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Helmets for bike passengers
Sir,
So we are to have another go at enforcing helmet law in Pattaya. Great, I
endorse it totally, as in Bangkok and Phuket it works, so why not here?
May I suggest the police start at any school, as children
leave for the day and drive, sometimes three up, without helmets for any
rider let alone passengers. All children who attend on a bike should have
horrific pictures of head injuries handed out to them and their parents
before being allowed to use (the motorbikes) for school. It might change a
few minds about it being not fashionable to wear a helmet and might save a
life or two.
For the police it would be easy pickings to hand out
fines, or impound bikes, as they cover most school exits in any case on a
daily basis and wave the helmet-less children through.
It is time Pattaya took this subject seriously. A one
month blitz would soon get the message across. Impound bikes of offenders
for a week or more for every head not properly covered and a fine; that
should sort them out!
BBW resident
Unusual shopping experience
Editor;
I was shopping at the BlissTel outlet on Sukhumvit Rd in Pattaya, and was in
the process of purchasing a new cell phone using my credit card. The clerk
had run my card through the machine, and I had signed the receipt when the
clerk told me that she was going to make a photocopy of my credit card. I
was really surprised and told the clerk that she was welcome to copy my ID
but I was not going to allow her to copy my credit card. She insisted and I
finally told her to reverse the already approved transaction and that I
would shop elsewhere.
I have never had an establishment request to copy my
credit card and feel this is a very unsafe request from a retailer. Please
pass on my experience. I have written to BlissTel’s care center in
Bangkok, and to no surprise I have not received a response from them.
Dennis Bird
Banchang, Rayong
Thanks for
the obstacle course
Editor;
I would like to thank city hall for the beautiful job they did on Beach
Road. Me, being ex-military, I am in heaven. My daily runs at the Beach Road
have become an obstacle course. It’s great, with M-60 music (drills)
holes, sandy hills, mud, dirt and many soldiers (Chinese groups) blocking
the walking area. Especially the part between Pattaya Klang Rd and Soi 13,
doing some close-combat with chunky lady dudes. Man, I feel like in boot
camp again. Please keep up the good work!
Thanks,
Patrick, F.F.
Painting baht bus numbers
Dear Sir,
James Hurford’s letter concerning the differential painting of baht
bus’s with odd and even numbers display’s a noble yet naive
understanding of Pattaya and its business drivers. How long would it be
before entrepreneurial paint shops emerged overnight of at a few hours
notices offering number changes to suit the drivers. Get real, this is not
Singapore.
Alex Pollock
Leicester
Shabby golf coverage
Editor;
The recent UBCTV/ABC coverage of a very important golf event was diabolical!
This does not bode well for the Ryder Cup. I watched the PGA Deutsche Bank
Championship for 3 days, 24 hour delay, coverage very poor, too many advert
breaks, with complete silence during them, only to be broken by the
commentators chatting, when they forgot to switch the microphones of during
the breaks, very amusing.
(I was) looking forward to the final day head to head
between Tiger & Vijay on who was going to be No 1. I switched on Tuesday
night at 20.00, on the Spark channel, nothing! No message telling you why.
It came on Wednesday night, but by then I knew the
result. Still I tried to watch it, (but it was) even more farcical. Did not
see presentation, or interview with them both, correction did not hear them.
With Tiger losing his No1 spot.
Regards
Matt Anderson
Wonderful downtown Jomtien
Editor;
I read with great interest the article about sensors being fitted to key
junctions on Sukhumvit Road. I hope they turn out to be successful, though I
doubt it.
Traffic lights were installed at the Thepprasit /
Thappraya junction months ago. They don’t work, rather, they are never
switched on!
Whilst on Thepprasit and Thappraya roads, why can’t the
council replace the daft open, stinking, metal refuse containers with proper
containers with lids? They seem to have managed it at the start of Jomtien
Beach Road.
Stinking washing up water from the food kiosks outside
Foodmart stagnates and overflows, running right down to Thepprasit Road. I
contacted the environmental health dept (does one exist in Pattaya?), zilch
result!
Work started on a storm drain along Dongtan Beach months
and months ago. There was a picture in Pattaya Mail of the former mayor
inspecting the sub-standard and unspecified concrete slabs covering most of
the drain, apparently metal covers were specified, and the contractors were
told to rectify the problem. Needless to say, nothing has been done.
Perhaps the new mayor could find a few minutes to have a
look at the mess the drain is in. Many of the concrete slabs have broken and
fallen into it. If I am not mistaken we are well into the stormy season now
and the drain as it is would not seem to solve any flooding danger.
I love Jomtien, its streets ahead of Pattaya, please
let’s keep it that way!
RW View Talay Condo
Now is a good time to fill out donor cards
Dear Editor:
I read with interest: “Kidney recipients face uncertain fate Sept 3),
which was about a 17 year old boy waiting for a kidney transplant. I think
now would be a good time to urge everyone to fill out donor cards and let
their families know they want all their body parts and tissues left to
science when they die. There should also be legislation that would make it
easier for hospitals to remove body parts from the recently departed for the
purpose of transplants.
It will be extremely dangerous if - as is being currently
planned - they start using animal parts for transplants because of lack of
human organs. Such animal transplants could cause all sorts of undetected
viruses to be transmitted to recipients. Besides, what kind of person would
want to take his body parts to the grave when there are so many living
people who so desperately need them?
Eric Bahrt,
Pattaya
Redevelopment of Walking Street
Editor;
Why O Why are they even considering redeveloping the beach side of Walking
Street? As quoted on page three of your news Friday the 3rd, “It’s the
general public who receives the greatest benefit who must offer their
opinions.” Well, for what it’s worth, here is mine.
I’ve been coming to Thailand and Pattaya for over 30
years now and have now retired here. I spend all my evenings in Walking
Street along with the many friends now that come to visit me.
The entertainment value with all the bars, restaurants
and nightclubs has been for some time now world famous. Well over 3000
holiday makers visit Walking Street every night. The baht income to this
area must be in the billions each year.
The seafood restaurants on that side of the road are
among the best in the world and the bars of all kinds are brilliant.
In the last 30 years I’ve been coming here I’ve seen
no encroachment of buildings, the buildings were all here 30 years ago,
though many have been updated and well looked after. I also see no
environmental conditions. Walking Street is a far, far safer place at night
than the Beach Road, you can feel safe in Walking Street with the high
profile of local police and no traffic. I have never felt safe on Beach
Road.
Pattaya has with its Walking Street one of the most
famous safe holiday destinations in the world.
Please don’t throw it away and replace it with another
Beach Road with all its problems. I can’t see any benefit in a lighthouse,
a clock tower and a series of boat docks to the general public or
holidaymaker.
I’m sure the billions of baht that would be spent on
redeveloping the beach side of Walking Street could be better spent to the
benefit of the local Thais, not the visitors who like Walking Street as it
is.
Only my opinion.
Dave Ex Pat from England
A cautionary tale
Editor;
Customers beware - As an incidental spin-off from the implementation of the
government’s directive for early closure of supermarkets throughout the
kingdom, an additional problem was discovered this week at a big department
store complex.
Anyone using the “bag drop” facility became aware of
the government’s early closure policy when they went back to collect their
things anytime after 9.30 p.m. They couldn’t! The store was locked.
Having used the facility many times in the past when
going to the cinema it came as a personal surprise not to be able to
retrieve my shopping that was to form part of my evening meal after having
enjoyed the latest film.
Thinking that this was a mere blip in my routine, I went
back at lunchtime the following day and handed my plastic number to the boy.
“What do you want?” “The bag I left yesterday.” “No have.”
“Excuse me?” “Go upstairs.” “No, this is yours; the upstairs one
is red.” “Go to promotions.” “OK.”
Presenting the number to promotions we have, “What do
you want?” “The bag I left yesterday.” “No have!”
OK Let’s start again.
“Have you got the items left downstairs yesterday
before you locked up?” “Yes”. “OK, can I have my bag of goodies
please?” “No have…” “Right, can you tell me why you do not have my
things?” “Company policy, we put them back on the shelves…” “Fine,
and what about things left with you that were not bought here?”
“Have.” “So can you now go and get my things.” “OK.”
20 minutes later I am still waiting. I point out that
there was a copy of yesterday’s Bangkok Post in the Bag. “OK”. So they
get me today’s! “No, I want yesterday’s I already have today’s…”
They eventually find it!
On a positive point, my cat appreciates the ball the
manager lady gave me to keep me amused! 45 minutes out of a busy schedule is
a considerable amount of time to lose to recover a few items. The list they
had written out was NOT accurate, but I would have done better to let them
use that rather than supply them with the receipt.
Originally they could not find their document listing the
items left.
One has to be patient.
I am sure they have had many people leave things in the
past but with closing at 9.30 Monday – Thursday and 10.00 Friday, Saturday
and Sunday they are bound to find more items left until we all get into the
routine of not leaving things at the “bag drop”.
Allan Sherratt
Only outlaws have guns?
Sirs,
Re this week’s editorial, “The downward spiral of public safety 0037-
when will it end?” As I understand, guns are outlawed in Pattaya City.
Then only the outlaws will have them. I wonder why outlaws like Pattaya so
much…
Regards,
Hansson
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