HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

More beachside high rises

Dual Pricing Everywhere

Dogs, dogs and more dogs

Where is the care?

Need information on motorbike insurance

Ian Ashenden you just don’t get it

American Embassy Consular Section to visit Pattaya May 25

Reply to dog suggestion by Derek of Mabprachan

May 4 Edition

Paradise For Two

More beachside high rises

With all the recent publicity, both locally and nationally, regarding the case brought by the Jomtien Complex residents against the allegedly illegal development at the south end of Dongtan beach it was concerning to see that a few hundred yards along the beach another proposed condo has just “sailed” into a plot immediately in front of Jomtien Condotel. From the artist’s impressions, this is 8 floors high and very clearly close to the beach. Local residents are already preparing their protests.
This latest development, following so quickly on the heals of the recent Jomtien Complex case, raises an issue which Pattaya City Council should clarify. The Royal Law states that no building can be higher than 14 meters if within 200 meters of the high tide mark. This law appears very clear and has been observed along much of Jomtien Beach. Why then is Pattaya City Hall now granting building permits for these structures, which clearly break the rules?
Dongtan Beach lover
Jomtien

Dual Pricing Everywhere

Dear Sir,
Is it just a Pattaya phenomenon, or do English-speaking expats do nothing but complain about whatever country they happen to be residing in?
The latest recurring subject to raise its head is Dual Pricing, which many believe to be unique to Thailand. I congratulate your reader who made an excellent point that it is not something which is limited to the Land of Smiles, yet there still seem to be many with their head in the sand who believe that they are the only ones being hard done by.
Having travelled the world on business for well over 30 years, it is plainly obvious to me that Dual Pricing, i.e. charging foreigners more than locals, is a practice which is carried out worldwide. It is practiced in taxis, hotels, bars, restaurants, leisure facilities, accommodation and tourist attractions in many, many countries, and if your readers were a bit more well informed they would know that Thailand is no different in this respect.
If the whingers took a step backwards and looked at the overall living standards and 250 Baht a day income of the average Thai person, maybe they would be a bit more magnanimous when it comes to paying an extra 5 baht for a taxi ride, or a couple of extra bucks/pounds for a tourist attraction.
Whilst I am not one who wears rose tinted glasses when discussing the merits of the Thai nation, I do believe that the vast majority of them live their lives with great dignity in the face of foreigners who are vastly wealthier than they are. If the same dignity was shown by us from overseas when faced with extremely trivial small price differences, maybe they would have more respect for us.
To add a final twist, I happen to know that the person who originally raised this current discussion, Mr Ashenden, taught golf to several underprivileged Thai children for free during his time in Pattaya, not something I have ever seen publicised. In this instance I greatly applaud “Dual Pricing”!
Kind wishes,
Bob Wilson
(currently in Hong Kong)

Dogs, dogs and more dogs

Dear Editor,
My final thoughts on Dogs, Robert from Nags Head UK, unfortunately the dogs are locked in the House 24 hrs a day so I cannot befriend them, I would love to give them a little bit of food. All done in the best possible taste of course Derek from Mabprachan, the owners used to walk them, but unfortunately they defected on the estate outside peoples houses so the owners stopped walking them due to complaints, by the way I would love to take them for a walk to the reservoir.
Cheers
Steve English

Where is the care?

Editor:
On Saturday, April 28, 2007 my friend and former colleague 32 year-old Matt Gerald Hayes was struck by a truck as he rode his motorcycle in South Pattaya-a case of hit and run. Volunteer ambulance workers arrived on the scene quickly and took Matt to a well known, state-of-the-arts hospital in North Pattaya on Sukumvit Road. Upon arrival at this well advertised hospital Matt was denied treatment because it could not be ascertained that he would be able to pay his hospital bill! (he could) The volunteer ambulance men were told by staff at the hospital to take Matt to Chonburi-an hour away. On route, Matt died.
He will be greatly missed by his friends, fellow teachers, family and the children he taught at BEST school. There are two questions that plague me; 1.Why was Matt denied proper treatment that could have saved his young life at this “renowned” hospital? 2. Where does the Hippocratic Oath come into play with this distinguished medical establishment?
If this is how legally employed foreigners are being treated by this hospital, then this hospital’s services should be boycotted.
Answers to the questions and comments are awaited.
Yours truly,
Steve Kessler

Need information on motorbike insurance

Hi
Maybe you could help me. I need insurance for a motorcycle. What I could find out so far is that the annual premium varies between 300 and 500 Baht. But what can an insurance cover for such a small premium?
Maybe you know who could give me information, i.e. what is covered and what is not covered I asked a company they told me that only the driver is insured (?) but no damages to third persons (???). Well, this sounds strange
A friend of mine bought a Honda and was told that a full insurance is included in sales price, but they did not give any details.
Thank you for your kind help
Best regards
Marc Thesmar

Ian Ashenden you just don’t get it

Dual pricing is racism wake up Ian, and I give you 2 examples.
1. See if your Asian wife would pay $10.00 to go into St. John’s College and you only have to pay $2.50. All because she is Asian, “not on a mate”.
2. Take a Cambodian or Laos lady to a dual pricing venue in Pattaya and see if they charge her the same price as you pay. No, because she is Asian.
See Ian it’s all to do with race and I’ll spell it out for you again, when its to do with race it’s called “racism”. It’s the colour of your skin you’re paying for.
Barry
Mabprachan

American Embassy Consular Section to visit Pattaya May 25

Dear Pattaya Area American Citizens,
The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok is pleased to inform you of an upcoming Embassy consular visit to Pattaya. Please mark your calendars! Consular staff will be available to provide consular services on Friday, May 25, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon in the Dusit Resort on Beach Road.
For full details of the visit, including what services will, and will not, be provided, please consult the American Citizen Services page of the Embassy’s web site at http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/index.htm
If you have any questions, please e-mail: [email protected] or call the American Citizen Services Unit at: 02-205-4049.
We look forward to seeing you in Pattaya on May 25th.
Sincerely,
American Citizen Services

Reply to dog suggestion by Derek of Mabprachan

Derek can you bring yourself and some mates to walk the 12 stray dogs that some person feeds from time to time at the end of my soi? These dogs bark at, and attack other dogs being walked by their owners.
I live at Mabprachan, so if you can help out that would be great.Just don’t bring them back. Take them for a one-way walk to your place.
Much obliged,
Barry

May 4 Edition

Dear Editor,
Did you a mistake in your May 4 edition? I read all the online news. No farang was pick-pocketed by katoeys. No farang jumped out of a window. No farang died alone in a one room his apartment. No farang got beat up for not paying his bar tab.
This can’t be right, can it?
Jack Dawson
Soi 4

Paradise For Two

By “Beachcomber”
He came from a far land
She grew up in Thailand
He flew on an airplane
She rode on a night train
They went to an Island
Where people were smiling
He asked for her name
That started a flame
When they met
You can bet
Things got hot
Well why not ?!
He was a man, not a boy
Long on years, short on joy
Like a cool river she flowed
And brought peace to his soul
When she didn’t understand
He’d take hold of her hand
And each day it got better
As they grew together
Amidst the tuk-tuks and the bars
By the light of neon stars
Like a flower they bloomed
And they danced to their own tune
Under skies clear and blue
They found paradise for two
Copyright Beachcomber 2007

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