Having troubles with retirement visa red tape

Dear Sir,
For once I really thought that I had all the necessary paperwork correct before I set out on my annual mission! Photocopies of bankbook, passport, letter from Thai bank verifying my balance, letter from embassy verifying my pension and two photographs. Silly me!
On presenting this wad of information I was told to go back to my bank and ask them to verify that the recent addition to my funds had come from a ‘bank to bank’ transfer. So those who are adept at moving money around from farang to farang in order to boost their balance had better beware.
Now I am called behind the counter for my “interview”. “Must get copy of A.T.M. Card”. This is a new one on me and what purpose it serves baffles me!
The good news is that the visa can be obtained in less than an hour as against the three or four months previously.
For obvious reasons I should be grateful if you would not publish my identity!
Another Perplexed Farang

Save the trees

Editor;
The mayor of Pattaya has become very unpopular with a lot of people here in Jomtien over the issue of his cutting down the trees on Jomtien Beach. In their place the mayor is planting scrawny young coconut trees packed together in unsightly straight lines like a checkerboard, and growing into the older trees growing around them. What used to be a beautiful natural-looking beach is becoming unnatural straight lines and dead tree stumps wherever you look. Stump beach. I’m sure Jomtien would be a disappointment to any tourist coming here to spend time on a beautiful beach - unless, of course, you enjoy witnessing fiascoes in the making. Your idea was a bad idea Mr. Mayor. No one here in Jomtien likes it. Please have the intelligence and maturity to see that you’ve made a mistake and stop this project. Stop cutting down the trees!
Lek, President of the Jomtien Save the Trees Committee

Mount Rainer is still an active volcano

Editor;
Just a short note commending Chalerm Raksanti on his article about the Puget Sound area. It was well written and gave me a feeling of nostalgia having lived there for several years. The picture of the sailboat is almost the same as mine.
One note however. Mount Rainer is still classified as an active volcano and there is a hot spot present. A check with the University of Washington will confirm this.
The subject of the Native Indians fishing rights is a sore one with commercial and sports fishermen most of whom I have talked to feel that if they claim their native rights they should use the same methods they used in the old days. Then they fished to put food on the table (or whatever they used) which did not mean bringing hundreds of pounds at a time and selling them on the market.
Anyhow, nice job.
William D. Tuttle, Jr.

Willing to contribute to a fund for the slain officer’s family

Dear Mailbag,
I feel I must speak out on how appalled I was to read the account of the robbery that took place (last week) in South Pattaya Road. I know I can speak for every farang in Pattaya in not just condemning the robbery but also the needless execution of the policeman who just happened to be there doing personal banking.
As far as I know a robbery of this nature featuring such mindless cruelty and callous disregard for the sanctity of human life is new to Pattaya or even Thailand and I sincerely hope that those responsible are caught and given the severest sentence the court has the powers to give to deter others.
Obviously the policeman has family who must be devastated by this pointless act and I would be very happy to be put into contact with them or anyone else who may have opened a fund and I think I speak for many.
Regards,
Richey

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my darling wife Pannipha Russell, 6000 kilometres can’t keep us apart, you’re always here in my thoughts. We’ll be together again soon but until then, I love you like the sky and hope you enjoy your special day.
Your ever-loving husband,
Paul XXX

A fortune can be made

Sir:
If the police were to station themselves in the middle of Soi 13, and ticket all the wrong way motorcycles and vehicles, they could make a fortune for the city, and perhaps save a life.
Kevin F. Cleary
Pattaya

Not very promising future for tourism

Editor;
I have news for you legal scholars and Thai academics who wish to perpetuate this myth that the only foreigners who come here are criminals and sick minds preying on children.
You are creating a new generation of racism. As an English professor who has spent the last two years working on a Rajabhat campus, I was nauseated to discover that even young Thai children 8-9 years old have already been taught prejudice towards foreigners.
Foreigners corrupting social values? You’re joking right? What about the wealthy Thai males encouraging university students to prostitute themselves? We don’t read about this in your paper?
Drug problem? You bet there is a drug problem. Thai people selling to Thai people because it is the quickest way to make money in a culture where money is considered the most important thing. Who cares about the consequences?
Daily, I meet Thai people who are so kind and painfully honest they truly humble me. Daily also I am called unpleasant names in Thai and business merchants try and cheat me because I am a foreigner.
The future of tourism? Not very promising. I have advised many people not to come because of the blatant stealing and cheating. It is not a safe destination. When Thai people encounter foreigners the most common reaction is becoming a ‘look of displeasure’. This is just sad. Fewer and fewer people will spend their hard-earned savings to fly here and be treated as if they are not welcome. This is the future you create; think about it.
Ajarn

Don’t forget to look down when crossing Pattaya streets

Editor;
Khai Khem advises waiting for a kind driver to stop to let you cross the street. That is a good way to be killed. Surely, another driver coming behind at full speed will have no idea why the first driver is stopping and will pass him just as you step out thinking it is now safe.
Another problem: while looking for an opening to cross Second Road I failed to look in another direction - down! I stepped off the curb and right into an uncovered section of the drainage system. I nearly broke my leg and wound up face down in front of oncoming traffic with my leg still trapped. That would have won me a few thousand dollars in the USA, but I knew it would be useless to complain in Thailand, so I just went and got another massage on my poor legs.
Ken
USA