HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

A brilliant evening

Khun John’s Internet nightmare

America is a title no different than the rest

Telepathic drivers, again

My 1st Marathon

More on the motoring mess

A brilliant evening

Editor;

Sincere congratulations on last (week’s) launch of the Pattaya Blatt. Those who were not in attendance missed a brilliant evening.

Congratulations are also in order to Rene Pisters and his team at the Thai Garden Resort for providing yet another fantastic evening of excellent food and suburb entertainment. Christina and the Moon River Pub house band “What’s New” were at their best. Sam & I enjoyed the evening immensely.

All in all it was a very well organised and executed event, but then again what else have we come to expect from the Pattaya Mail and the Thai Garden Resort?

Congratulations to all concerned.

Best regards,

Graeme Moore

Khun John’s Internet nightmare

Dear Editor,

I have read Khun John’s “Internet nightmare” letter from your July 19th issue, and feel compelled to give some advice to Internet cafe users. My wife manages an Internet cafe in Ban Phe, and she and I witness every day how users leave themselves wide open for the kind of bad experiences that befell Khun John.

Many users simply fail to sign out of their Email accounts, instant messenger accounts, Outlook Express, and even online banking accounts. They just walk away, while their personal and/or financial information is still online for the next person to see. The unscrupulous will take advantage of this if they can.

So, users, log out of everything you have logged into. Then click the X box in the upper right hand corner of the screen to return to the desktop. If you’ve saved anything on MS Word or Wordpad or Excel, then delete those documents too (they are often saved in My Documents if you’re wondering where they went).

For safer net surfing,

Jim Christie

Blue Sky Green Sea

Ban Phe, Thailand

Changes needed in Pattaya

Editor;

In response to Ron Fleitman’s letter on there being no Americans. As we all know the real Americans were Indians and democracy did them little good at all. However, as these original ‘Americans’ actually came from Asia (via Alaska) it seems the real Americans probably came from Thailand or at leas East Asia (which is where the Thai people migrated from). As for other nationalities in England we are mainly Viking (from Scandinavia) or Anglos from slightly south or Saxons from part of Germany! Some are even from France, via William the Conqueror, who was really a Norman from what is now the Netherlands or Denmark.

Life is complicated. In fact it all depends where and when you start from. In the first place some anthropologists (which also includes geneticists) believe we are all from Africa. So if American is a title so are all the rest. America just started a little later than most. As for democracy being 226 years old, think about the ‘native’ Americans, not to mention black Americans until relatively recently. I think many countries in the world had democratic processes before that. Including the Greeks and Romans and English. That’s were the ‘Americans got the idea from.

Americans are no different to the rest of the world. They have made mistakes as a nation as every nation does, but they are a nation and they are Americans. They are also one of the best. The most generous people you could meet, as a nation and as individuals. In my experience, the world is a better place for America.

I am pleased that the politicians in my country have the courage to give the support that great nation deserves in these demanding times. We have certainly been glad of America’s help in the past.

Peter Ash

York, England

PS. That, ‘old’ York (a Roman, then Viking town)

Telepathic drivers, again

Dear Editor,

Again I feel compelled to write my views on telepathic drivers. A certain R.C. goes on to say that the experience of local people on motorbikes is legendary and by learning at a young age they are well trained?

Well perhaps the number of spray painted outlines on the roads due to accidents are invisible to him or maybe he is writing about something he has not a clue about?

I have been driving here for the past 5 years and have just got used to it, you simply have to!

With motorbikes coming at you head on the wrong side of the road, 3 people sometimes more on motorbikes that are all over the road where they cannot control themselves and as said in last week’s letter either on the phone or smoking cig’s and riding 1 handed. What is that all about?

They have no real fear of danger as if something does happen then Buddha will take care of them; wrong again, if something does happen then if the farang that was involved (whether they’re at fault or not) with them will have to take care!

Can we please bring to a close that a good majority of motorbike riders (foreign and local) are a danger to themselves and more importantly others?

Regards,

Mick

My 1st Marathon

Editor;

On Sunday July 21st there was joy in the streets in Pattaya. I’ve never seen the entire city so well organized for one event. A super great job by all those involved.

Now I’ve always thought that a marathon was for ‘real men’, ‘men dressed in black’ and ‘bad company’ types, your average macho guy. I mean 26 miles or 42.195 km is not an easy task.

Just a few days before the marathon a friend of mine asked me if I was going to run. I said, “Heck no, I would never think of running in a marathon”. My friend Jack said, “Why not I am”. Needless to say I was very surprised because Jack is not only a nice guy, but he’s 73 years young. He continued to tell me about the 1/2 and 1/4 marathon runs. Suddenly my macho brain kicked into gear and I said (to myself) “If he can do it, I can do it”. This was my first non intelligent mistake. So like a person lacking judgment I signed up.

Ok, it’s Sunday. Jack and I are standing at the starting line; it’s not even 6 a.m. The crowd is huge and continues to grow. I see little kids, older ladies, two Thai teens with no shoes, younger Thais who look very fit and a few older farangs like Jack and I. Now I feel a little better.

Somebody says the magic words “go”. The 2 or 3 thousand runners slowly start to move forward. Everyone seems to be in a hurry but we’re going nowhere. After a few hundred yards we start to spread out. My old friend Jack leaves me in the dust. I’m all alone but I see some familiar faces. They wave and pass me by.

Just past 2nd Road and all the way to Sukhumvit I see joy, goodness and respect within the Thai culture. A man with his two sons all dressed alike and the children are young, 5 and 8. Three young girls in what looks like a team outfit, very cute.

On Sukhumvit we’re really spread out, past Central some of the good runners are on their way back. I see a man with only one arm and he’s headed back. There’s a couple of deaf people giving signs to each other, a man in a wheelchair, other handicapped people are running. But this run’s main theme seems to be we’re all trying, having fun, respecting each other and there is “joy in the streets”.

The hills aren’t steep but long with lots of water stops just when you need them. Good grief I see the beach, there’s hope for me. We turn on Beach Road but I don’t see the finish line - ok run some more. The little kids and older folks inspire me, I’m happy. Even more so as the finish line is in sight. I notice the fit Thai guys sprinting on in. I don’t sprint but just move a little faster and cross the line. They give me a medal and I only came in 2,147th. I feel good and I’ll be back.

A great job by all those involved; city hall, the police, run organizers and all the children and schools. Pattaya was beautiful today. Keep up the good work.

P.S. I only did a 1/4 marathon - God bless the 1/2 and full marathon runners.

Sincerely,

Jess Saalazar

There are no Americans

Editor:

The 5 July Mailbag had some rather interesting letters in regard to Thai motor vehicle operation and law. About 10 years ago I was tasked with doing some research for my employer about Thailand. One area was the motor vehicle law. As explained to us, the basic Thai motor vehicle law is a carbon copy of the basic British law. In addition, Thailand has obligated itself to international standards of driving, and road construction through international treaties. One interesting note was that the official speed limit within city limits is 60 km nation wide, unless otherwise posted. If you look closely there is a speed limit sign on Sukhumvit Highway indicating that you reduce your speed to 60 near the city limit. Yes, hard to believe, but true.

I was recently pulled over by the Highway Police for riding my motorcycle during the daylight hours with my headlight on. I explained that it was for extra visibility, but the officer decided it was against Thai law and I had to pay a fine; until I suggested we go see his superior.

As to telepathic Thai Drivers, what elephant do-do! Just look around Pattaya at the increase in white markings on the roadways. People killing themselves and others due to shear stupidity should not be applauded or joked about. The Bangkok Police recently had a crackdown on reckless driving, a 10,000 baht fine. Over 100 motorcycles were seized. What a novel idea! Maybe the Pattaya Police should follow suit? Better yet, just remove the vendors that take up the sidewalks, enforce the no parking zones and put an end to double parking for a start. There should be no parking at all on one lane sois (alleyways) between Beach and 2nd roads. These simple items would greatly enhance traffic flow near the beach. One other thought would be to remove “children” and other unlicensed drivers from Pattaya streets with random license checks at all major intersections night and day. Then of course there is the helmet law, but that might be asking for too much all at once.

The city really needs to ban the motor coaches from all Pattaya streets near the beach, but we all know that won’t happen no matter how polluted the air in Pattaya becomes. Ever smell your clothes after walking or driving a motorbike around the beach area in the early evening; soot and odor from diesel smoke. These busses should at least be banned from parking on public roads, using Beach Road and all public streets of less than 10 meters in width; that’s just common sense. No one walking or driving down the beach wants to put up with smell, odor, and noise of these busses. It’s comical watching drivers trying to navigate tiny alleys with these vehicles and if there is a car parked down a soi, instant traffic jam.

As a public service, may I suggest that the Pattaya Mail start printing weekly statistics on the number of traffic accidents, the number killed, hospitalized, and total baht amount of fines imposed on Pattaya streets? Printing the Police Reports on 2 or 3 accidents a week would be a true community service as it would highlight the depth of the traffic problem in Pattaya. Possibly Bangkok would wish to assist with additional funding for Pattaya once the true size of the problem is known. There must be some civic minded police officer at the Pattaya Police Station who would be willing to assist the Pattaya Mail with a community service project like this!

Pattaya “Beach” Bum

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