HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Songkran first timer’s fears were ungrounded

Please bring back CNN and BBC

Children at risk?

Anyone who knows better hides from Songkran festivities

Greetings from the USA

Fat secret security

My truck is bigger than yours...

Songkran first timer’s fears were ungrounded

Dear Sir,
I was one of the foreign tourists visiting Pattaya during the recent Songkran New Year festivities. Before coming to Thailand this year, I admit to having grave concerns.

First, from many letters in the Pattaya Mail concerning crime, I began to wonder how safe it would be?

Secondly, before making my airplane booking I had not heard that Songkran was being celebrated at this time. Based on what I had heard from previous years festivities, I had always vowed that I would never come to Thailand during Songkran.

I am pleased to say that neither concerns were valid.

Taking normal precautions for safety, I felt very safe while I enjoyed the activities of Pattaya; both during the day or at night.

Walking along Beach Road or in the entertainment areas were no more dangerous than taking a walk around similar areas in Western cities.

Overall, during Songkran, I found the Thai people to be very respectful and the water throwing to be done in a ‘fun’ manner. More effort was being taken to ‘drown’ their friends, with everyone having a good laugh; than to bother others! The children were delightful to observe, as they obviously enjoyed the fun. Their smiles and laughter are worth a fortune.

I increased my respect for the gentle, kind nature of the Thai people, and truly enjoyed myself.

As for the ‘Water Festival’ day, this is certainly one big ‘party’ day. For anyone who does not enjoy the chaos of such wild parties, like myself, I would suggest that you make a brief appearance (and you probably will get soaked on that day!) and then retreat to your hotel. Don’t plan on any other outside activities for that day, until the evening!

I commend the police for their presence during the Songkran New Year festivities, this year. They were present, visible and acted when necessary, to keep order; but at the same time not interfering with the ‘good, festive’ fun that went on.

I agree that a small minority need to be educated to the grave dangers of throwing water into drivers’ faces; but that can only be prevented by public education, and not just by police action. As I said before, I think the police did an exceptional job, under the circumstances.

Also I was impressed at how quickly the city moved in after the celebrations to clean the streets. That was good to see.

I had a safe, fun filled vacation in Pattaya this year and would encourage others come and see the Songkran New Year festivities.

Dan Campbell,
Canada

Please bring back CNN and BBC

Dear Sir
I have been a resident, off and on, for several years now, and like many other non-Thai nationals here like to use TV to keep up to date with world events. The absence now of CNN and BBC World from the Sophon Cable feed is very frustrating. They have been included in the recent past, and the rumours as to why they have been removed are beyond the scope of this letter. Yes, there is Fox News but many do not like the way news is filtered through its narrow editorial guidelines.

My current monthly bill from Sophon is 350baht, and I would gladly pay a reasonable amount more to get these two essential and worthwhile channels.

I suspect that these channels are expensive to include and might not interest most of the majority of Thai families who use Sophon. However, as I have already said, Pattaya has many nationalities amongst its residents and they would appreciate these two channels.

What is most galling is that if you live on the east side of Sukhumvit, or in the Naklua end of town, the feed from Banglamung includes these channels for the same price.

Yours,
A serious TV watcher

Children at risk?

To Pattaya Mail;
Some time ago, I believe it was in 2002, your paper publicised a bar in Sunee Plaza, South Pattaya, which was said to be frequented by children who while there were thought to be at risk from the attentions of paedophiles who used the same bar.

I am writing to you because I believe that the problem may be returning. Last week I was in the Lek Beer Bar which is opposite Plaza Apartments in the Sunee Plaza area. While there I saw several boys, some as young as 12 or 13, talking to over friendly farangs sitting at the bar or at nearby tables; some of the boys were in the bar as late as 11.45 p.m. There was much toing and froing between the bar, the Plaza Apartments and an adjacent internet cafe.

All this could have had an innocent explanation, but I feel all the same that it warrants further investigation.

Yours,
“Michael”

Anyone who knows better hides from Songkran festivities

Dear Mailbag;
I’m somewhat at a loss to comprehend “Angry R.W.”; he must be a newly arrived first time visitor, and a na๏ve one at that! Surely anyone (Thai or visitor) who knows Pattaya is aware that during the Songkran festival, if you don’t want gallons of water chucked at you and white powder daubed on your face you do one of two things, either get out of town or stock up with the necessities and stay in your house/apartment/hotel during the mayhem and don’t venture out and about.

As for going out in “new clothes” and carrying valuable documents, etc., well what can I say! I do agree that in recent years the water throwing has gone “over the top” but it is my belief that farang visitors are as much, if not more, to blame than the Thais for this.

I would add that any similar festival, wherever in the world it may be held, will always attract the hooligan element.

Cordially,
“An old Pattaya hand”

Greetings from the USA

Dear Pattaya Mail,
We arrived home only yesterday and were greeted with the edition of April 9th of your fine publication. This is the edition whereas the 3 marvelous poems of Easter were. What a spiritual uplifting they brought to the Adams family. Thank you so much for remembering just how “special” Easter is to a lot of folks.

Very truly yours,
Mrs. Carrie Adams
Sycamore, Calif.

Fat secret security

Dear Sir,
When I first read that Prime Minister Thaksin’s daughter was working in a fast food hamburger joint, an image flashed into my mind of two fat (and getting fatter) Thai secret service agents casually seated in the restaurant.

Gwyn Parfitt

My truck is bigger than yours...

Editor,
A new building is going up on Soi 1, opposite the Markland, and the soi is constantly blocked as per the photo attached. You can also see the cockeyed drains in the photo.

The soi is not blocked at the top or bottom and cars, bikes, etc., still turn into the soi, come up then turn around and go back. I just saw a bus reverse back out onto Beach Road. It looks like a game of my trucks are bigger than yours.

Reg,
D.B.

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