- HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:
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Greetings from the “Swan Lake”
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Concerned over lack of concern over environment
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Food for thought
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Report baht bus bullies
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This is a free country
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Looking for a long lost mate
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Death Railway and Hellfire Pass
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Where is the outrage?
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Greetings from the “Swan Lake”
Editor;
Seems like the charity bike ride produced not only
thrills, spills, hills and fills but also some misinformation: At no time
did I do a "swan dive" during the bike ride as cited in your
Friday 20 September issue. Furthermore, I did not need to try to catch up
with my husband on any rocky road, but finished, much to his delight, well
ahead of him in exactly 2 hours. Had the entrance to Diana Driving Range
not been entirely blocked by a bunch of disorganized and helplessly
maneuvering buses, I would have come in even under 2 hours.
Since I am quite proud of my achievement and happy to
have been part of a great event, I strongly suggest you better go ahead
and improve your research, if any, before lessening other people’s
personal success, might it be a small or a big one.
Giving it some more thought and building up quite some
energy to restore my biker’s reputation, I herewith challenge the person
who wrote the article to another 50 km bike race (mountain bike), no wait
a moment, make it 75 km this time.
Have a great weekend, best regards,
Andrea "Swan" Zapla
The "author" replies: Dear Mrs. Zapla, as
the errant (and erring) correspondent, I must admit that my
"research, if any" only went so far as approaching the organizer
of the event, the breathless Kim Fletcher (2 hours, 57 minutes), who
intimated that the "diving swan" was your good self. With the
time constraint of publication deadlines, it was not possible to
double-check hospital records to verify this. Regarding your offer of a 75
km race, I must unfortunately turn this down, as you have already shown
your prowess, beating my time in the Charity Bike Ride by a whopping 13
minutes, a deficit I would not be able to make up, even if we made the
"grudge race" 250 km. I agree that you should be proud of your
achievement, and hope that this apology makes you feel much better. The
only worry we have now, is who was the "diving swan"? If she
would like to make herself known to us at the editorial office, I will
also make an unreserved apology to her for having confused her with Mrs.
Zapla, every woman’s answer to Eddie Merckx. I remain, yours sincerely,
"2 hours 13 minutes."
Concerned over lack of concern over environment
Sir:
An action that I observed today, while walking with my
wife and son along the Beach Road promenade, causes me to speak out. A
farang, with three little white poodles, paid no attention when one of
them decided to ‘poop’ right along the walk-way. When walking your
dog, a plastic container and a ‘pooper scooper’ is mandatory.
This obvious ‘don’t care’ attitude, combined with
all of the other ‘don’t care’ attitudes shown by the many people who
hang out along this walk-way, by throwing trash anywhere they please, is
like a cancer. This is a beautiful path along the ocean, and all I see is
garbage everywhere.
"When done with something that comes in a
container, just drop it anywhere". Where does this attitude come
from? Are these the same people who do not wash after using the toilet;
those who live and act like pigs at home. I might also mention that many
men ‘pee pee’ on a fence along the beach in Jomtien, like it is a
toilet; smells in the hot sun, too.
I would think that the community of Pattaya would be
better served by policing these flagrant acts of disrespect, rather than
worrying about helmetless motorbikers, vendors trying to eke out a living,
and bars closing at 2 a.m. I think that priorities here are really ‘out
of whack’ and something should be done about it.
I am so angry at these displays of stupidity. Are these
real people or just monkeys that look like people?
Thank you,
Don Ward
Food for thought
Editor,
It’s nice it is to walk into an inviting looking
restaurant, choose a table near the window, select an appetising meal from
the menu, settle back and enjoy the surroundings whilst your meal is being
prepared. The air-conditioning is at a comfortable temperature as you sip
on your favourite beverage. A mouth-watering aroma of cooking smells
tantalises your nostrils as you eagerly await your nutritious meal from
the kitchen.
More diners arrive and take the table next to yours.
They immediately light up cigarettes and blow the tobacco smoke into the
air. A build up of cankerous cancer causing chemicals wafts all around you
and enters into air-conditioning unit. This lethal cocktail of toxic fumes
soon overpowers the cooking smells, nullifying your appetite. The "No
Smoking" signs that were clearly and conspicuously displayed inside
the restaurant are now difficult to see as the second hand rancid
cigarette smoke thickens like a deep fog. You soon begin to cough and
splutter as your eyes water and your nasal passages become blocked.
Yes, this scenario has been exaggerated somewhat but
the underlying message is there. Smokers need to be more considerate of
others, especially inside an enclosed, air conditioned restaurant. Surely
it is no great imposition for a smoker to walk outside to satisfy their
nicotine cravings or to choose an open-air restaurant to indulge in their
life threatening habits. Pattaya has an abundance of open-air eateries.
We all go to restaurants to satisfy our hunger for
food, not to be subjected to another person’s unhealthy practices.
Mick from Down Under
Report baht bus bullies
Sir;
Last week I boarded a baht bus on regular route at Big
C, car number 606. I handed over the ordinary fare of 5 baht in 1 baht
coins.
What happened? This demon-driver threw the coins
violently and brutally right in my face. I was of course immediately just
only shocked and confused. What to do? I realized that this was one of
those spineless, shamelessly strange people who are allowed to work in a
public transport system.
I tried in vain to remind him that the fare on regular
routes within Pattaya is actually five baht. I speak fluent Thai but that
seemed to make this monster even more aggressive so I had to endure a
barrage of insults in Thai.
I gave up the idea of solving the problem with the
savage and tried to cross the road. Then the criminal backed the car in an
obvious attempt to obstruct me crossing. When I managed to cross he
continued his threats and insults. But I disappeared into the shopping
plaza.
I left and walked southwards on Second Road. Suddenly
the criminal bully in the blue baht bus 606 appeared and threw a full
bottle of water at me. But missed.
I felt that enough was enough. I made a report to
police on duty and authorities who deal with enforcing the behavior baht
bus drivers. This bully driver will be fined or fired. Thank God for
justice.
I would like to appeal and suggest to all foreigners
visiting or living in Pattaya to do the same thing as I did and will
always do. Make a report to the tourist police or phone 038-727 500 as
soon as you experience any trouble with reckless and dishonest baht bus
drivers. Please do that not only for yourself but to help protect tourists
and foreigners living here from future danger. I say we should "crash
the baht bus bullies."
(Name supplied)
This is a free country
Dear Editor,
In issue 38 you published a letter from (Dutchman) Al
Deins "Shameful t-shirt sales" about the Bin Laden portraits
trade. It is again an old topic rising, why only Thais have to cry about
their victims of rebels, Japanese about their victims of atom bomb strike,
Russians about their sons who lost their lives in Chechnya, Europeans
about their losses in floods, also Yugoslavs, Africans, Vietnamese,
Afghanis. Every nation has its own sorrow and has to carry out lessons
from it.
Stop about it. Look more practical. There is free
market. And there is tender of darn Usama’s portraits. According to the
rules of free market development, there should be demand on his portraits.
Authorities can suppress traders but they will never suppress folk’s
thoughts. And the thoughts are not in favour of your country as you see.
Pattaya is a multinational city and Islam’s are in minority here as well
as your countrymen. You don’t have to generate public opinion polls just
come out to the street and see with your eyes.
It is not shameful t-shirt sales but shameful and
ignorant attitudes. If you proclaim freedom, get it full. Here is the free
country, free market and free people’s opinions. Or you believe only
your country deserves freedom?
Amasu Nedal
Looking for a long lost mate
Dear Sir:
I was stationed in Thailand for a year in 1968 and part
of 69. I had a wonderful time there and was very fortunate to have met a
wonderful girl named Puongtong Suvannachote. Her family was from Chonburi
and we made several trips there from my post i Sattahip. After my tour was
over I returned home but never forgot her. Have you any ideas? I will
appreciate any help you can offer.
Thanks,
Dennis B. Freeman
Death Railway and Hellfire Pass
Dear Sir,
I refer to the article in the Pattaya Mail of 30
August concerning the Death Railway and Hellfire Pass.
Without in any way diminishing the contribution Rod
Beattie has made to the restoration of the Hellfire Pass site and the
exploration of nearby areas, I find it somewhat astounding that neither
Mr. Beattie nor your writer makes any mention of the work of the
Australian-Thai Chamber of Commerce in this regard. Indeed, it was the
Chamber, under former President Ken Bradley, that not only undertook the
initial clearing and restoration of the Hellfire Pass site in the late
1980’s, but actually re-discovered it. Mr. Beattie’s own work in the
mid-1990’s was undertaken at the behest of the Chamber - and funded by
the Chamber.
Throughout the 1990’s the Australian-Thai Chamber
carried out multiple works at Hellfire Pass, including clearing,
maintenance, restoration of tracks, the construction of paths and
stairways, etc. Funding came from donations by veterans organizations in
Australia plus proceeds from sale of the Hellfire Pass book produced by
the Chamber and sold at the site. The Chamber continued to do this until
the site was taken over by the Australian government and the current
memorial building constructed in the late 1990’s.
The Chamber still raises funds from sales of its book
at the memorial (which book is not to be confused with certain
unauthorized copies on sale elsewhere). Proceeds are now used for
community service projects at nearby schools. These projects include a
small library building at one school, a kitchen at another, provision of
kitchen equipment, new doors, lighting, and a myriad of small
improvements.
Information on the role of the Chamber at Hellfire
Pass, past and present, can be obtained from the Chamber on 0 2210 0216-8
or by email austcham @loxinfo.co.th
The current Committee is headed by Mr. David Wright.
Yours sincerely,
Gary White
Ausctham Hellfire Pass Committee
Where is the outrage?
Editor;
I read with despair your recent article titled
"Mother of the one-day-old baby found dead earlier this month was
herself found dead". Two lives destroyed by nothing more than
complete and utter poverty.
Thailand is not a basket case 3rd world country; this
just should not happen. Where is the outrage? Where is the concern? Surely
incidents like this should be of greater embarrassment to the government
than lewd shows and foreign businesses ownership?
Hoping for a better future for Thailand.
R. Hardy
Brisbane, Australia
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Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail are also on our website.
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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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