glasses before you read any more letters.

[email protected] (the feeble one)

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
are also on our website.