HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

One theory for the sun halo

Who is he to tell me that I should overpay and like it?

Prone to whinging

One way beach road bus

Equal opportunity employment?

Put the eyesore to use

Brandon Stainsby

One theory for the sun halo

Editor;
Many walked out into the streets to observe the massive halo around the sun today. This amazing sight was visible for several hours this Friday morning. All are wondering what on earth is going on and nobody has any idea why this should occur. The world wide aerosol spraying operations started in the USA around 10 years ago has now arrived big time in Thailand. I first observed spraying here 2 years ago and it has advanced to the point where most of the cloud 24 x 7 is chemical spray. For those interested in knowing more, get on line an do some research on ‘chemtrails’.
Duncan

Who is he to tell me that I should overpay and like it?

Editor:
I find Mr. Bob Wilson’s stance on the dual pricing to be disgusting, condescending and the finest example of liberal thinking sent to this paper. Who is he to tell me that I should overpay and like it? When I was a Senior Drill Instructor we used to get people like Mr. Wilson to serve in my Corps and we drill instructors could always spot the liberals.
What Mr. Wilson suffers from most, however, is elitism. That you believe you have so much money that you can waste it, or acquiesce to criminals smacks of elitism. You sir are an elitist.
The old soldier the “culture” reason is always dug up to make theft seem palatable. Then we are told that other countries do it so why should we complain that some people do it here. Women are mutilated in some countries because it is in their culture to be butchers and misogynists. What they do to women under the guise of “clitoral circumcision” is horrifying and no sane person tells us it is OK because other countries do it. Other countries practice torture but that doesn’t make it right.
When the regular price of a baht bus for a short ride is 5 baht for Thais and non-Thais, the driver who demands double from the lighter skinned visitors is a criminal. Stop making excuses for his criminality. When the lady who sells meat on a stick for 5 baht a piece short changes me on purpose, she is a petty thief. That I may or may not have more money than she does, does not make her thievery appropriate.
Put your money and your morals where your mouth is Mr. Wilson, start a fund to supplement the salaries and daily sales of these people so they don’t steal from us. And to show what a hypocrite you really are, I’ll bet you don’t overpay in your own country when you buy something from someone who obviously has less money than you.
Stealing is just that, stealing. It goes by many names but it all amounts to the same thing. Follow the golden rule and do unto others as they would do to you.
Colonel Lloyd Bonafide
USMC Retired

Prone to whinging

Editor,
Bob Wilson asks if it is only in Pattaya that ex-pats are prone to whinging about the people of their host nation (Mailbag 18th May). Having lived in Greece and Spain, I can assure him it is a syndrome that affects many but far from all people when they live away from home. In fact, it is where the Aus ‘POM’ acronym for Brits comes from (Prisoner Of Motherland). I am often amused by meeting an Australian here that has become that very type of whinger. Some people of all nationalities tend to accept only the perceived advantages of an adopted home, and expect all other aspects of it to alter.
There is a saying that goes something like: “May I have the courage to try to change the things I can change, the composure to accept the things I can’t change and the wisdom to know the difference.” The latter two characteristics are clearly missing from the farangs who continually moan about dual pricing. ‘Barry’ from Mabprachan (same issue) uses ‘racism’ to add import to his argument.
“You just don’t get it!” he tells Ian Ashenden, when it is farang like Barry who don’t get it. Price-loading when a ‘punter’ is seen as well-heeled is common the world over, and given that Thais charging farang extra arises out of a ‘rich’ perception rather than ‘different’ one, it is not so much a race issue as a ‘getting the best price’ one. In any event, there are degrees of racism and charging B5 extra for a ride, or even a few hundred baht extra for entertainment that is still good value by western standards, hardly comes under the banner of racial denigration. What does is the ‘they’re only interested in money’ chant that rings in Pattaya’s ex-pat community, as if the obsession is peculiar to Thais only. It is probably the number one addiction in any given place in the world, the most addicted and willing to prostitute their ethics being those who have plenty already. Let’s not forget, either, that all the native English-speaking countries are historically steeped in racism of the vilest sort (through to genocide in some), and that makes low-level price-loading for ‘others’ less than a minor hiccup. Also to be taken into account is that many farangs themselves perpetuate the rich image by throwing money about to show off. A safe bet is that many of the carping ex-pats are here because they can exploit the locals’ pecuniary disadvantage, and rent short or long-term company of a standard that wouldn’t look at them where they come from. How many are happily paying rented wives/girlfriends more than the female would earn if she had a good, respectable job? Where are the over-paying and racist cries there?
Tony Crossley

One way beach road bus

Editor;
I pick up red beach road bus in Jomtien to make the 60-minute trip to Tesco. Coming back it only takes about 10 minutes because you’re picking it up near the end of its round trip loop. What’s got me confused until now is, there are bus stops on both sides of the road for a good part of the journey. I’d assumed there was a bus to make the reverse journey of the one I was on; alas no, the bus only goes one way. Is this Thai logic or what If there were buses going both ways I could get to Tesco in 10 minutes instead of the 60 I now have to endure. And if the bus windows get steamed up as they did last week, you’ve the devil of a job spotting where to get off. I almost missed it, my favourite shopping experience.
Mr Philip Fletcher

Equal opportunity employment?

Dear Pattaya Mail,
In reference to a recent report that Uzbek ladies where rounded up and fined, I would like to comment.
I think Pattaya should be a bit more open in allowing Russian or Uzbek ladies to ply their trade in Pattaya. After all, it adds to the attractiveness of the resort and adds colour and beauty. In many famous cities around the world, ladies of different nationalities work side by side, for example in Singapore, Dubai, London and Zurich.
The type of client that befriends Russian ladies, most likely Thai or Chinese men, are probably not the type that befriend Thai ladies, so I would say there is little competition. It is a law of nature that opposites attract.
Let+IBk-s let Pattaya continue being an open and tolerant place.
Matt

Put the eyesore to use

Dear Pattaya Mail Staff,
I was very interested to see your article concerning the ‘eyesore’ old drain pipes that have been abandoned along the picturesque Jomtien beachfront.
May I suggest that they could be used to create an artificial reef for marine life which would encourage more tourist divers to visit Pattaya as well as putting something back for the undersea environment?
Such a new reef could be closely monitored and its progress as a sanctuary for marine life used by the many local conservation groups.
I know the Royal Princess is very keen to encourage such projects and it could easily be facilitated at minimal cost with the help of the Navy from Sattahip.
Many thanks.
Frosty
Local Diver

Brandon Stainsby

It is with sincere regret that I inform readers of the recent death in Bangkok of Mr. Brandon Stainsby.
Brandon, a long-time resident of Pattaya, was cremated in Bangkok on the 15th of May. A memorial service was held at his school, Bangkok International Academic School, on the 18th of the same month.
Born near Newcastle, England in 1940, and educated at Oxford, Brandon spent most of his working life overseas. Teaching for many years in Africa and Saudi Arabia, Brandon taught Latin, Geography and latterly English to generations of young minds.
Moving finally to Thailand, Brandon taught English at Wuttichot Bilingual School, Pattaya for three years before taking up a position at Bangkok International Academic School to teach high-school Social Studies and Language Arts, subjects far more suited to his fine, talented mind.
Despite the financial and emotional set-backs which coloured Brandon’s final years he remained, as always, wise, witty and erudite. Ever the pragmatist, Brandon faced all of life’s challenges head on with the same good-natured acceptance that he brought to his friendships.
Much loved by his students, co-workers and friends, Brandon’s dedication to education and his obvious love of children made him a consummate teacher who will be deeply missed.
Brandon’s deeply moving memorial service was led by his students, who spoke of him as not only a teacher but, perhaps more importantly, as both a friend and a father figure who offered guidance, wisdom and love. He was that rare, special kind of teacher who effortlessly crossed the divides of culture, age and position to become someone in whom the students found trust.
Honoured by his school Principal, Rev. Cha, Dae Youn, as both a Christian and a leader, Brandon’s memorial service featured some of his favourite hymns and readings, with bible verses taking their place alongside poems by Shakespeare and Donne.
Survived by his sister in England, his adopted daughter in Bangkok and his beloved dogs, Brandon has left a legacy of respect and friendship that will remain with all who had the great good fortune to have known him.
We shall not quickly see his like again.
Christopher James Parry, M.A.

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