HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Another view of what happened...

Stop whining

Thanks for common sense about SARS

Kudos to Khai Khem

Update on “Travels with Mum”

Tourists unfazed by SARS scare keep the economy running

So what is the real reason behind double pricing?

Goodbye to another “moaner”

Another view of what happened...

Editor:

I would like to like to make a few corrections to Boonlua Chatree’s story (6th June) regarding the vicious attack on the Japanese tourist. To start with Weerasak Suwanlee was drunk at the time and verbally abusing Mr Saito in Thai unaware that Mr Saito understands quite a bit of the Thai language.

Mr Saito responded by telling Weerasak to shut up! A short time later Weerask came up behind Mr Saito, tapped him on the shoulder and when he turned around Weerasak hit him in the face with a beer bottle.

This type of cowardly attack could easily have blinded or killed Mr Saito.

The correct name of the beer bar in Soi 2 is the Mickey & Minnie Bar, a bar that should be avoided by everyone unless you like blood, stitches & hospitals.

The fact that Weerasak stated that he knows many high-ranking police officials and was released within 10 minutes has made myself and many of my friends very interested in the Thai justice system and we will be following this case to see what sort of penalty Weerasak receives. Will he be given a token fine because he has police friends? Or is there real justice in Thailand? If there is, Weerasak Suwanlee should be playing in a prison band for at least the next 12 months.

A concerned longtime visitor

Stop whining

To the “Lame Whiners”;

I don’t understand the constant whining from you guys. I have been taking 2 holidays a year in Thailand for the last 12 years and never had a problem with prices, ever! The average Thai wage is about 180 baht a day (about ฃ4-00) considerably less in rural areas. The minimum UK wage is ฃ5-00 per hour, or about ฃ40-00 per day, and you lot are whining about a few baht.

OK the principal of a separate charge for foreigners goes against our “Political Correctness” regime in Europe and the USA but I think we forget how poor most Thai families actually are.

I have had a few harsh words from baht bus drivers when I stick the 5 baht coin in their hands and don’t even make eye contact, but I am sure you have all heard the tale of the American tourist who asked the London cabby, “How many stores named Harrods does this city have?” The easiest way around this is to make sure you have the right change!

OK, the bonuses, I stayed at a 2 star London hotel a few weeks ago, ฃ65-00 a night and not as good as the Lek Hotel in Pattaya. A bottle of beer in a London pub ฃ3-00, forget about eating in a London restaurant.

World class Tailoring in Thailand for a fraction of the cost of Europe or USA. How much do you pay for a round of golf back home? 180 km taxi ride in Thailand about 1000 baht, need I go on?

Stop whining and enjoy this beautiful and very reasonably priced country!

Phil Collins

Manchester UK

Thanks for common sense about SARS

Dear Editor;

Finally! A common-sense article about the SARS health scare; Pattaya Mail issue June 13. Thank you Dr. Iain Corness. Although the topic is less than laughable, it was time some of us were given a realistic view of SARS and reminded how silly some of the hype surrounding it has become.

Your account of the poor pooch that was grounded in an airport in Europe because airport personnel failed their exams on geography (Thailand/Taiwan) was a howl. Thanks for giving us directions on how to find SARS on the scale-rating of deadly diseases. I’m no mahout, but I presume pimples on a Thai elephant’s backside are rare. Your stats on how many people died of the flu in the USA last year, however, made me flinch.

C. S.

Kudos to Khai Khem

Greetings,

Khai Khem often puts out good columns, and every few months drops a piece of dynamite on all readers of the Mail. Last column about bar girls and misguided farangs ranks up with the best of them. Kudos to Khai. I especially enjoyed some truly inventive uses of the English language as applied to a life in Thailand: “a nubile nymph ... polishing a pole … I’d be the last person to assassinate Cupid … You all have my permission to line your birdcages with this column … There is no law in Thailand that says you have to check your brains with left luggage at the airport.”

Carl Parkes

San Francisco CA

Khai Khem responds: Thank you, Mr. Parkes. It’s always nice to know readers accept my columns in the spirit in which they are written and if they laugh a little, that’s even better. Also nice to know our publication is being read in your beautiful city of San Francisco. I take comfort in knowing that if you visit Thailand you will be one of our welcome tourists who didn’t flunk your anatomy class at school. Confusion as to which section of the human body houses the brain seems to be rampant here in Fun City.

Update on “Travels with Mum”

Editor;

This is just to update a few things. I came back to Thailand in April with my daughter and one of my friends and we brought a 14 ft trampoline for the Pattaya Street Kids. We also brought with us Rangers football bags, towels, whistles, balls etc. We took all the children brand new clothes also. 60 of the street kids were treated to a day out - we took them to the Hard Rock swimming pool where Andrew (Khoo, GM) had arranged with his staff for the children to have a brilliant day, especially as it was Songkran week and there was lots going on. I then took the children for dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe upstairs and they had a ball.

Secondly: As from June 5th 2003 I am the Evening Times Scotswoman Of The Year. This is a real honour and I am delighted. Its not only helping me get help for the children in Thailand but also enabling me to let so many people know what a beautiful place Thailand is. I won ฃ5000 and I hold the title for one year.

So many people have such a bad impression of Pattaya through media documentaries - one at the moment about Thai wives and dating agency - that is the only side they seem to show. Yes, we all know what goes on, but the place is lovely and I have been a visitor now for 20 years, my children have come since they were babies and I feel happy to have met so many people, local and expats, who help make the place great.

I am one who just couldn’t sit back and enjoy myself with my children knowing I could help the children in Thailand and if I am going to continue holidaying in Thailand and having a great time I feel I should help the children where I can. (I am actually waiting for that holiday.)

I am delighted to have been nominated and then win this award. It is for my help to the HIV and AIDS children in Chiang Mai and the Street Children in Pattaya and the ever-growing children I meet. I will continue to help as I can. At Xmas we brought brand new clothing - some 1200 items for the children in Thailand. I have now set up a registered charity and my charity has been recognised as the UK charity for the Thai Arts and Cultural Society in UK.

I would also like to say I think Andrew Khoo and all the staff at the Hard Rock really live up to their motto and do “Love All Serve All”. I am delighted to know them and thank them for their continued help. This must be one of the best hotels in Asia and Pattaya is lucky enough to have it. I would also like to say the Pattaya Mail and Chiang Mai Mail are brilliant and hook up every week to read what’s going on. Thank you.

Best regards,

Tracy

Tourists unfazed by SARS scare keep the economy running

Dear Editor,

I’ve followed the travel reports in your newspaper for several months now and your continuous coverage of the current crises concerning the tourist slump in Thailand.

Headlines such as “TAT admits tourist numbers down 40%” and excerpts like “occupancy rate of hotels in Phuket plunged 30% … from 70% in previous months”, I am glad to see how Pattaya is quietly going on with its business.

However, a certain part of Pattaya is definitely feeling the impact of the Iraq war and SARS, as the so long sought after family tourism numbers are declining, a part on which some hotels and businesses rely.

But on a recent night out in your city I was astonished to see how busy a lot of the entertainment businesses were. I looked around and it seemed that Pattaya - in times like these - is being kept afloat by that which made it famous in the first place - by tourists who are unattached and without family obligations, by visitors whose carnal urge is more important to them than any respiratory problem and who won’t be scared away by exaggerated news reports.

I have read in your paper the denial and rejection of Pattaya’s twilight existence by some of the hotels and businesses in or near Pattaya. I have to admit that I get pleasure from the thought that these businesses might have to admit that when times are tough, this type of tourist keeps the economy running and the tourist dollars flowing, and if they don’t see this, they will surely suffer the greatest financial loss of all in Pattaya.

Regards,

Arnie Schwartz

So what is the real reason behind double pricing?

Editor;

I’m sure this question will never be answered. But I don’t know why there is such a big issue about this. Day after day, week after week and year after year, westerners complain.

Western countries have senior rates, children rates, mentally and physical challenged rates and no one in the western cultures argue this point. For the money, there is no comparison; Thailand offers things for tourists that no one in the western countries offer and penny for penny or baht for baht, there is no comparison.

All you complainers: Give it up. Thailand is the best; its people and culture have no comparison in the world.

Sticky Rice

Goodbye to another “moaner”

Editor;

The letter in detail from “Pattaya Bum” says it all about the winchers and whiners that always find something to complain about. My guess is that in 5 years he will be living in Aussie land writing the same letter about the problems in Florida, which he finds so amazing well constructed today.

Pattaya is only 30 years old in modern history terms. Give it a chance, it takes time to mature and have the organised skills of the western world. In the meantime stop moaning and making comparisons. Better still leave for Florida and we will turn the lights out when you have gone.

Happy resident,

Sev

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