HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Hi from America

Clean beaches and large bills

Nothing has changed, still

Air-con bus and yellow baht bus

“Jump” Memories - Thailand, 1974-1975

Hi from America

Editor;
After six wonderful months of staying in my condo in Pattaya, I am back in Akron, Ohio. Like many Americans, Thailand is my adopted country of choice. Life in Thailand is a relaxing and refreshing contrast to the impersonal and distant attitude of so many Westerners.

I met and married a beautiful Thai lady from Klaeng during my stay, and now go through the difficult process of bringing her to America. Her family is among the kindest people I have ever met, and treat me as a dearly-loved family member.

It takes over two years to process a spousal visa, when she will be given a green card, but I also applied for a K-3 visa, which takes three months. Since our plan is to spend six months during the warm weather in America, and six months in Thailand, I am hoping she can enjoy a few months honeymoon (I am three hours from Niagara Falls) before we return to Pattaya.

During my thirteen years of spending some time each winter in Pattaya, I have learned to love and respect the gentle and respectful Thai way of life. Last night I discovered that Pattaya Mail, which I read every week while in Thailand, has a great web site. Thanks for helping to relieve my home-sickness by enabling me to keep in touch with the news via the internet.
Dr. Johannes Maas
Akron, Ohio

Clean beaches and large bills

Editor;
Re: “Everyone likes a clean beach”, what were the deck chair vendor/vultures doing while those school kids were sweating their uniforms off? I never pay for a deck chair, they are very old, grubby, smelly, and the surrounding area is full of ciggy butts. The only clean-up operation is with a metal detector.

I hope the education authority collects a fee for further clean-ups.

Re: Letters, “Please TOT do something”, I sympathise with Frank Mack, the quality of any big company is very, very iffy.

I have a monthly phone bill of no more than 500 baht with TOT, and in March, my bill was sixteen thousand baht. I had purchased an I-Net internet card in Pattaya Klang, the package was a bit dubious looking, but the sales lady assured me it was 100%.

I tried to connect on the local modem number but, after 10 attempts, I gave up, tried the step-by-step method as per the booklet, and I connected. The step-by-step method was a premium number. I made a personal visit to the No.1 computer shop and exchanged emails with I-Net, used a local Thai lawyer, he was brilliant, and as a result of all my furious remonstrating, I got a free card, worth 800 bt.

Cost me that for the lawyer!

I sent emails to all parties concerned explaining my thoughts. They strive for ISO recognition, but the missing factor is they have no class.

I paid the 16000 bt, because it wasn’t their fault, and because I, yes me, have got more class than the lot of them!

In Liverpool I would have put a brick through the window, uncouth maybe, but satisfying, a real class act!
Tony Mack

Nothing has changed, still

Dear Mailbag;
I refer to Mr. Hudson’s letter “nothing has changed”. Well he’s correct, nothing has changed in so much that some visitors come to Thailand year after year apparently just so that they can complain about Pattaya not changing. I note that Mr. Hudson has been visiting the Kingdom since 1986 so there must be something he likes about Pattaya. If he wants good pavements and equal standards etc he could always go to Singapore, but he might need deeper pockets!
Cordially,
“An old Pattaya hand”

Air-con bus and yellow baht bus

Dear Editor
I read Joe from America’s letter with interest, but I cannot see why he is so steamed up about this topic. The air-con buses no longer run but were they really needed?

I think the usually partly obscured bus stop signs were part of this system but no indication at the stop about routing, frequency, fares, or times of operation, which would make the service very unattractive to short term holiday makers even if they knew the service existed. After all, who would wait at the bus stop for a bus that never comes?

As for yellow baht bus drivers - what are they? Are they drivers with yellow skins or are baht buses painted yellow, I cannot recollect seeing either.

I am surprised that Joe after living here for some time has not noticed that the baht buses are air-conditioned. As they race around the loop of Beach Road and Second Road at 40 mph overtaking each other as if in a grand-prix race just put your arm out the side and deflect a cooling breeze on to your face.

Going somewhere you don’t want to can be an irritant but most times easily avoided. Do not get on bus which already has many passengers or where the driver is being spoken to by potential passengers. There are so many baht buses just wait a few seconds more and board an empty one.

Finally, Joe, do not complain about paying 10 baht. After all, if you were in London or New York you could not enter a taxi for less than 300 baht and on a rainy day you would get nearly drowned waiting ages for one to stop.
Lou of London

“Jump” Memories - Thailand, 1974-1975

Editor;
How time does fly and things change! I was stationed in Thailand in 1974-1975 and welcomed the opportunity to participate along with Thai military associates in “charity jumps” arranged at a rotating venue of Royal Thai Airbases.

The rapid drawdown of U.S. Forces in Thailand incident to the withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Vietnam significantly reduced the number of qualified U.S. military “volunteers” who were available to continue to participate, but those who remained welcomed the camaraderie with like-minded military professionals.

My memory has dimmed but I thought at the time that “sport jumping” did not have any adherents in Thailand (but I should add that our “jumping” was more “martial” than “recreational”). I am glad to see that “jumping” as a sport has flourished, and I envy your fraternization and vitality.

My association terminated in 1975 when I was returned to the U.S. for the treatment of a medical disorder that resulted in a permanent disability. I have maintained that the hospitality and generosity I experienced while I was in Thailand was utopian, and I retain these thoughts in my memory.

I would like to hear about those earlier years and resurrect contacts with some of the Thai soldiers and airmen (of my era: I now am 76 years of age) with whom I served. The most valuable aspect of my life that I retain is my memory. I thank you for your patience in reading this effusive chatter.

Regards,
Charles Ward

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
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