HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Visa run foibles

Must be answered

City’s facilities for disabled

The story of my demise has been greatly exaggerated

How safe are blood transfusions?

Dual pricing or just stirring the pot?

Dogs again

Pattaya City Announcement

Visa run foibles

Hey there Pattaya;
I have just been for a visa, or actually I did two trips … On my way to Koh Chang for holiday for a couple of days, I would stop at the Pailin border to get my visa, but when I got there they said that I had to have a flight ticket out of the country. I asked, how in the world should I know that because they don’t say anything at the immigration? I was there just 4 days ago.
So I had to go to Koh Chang without a visa, but I was later that day told that I just needed a reservation, I did not need a confirmed ticket. That meant that I could take a reservation with me to the border to get my visa and then cancel it again, so what is the point? So the next day I made myself a ticket reservation and drove to the border in Had Lek, and when I got there everything went like always and they did not ask for my ticket.
When I was at the border in Pailin I called the immigration in Pattaya and asked what new rule they now have made and the immigration said to me that is was not a law yet but that they were thinking about making it into a law. I said ok, can you please tell that to the man here at the border. He said no, I had to do that myself. I then told the man at the border what the man in Pattaya immigration said, but he said to me that he was in Pattaya I was in Pailin now ... I could not believe what he was saying. I mean, don’t they work by the same rules and law?
Lasse Rasmussen

Must be answered

Editor;
Questions that must be answered! My friend Mr Mathew Terald was involved in a very bad hit and run road accident Saturday 28th April on Pattaya Tai. Sadly, he passed away due to this tragic accident. The circumstances and devastating outcome of all this led me to find out the answers to the following questions:
1. The heartless (man) who hit my friend and left him to die in the road has still not been found. Why, when the weapon he used (i.e. the truck) was located very quickly?
2. There are many hospitals here in Pattaya, so why was my friend not treated at any of them instead of being taken on a long journey to Chonburi? He died in the ambulance on the way.
3. Who made the decision to go to Chonburi as Matt’s injuries were clearly very serious? Could he have been saved if treated here?
4. Did any of the hospitals here refuse to treat him and if so why?
5. Why was even more distress caused to Matt’s family and friends with horrible pictures of him at the scene on cable TV and (a competing channel)? These were still being shown on Monday 30th and after saying he is in hospital getting treatment when in fact he passed away on Saturday.
6. Why does a life appear so cheap here in Thailand? This type of tragedy should not happen in any civilised society, so why is there so much carnage here in Pattaya?
The US embassy is involved but I myself, along with the rest of Matt’s friends would be very grateful if anyone can shed any light on the questions I have raised regarding this tragic incident and I am calling on the Pattaya Mail group to try and help if possible.
Matt was a teacher at Best School here in Pattaya, a quiet man who did not smoke or drink. He was well liked by all his work colleagues and students. He will be sadly missed.
May he rest in peace.
Jon Baxter (JB)

City’s facilities for disabled

Dear Pattaya Mail:
I read with amazement Vimolrat’s article on Pattaya Social Welfare bureau’s noble intention and, quote: “recognition of Pattaya as a disabled-friendly tourism city on an international basis”.
With my two legs in perfect order, I have thus far escaped death or dismemberment when crossing Pattaya streets on foot, using the matador technique. Battlefield-like walkways are also a great challenge to the fittest as broken ankles loom at virtually each step!
It all starts with education and consideration. Home Works had properly set aside two disabled parking spaces meeting international standards.
Guess what? A plant selling stand is now occupying the dedicated parking spaces. On two occasions I have pointed out that situation to Home Works’ management and the customary promises were made to righten the negligence; the plant stand owner, for his part, just laughed and waived me off.
Really, gentlemen of the Social Welfare Bureau, if you want to be taken seriously, launch a sustained campaign of information and ensure, together with the assistance of the police force, that laws are strictly enforced.
I am dreaming, of course!
Khun Jean

The story of my demise has been greatly exaggerated

Hi Pattaya Mail,
I have recently been informed by a good friend of mine on his recent visit to Pattaya that Terry Clifton, the founder of Fawlty Towers Pattaya had passed on! I would herewith like to inform one and all that I am hail and hearty and enjoying the wonderful spring weather in England, well recovered from the major surgery I underwent recently and hope to return to the Land of Smiles, which I have missed so much after spending the last 23 years there in wonderful Pattaya, in the not too distant future.
Thank you Pattaya Mail and please on my best wishes to all my friends in Pattaya and to Peter Malhotra who I used to know very well in the early years.
Sincerely,
Terry Clifton

How safe are blood transfusions?

Editor;
How safe are blood transfusions in Pattaya/Thailand? After hearing that I had received 5 units of blood at the Pattaya International Hospital after having surgery, my friends back in the states were horrified. How could I be so stupid to do this? I have to admit they almost had me convinced. When I got back to Florida I hurried in to the clinic to have a HIV-AIDS test, Hep. C, etc., which turned out to be just fine.
I spent many days on the internet researching anything that had to do with blood collecting, transfusions, etc., in Thailand. Being the international surgery capitol of the world, (Bangkok) blood is a very important subject. The Thai Red Cross and many agencies have done an outstanding job making sure that transfusions are safe. My conclusion is that I am convinced that getting a transfusion in Thailand is probably the safest place in the world to get one if you need it.
You might be interested to hear what a face-lift costs in Florida, U.S.A.: $24,900.
B. Sarff

Dual pricing or just stirring the pot?

Editor;
My wife and I have enjoyed reading the ongoing debate on dual pricing, and we expect it to simmer for many years to come, but just to ensure that it does we would like to stir the pot somewhat.
We are currently living in Texas and my wife had need to call the British Embassy in Washington DC to ask a question regarding her right of abode visa. Can you imagine her surprise when she was asked by a very pleasant computerized recording for the immediate approval to charge to our call provider the sum of $2.49 to ask her question? It did not state that this would guarantee an answer. Faced with little choice she accepted and did in fact get a satisfactory answer.
A few days later she decided to call the Thai embassy also in Washington DC, can you imagine the grief I have had to endure when her call and inquiry was accepted with no charge!
Is this a form of dual pricing? Is the Thai embassy missing something here? I wonder if the call to the British Embassy is outsourced to India, or indeed to the Thai Embassy. It certainly doesn’t promote visiting the UK. More akin to helping go visit Thailand, which I would recommend every time.
Yours stirringly,
Darren Rose

Dogs again

Dear Sirs
I had to have a little chuckle after reading in your paper about the Thai authority’s intention to fine dog owners (perhaps in Pattaya City as a starter) who allow their dogs to poo in the streets. What dog owners? And if there were any, how would you find them, as 95% of the dogs I see don’t wear a collar. I tell a lie, I did see one a few weeks ago with a collar that read … DOG.
I have lived in Thailand for two years and enjoy travelling around visiting many places. However, wherever I go, in country lanes, visiting temples, in the towns I always come across hordes of banjaxed looking dogs mooching about looking for food (any kind of food) with that threatening snarl that would to the cautious traveller indicate that they might instinctively form a pack and rip your legs off, or some other important part of your body that you may wish to retain.
These dogs are in very poor health, mentally and physically and propose a real threat to people’s health, especially kids. The whole of Thailand should round up dogs with no ID, and kennel them. After six weeks, if the so called dog owner does not come forward to collect their beloved animal, or someone prepared to give them a good home, then action would have to be implemented to put these poor animals out of their misery.
The Thai authorities would no doubt say, “Where would we find the people to do this mammoth job?” Well, try using the vast Thai navy personal that in my opinion seem to do nothing but parade about the Sattahip area (my area, as an example) looking very smart. Perhaps whilst they are at it, they could help by clearing up some of the public beaches of discarded plastic bags, as a starter.
Yours faithfully
A proper dog owner

Pattaya City Announcement

Having dogs in possession and letting them out in public area

1. Dog owners must register each of their dogs at the Subdivision of Veterinary, Public Health Center, Pattaya City Hall.
2. Dog owners must put on a collar and rabies control tag around the pet’s neck and those must be in good condition.
3. Dog owners must pick up their pet’s waste in public areas. Violators will be fined not exceeding 500 baht.
Announced by Subdivision of Veterinary, Bureau of Public Health and Environment

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
are also published here.