HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Pleasantly surprised by the high quality restaurants

Allow the food vendors to return to the sois

More on British-Japanese relations

Do not confuse racism with patriotism

Happy 11th Anniversary

TOT phone bill error

Happy 11th Pattaya Mail

Tourism and visa plans at odds

There are far worse options

Pleasantly surprised by the high quality restaurants

Dear Editor,
My wife Moira, sister Liz and her husband Andy and I have recently returned to Scotland from a very enjoyable family visit to Pattaya where we were pleasantly surprised by the high quality restaurants on offer. We sampled many of these and we all agreed that in Pattaya Casa Pascal was without doubt the best we came across; we were treated to superb food and top class service.

From left: John McAllister, Tai, Don McAllister, Moira McAllister, Liz Reilly & Andy Reilly.

The only other place to come close was in Ban Chang where we were very well looked after in McAllister’s Bar & Grill. You may consider this a biased view but try it out for yourself, you will be pleasantly surprised.

On our last day we took the famous ‘Don’ McAllister to Pascal’s for a special lunch and he was also very impressed (praise indeed). Many thanks to Pascal, his lovely wife and all the staff for a great day, also thanks again to Don, Tai and all the staff in Ban Chang, we will certainly be back to both establishments; the sooner the better!

Yours sincerely,
John McAllister

Allow the food vendors to return to the sois

Editor;
Following the removal of the mobile food stalls from sois in South Pattaya a petition was formulated to Mayor Niran and the city councillors. The organizer expects to have the support of more than a 1,000 signatories.

The petition seeks to have city hall reconsider the prohibition ban that was placed recently on food stalls operating in the three sois known as Pattayaland. There are some 120 businesses operating in these sois, which employ an estimated 2,400 Thais, providing them with employment and they and their families with an income to pay for rooms and other living expenses.

Recently all temporary food stalls were removed from the three sois on the instruction of Pattaya City Hall, the effect of which has been detrimental to the conduct of most businesses in this area.

It is estimated that some 200 Thais were operating these mobile businesses and overall offering a meal service to the staff and employees at almost all hours of day and night.

Most of the approximate 2,400 staff and employees used to eat meals at their favourite or a nearby stall. These stalls were providing an essential service to the area. They offered excellent and inexpensive Thai meals and the employees then needed only a short time away from their work place to eat.

In most cases meals were brought back to their workplace to be eaten, thus reducing even more of the time away from work. In some cases meals were eaten quickly at small tables and stools set up near the stall.

Police and city hall officers enforcing the ban advised that the action was being taken on council’s instruction as the movement of traffic allegedly was being restricted by the numerous food stalls.

It is believed that the traffic situation is now much worse as the small areas occupied before by the stalls are taken up by much larger areas now being occupied by motor vehicles parking in the sois.

The staff in the establishments in the three sois concerned are now required to walk or ride to adjacent sois to obtain the same service that was originally available close and near to the door steps, this then requiring a much longer time away from work and adversely affecting the service being offered to the customers.

The petitioners request the council to reconsider their decision and allow the food vendors to return to the sois.
Allan Sherratt

More on British-Japanese relations

Dear Editor,
I refer to my original letter printed in the Pattaya Mail “Ashamed to be British” referring to the derogatory comments displayed outside an establishment in Pattaya. These comments were indeed inciting racial hatred towards the Japanese.

Having read the reply and subsequent admission from Mr C Henderson that he not only was the author of this insulting advertisement, was indeed proud to admit his racial tendencies.

Mr Henderson has completely missed the point, and for the benefit of Mr Henderson and Co the point that I made was quite simple: you cannot inflict your narrow minded racist behaviour on the general public who just happen to walk past your establishment, it will, and has done, provoke many comments from the response in the last number of issues of Pattaya Mail.

These comments you made were attached to a sporting event due to take place - why on earth you find it necessary to include such inciting words and behaviour is beyond comprehension.

I am not a Magistrate Mr. Henderson but as my letter suggested served as a senior officer with the British Force for 28 years so I do consider that my comments were just and correct.

We will never and should never forget our brave men and women of our armed service, but your racist comments have no place in today’s world of unity and alliance.
Mr. T. Coghlan M.B.I.

Do not confuse racism with patriotism

Editor;
In response to Chris Henderson’s letter/letters: You rant about the treatment of British prisoners of war during WW2, but how many times have you knelt beside their graves, prayed and wept for them?

As for Mr Paul Beenham who believes that the Brits are not racist, perhaps you can explain to me why in Britain we have groups such as The British Movement, National Socialist Movement, The British National Front, combat 18, etc. Also I fail to see how you serving with the French foreign legion connects with anything else in your letter (or Mr Parsley’s letter) and yes I have served (12 years for the British Army).

Please Mr. Henderson and Mr. Beenham do not confuse racism with patriotism.

Jason Marriner,
Middlesex, U.K.

Happy 11th Anniversary

We would like to express our best wishes for Pattaya Mail 11th Anniversary. Happy Birthday! We wish you prosperous and peaceful years to come. Thank you for your continuous support.

The Management
Kalae Art & D้cor
Pattaya

TOT phone bill error

Editor;
Heads up for TOT telephone users: I was made aware of an error in July TOT phone bills. Mine and my next door neighbor’s billing date is 05/07/47. If the units billed (bottom line, center column) has the same last three digits as the meter reading (immediately above) the bill is probably incorrect. Before paying, dig out your last month’s bill and you’ll see the last three digits of the cumulative meter reading is the same as on your July bill, and the same as the number of local call units billed.

Take both bills to the Pattaya TOT / TT&T office on the corner of Third Road and Central and ask them to check out the bill. Worth a try. Even if you’ve already paid, take the bill and gripe. You can be eligible for a credit.

Good luck,
Bobby

Happy 11th Pattaya Mail

Very best wishes for the 11th anniversary. Thank you for maintaining such a high standard and improving overall aspects of the newspaper year by year. I congratulate you and all your dedicated and professional staff who were instrumental for the success for the past eleven long years by not only publishing such a great newspaper but also for helping Pattaya by exposing it so positively to the whole world. Once again, congratulations to you all and please keep up the excellent work.

Best regards
Ranjith ChandrasiriDeputy General Manager
Royal Cliff Beach Resort

Tourism and visa plans at odds

Editor:
It’s nice to see that Thai Tourism is aiming for higher visitors and revenue in future years. However, not mentioned in the story is the option of having ninety day entry visitation instead of the present thirty day, similar to other productive nations i.e.: Hong Kong, Australia, etc.

I guess the improved revenue in part will come from the actions and costs needed to acquire entry and visa extensions.

It seems the tourism plans and visa restrictions are at odds with each other (to the tourist anyway).

Neil Allison
Canada

There are far worse options

Editor;
Why I ask myself do so many expats who trade in their old farang wives for a new younger Thai model suddenly turn against everything that they have enjoyed previously?

Any decent guy who lives here will sympathize with all of the “working girls” in Thailand, but the realists among us know that as long as they are treated with respect that there are far worse options for them. To suggest that all girls, here and around the world, who partake in this profession have no other choice is nothing but naive.

I can introduce you to dozens of girls here who could retire on just one sponsor they have, but choose to continue working, very often the life is just that, a way of life they choose. It is either this or marrying an old farang! A better choice?

I will admit this is not always the case and everyone I know here will agree that anyone found forcing any girl, anywhere in the world, into this type of work against their will should be punished to the full extent of the law.

For everyone who thinks they know better than the Thais and can change things to create a little UK, OZ or USA: go home. This is Thailand and all its little quirks make it the great place that attracted you all here in the first place.

Let this wonderful country evolve on its own; history has shown that interfering farangs the world over have done nothing in the long run to improve the way of life for the average citizen.

Thailand has managed very well for centuries without moaning, interfering foreigners, and I for one would like to see it continue that way. I am privileged to be a long stay guest in this country.
Sut Sut

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
are also on our website.