HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

There is justice in Thai courts

So what is the real reason behind double pricing?

Dual pricing is an insult to both Thais and farangs

Can’t get enough of Thai History

No cure for a dose of ‘Common Cold Shoulder’, a.k.a. economic stupidity

Turn the Lights Out!

Searching for Ryan’s father

There is justice in Thai courts

Responding to: “Signed contract evidently isn’t a receipt”

After living in Pattaya on and off for 10 years, I have learned that a foreigner can get a fare shake from the Justice System in Thailand. As the company says that the contract is not adequate, then I guess that they should have never sent anyone to clean your pool in the first place. I am sure that you agree that if the contract was adequate for them to send a cleaner out for 4 months, then it is good enough for a whole year.

Get a lawyer-which is not expensive in Pattaya for a small case, and take the company to court. I am sure that the company is not used to court proceedings or has enough knowledge to bother to get a lawyer to defend itself. If the owner bothers to show up for the court date, as he might blow it off, then he will actually have to plead his case as to why he had been cleaning the pool in the first place.

There is justice in Thai courts if you give it a try.

Derek Sharron

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

So what is the real reason behind double pricing?

Dear Editor

You find two tier pricing is not a racial issue or a blatant scam. You also think that in Thailand it is quite legal. It’s a good and lawful right to do so for a Thai. A God given right, so to speak.

Well, I happen to live and work very near a castle named Neu-Schwanstein in Bavaria, Germany. Possibly you have heard of it. This castle was built by a Bavarian king several hundred years ago and is, standing on a hill, quite a sight. To keep it in good shape visitors to it are requested to pay a small amount of money to have a look inside. Naturally everyone wanting to have a look pays the same, whether he be a Vietnamese or a Swede, he may be rich or poor, good-looking or ugly.

In Germany it would be against the law to charge someone extra only because he or she is Black, White or Yellow or any other colour of skin. Racism in any form or shape is illegal and to be punished by law as is in most countries. No visitor could be overcharged only because, as an example, he or she is a tourist from Thailand.

If I were the man at the door I would charge you, Mrs./Mr. Parfitt 500% of whatever everyone pays. And this only because you are English. (I assume you are English!) I am sure you would think this a very good thing and gladly pay up. Or would you?

But you need not worry, in Germany this is against the law and I would go to jail. To conclude now that everyone in Germany is rich would be a big mistake. I certainly am not and to be scammed hurts me the same as it would the average Thai.

Gerard Swensen,

Bavaria, Germany

Dual pricing is an insult to both Thais and farangs

Dear Sir,

In reply to Gwyn Parfit "Fed up with whingeing" letter. Since my first visit to the kingdom in 1983 I’ve been lucky enough to return on over twenty occasions, the last few being with my Thai wife and our son. Dual pricing for Thai and farang is one of those things that I found irritating rather than annoying, but, reading Gwyn Parfitt’s letter angered me so much I felt compelled to contact you about her opinion.

I have many friends in the Thai community, here in England, who are of considerable means. On their frequent returns to Thailand they enjoy the "Thai rate", despite their superior wealth to many farang tourists who work hard, and save hard, all year who pay the "farang rate".

Were an "English rate" and a "foreign rate" to apply here in England, calls of racism would quite rightly be cried from every rooftop, yet Gwyn is so blinded by love [or ignorance] of your country she fails to see the obvious injustice of it all. Dual pricing is patronising and an insult to both decent Thai folk and farangs alike, and to claim any thing other is quite simply ludicrous.

Yours Dave Cartner

P.S. GREAT PAPER!

Can’t get enough of Thai History

Dear Duncan Stearn,

Why just a slice of Thai history?

Let us have the whole cake. Thoroughly enjoyed your article "The air war over Thailand 1941-1945. VolXI:21. This period of Thai history is understood by so few. Can we possibly continue this as a weekly slice of the cake? There are those of us who love Thailand but lack comprehensive knowledge of its modern

history.

Graham Shaw

Jomtien

No cure for a dose of ‘Common Cold Shoulder’, a.k.a. economic stupidity

Dear Sir,

There are cures for many ailments in Pattaya, yet sadly there is no known cure for a dose of ‘Common Cold Shoulder’, which I received in a high street optician yesterday. The staff there appeared far more interested in their mobile telephones or the state of their fingernails.

Fortunately, Pattaya has an abundance of oculists, so I repaired with alacrity to an alternative store, where the staff was both courteous and helpful. I obtained a new pair of spectacles for one quarter of the amount that I would expect to pay in Ireland, and they were even able to satisfy my unusual ‘Jam Jar Lens’ prescription with a reassuring jocularity.

I invited some of the staff outside, to inspect my recently fitted prescription windscreen in my motorcar. Their reaction was one of amazement at the technological advancement of the ‘tailor-made disabled motor car’. It is wonderful to drive without glasses and the blurred view apparent to correctly sighted persons, make theft (of the said car) almost impossible!

Finally, just a short word of thanks to the many people who communicated their kindness to me, following my recent letter to Pattaya Mail, regarding my unpleasant experiences connected with my large stature. Such support has restored a renewed confidence within me.

Ignatius Riley.

Turn the Lights Out!

Editor:

I travel extensively and on a regular basis; and not for visa runs. A few thoughts about my present trip.

Last week, I was in New Orleans. They have a real traffic problem there right now due to a tremendous amount of road construction. The road problems

in New Orleans are nowhere near that of Pattaya, but people protested so much about the inconvenience that the state is now in the process of enacting a

law so that all work on major highways will be done at night as not to negatively impact commuters and commerce. Wow, politicians that don’t need hearing aids! New Orleans is in the poor State of Louisiana and has the worse roads in America, but their roads are far superior to that in Pattaya.

This week, I’m in Florida. If you want to know were the European tourist that once vacationed in Pattaya are, it’s here. They’re everywhere. While I’m here for business, because of the increasing crime in Pattaya, and the increasing attitude that it’s ‘us foreigners’ that are the problem, I’m also looking at property. I’m actually considering moving back to Florida. Yes,

you can live cheaply in Pattaya, but it’s amazing that one can purchase waterfront property in a place like Cape Coral, cheaper than Pattaya. Quiet, improved home sights in central Florida towns the size of Pattaya are a fifth to a tenth the cost per square foot as property across Sukhumvit in the ‘suburbs’ of Pattaya. Building a fully air conditioned, all electric, energy efficient "Florida style home" in Thailand cost 25% to 50% more then here in Florida. The house will go up in 4 to 6 weeks, not months. What’s wrong with this picture?

When one considers that anyone can own property in America in their own name, things like getting a telephone line installed is generally a simple, inexpensive process, cable and satellite TV actually work, the police really care about maintaining order and putting criminals in jail, and driving is a civilized, enjoyable endeavor, why am I still living in Pattaya?

OK, in Florida it does get a bit cool in January and I might have to wear a sweater once in a while. Then there are hurricanes from time to time. Those indecent go-go bars where women actually go topless are a clear sign of moral decay. Food can be a bit pricey, though it’s not as bad as at the supermarkets in Pattaya. But, the public schools here are excellent, a big consideration for my daughter. And you can actually drink the water. You know, Pattaya’s cost of living really isn’t cheap anymore if you wish to live a modern, comfortable lifestyle. It’s become obvious that Pattaya’s Golden Goose is already dead. (Last one to leave...)

PattayaBum

Searching for Ryan’s father

My name is Ryan Tiemsanguan and I am 15 years old. I live in Orlando Florida. About 8 years ago, my father Pradit Tiemsanguan returned to Thailand and I am trying to locate him. The last place I knew, he was in Chonburi on some street that started with a W and had a long name, something like Watchaprakan or something. He was also some kind of a cab driver on a motorcycle. His date of birth is January 3,1947. Can you please help me?

Ryan

E-mail: [email protected]

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