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Thailand is Thailand

Most hazardous street in Naklua?

Mabprachan reservoir noise

Thailand is Thailand

Editor;
I have to laugh at all the squawking about driving in Pattaya lately, ya’ll sound like a bunch of women at a Hillary Clinton rally. I’m stuck working Washington, D.C. for now and have put up with far more stupidity than in Thailand.
Yes, the parking lots they call highways are more organized here, but driving like a Thai on my maxi-scooter allows me to avoid most of it. There are kids here too running around on scooters and mopeds without a license also; I don’t think half the adults have a license if their driving ability is any predictor. Since no one seems to have insurance, D.C. requires people to have uninsured motorist insurance - just in case. Then there’s the inspections and fees; federal, state, and local. Soccer Moms driving SUVs and talking on hand phones are worse than drunks. At least the drunks in Pattaya try to pay attention. After being out of the U.S. for most of the past 15 years, I’ve come to realize where some of the Thai strangeness comes from - US! And Europe is worse!
At least in Thailand I don’t have to strap the kids into a straight jacket for a short trip to the market. You don’t have to worry about HOV lanes, road rage, or political correctness. For the most part, except during Songkran, Thais are rational and polite. In Pattaya, you can pay the “small” fine on the spot rather than taking off a day of work to make some overpaid judge feel important. I guess the Pattaya Police could do better. Florida is a more civilized area without the baggage of the North East, but overall not as enjoyable as Pattaya.
Sorry guys, if you like government controlling every aspect of your life you can always go back to a civilized western country and put up with fat, loud mouth, clueless people raising your blood pressure. (Don’t get me started on blood pressure and socialized medicine.) As for me, I like traditional Thai wives, good friends, cheap beer, and a care free lifestyle. I can’t wait to put up with the freedom and liberty back in Thailand as soon as this project is over!
Pattaya Beach Bum

Most hazardous street in Naklua?

Editor;
Soi 16 running from the Naklua Highway Road to Wong Amat Road in Naklua is a narrow two lane very busy thoroughfare. It starts at the stoplight adjacent to the large Naklua School and has become the sole means to deliver residents and guests to all the new condominiums and hotels along the Naklua Beachfront.
When vehicles park along the roadway, they block one of the two lanes.
During the day, children walk back and forth down the street compounding the problem. Huge trucks delivering concrete and supplies roar up and down hitting their brakes and swerving back and forth to avoid the parked obstacles. Driving from the Naklua Road down to Wong Amat is like maneuvering down a slalom course and with the constant heavy traffic it is a formula for a serious disaster.
Will the city hall please take a look at this problem which certainly warrants some provision for off street parking and qualifies for “no parking” signs along this treacherous boulevard?
Gary Hacker
Naklua Resident

Mabprachan reservoir noise

Hi;
I’ve lived in Pattaya for almost five years now. Some things just have to be accepted as the norm here in Thailand, but some things are a little too hard to accept.
I live near the Mabprachan reservoir and I like the peace and quiet there, away from the busy nightlife, which is not so far away should I want to go into town.
However, right outside my house there is a loudspeaker and another two within the same vicinity. These loudspeakers come on at 5 am every single day. They blast out warbling music, followed by the monks chanting their Buddhist prayers, talking and more warbling music. It ends at 8 am with the national anthem. I understand that I am in Thailand and have to accept Thai culture to a certain degree, but surely this is an unreasonable hour to be woken every day and not all the Thais can be happy with it!
It is driving me insane. I have had a quote of 40,000 baht to have double-glazed windows installed in my bedroom, but I am hoping there is another answer.
Some months ago, my lawyer was tending to some business for me, he understood the problem. He went along to the temple not far from my house. He spoke to the head monk, who was very understanding. He paid him a small sum of money to switch off the loudspeaker that was right outside my house. It was a big relief to be able to sleep! However, those peaceful early mornings only lasted about 3 months - the loudspeaker is back on and louder than ever before. My husband and I are at our wits end and wonder if anything can be done on a more permanent basis - or do we have to try and sell our house and move away?
Kind Regards
A Turton

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