HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Thai business logic

Crossley and Pattaya Beach Bum - perfect together

Thank God it’s THAI-day

Gas bottles a danger?

Beaches need updating

Bangkok Hospital Pattaya gives away Father’s Day presents

Thai business logic

Editor;
To all farangs residing in Thailand - please show respect for the country you live in, the people you live with and their government, by not laughing at what follows, because this is not a joke. It has yet again made evident that the so called “more developed nations” still have much to learn from Thai logic, especially when it comes to conducting business.
From a report in the business section of the Bangkok Post dated 14th November 2007: At a meeting to resolve conflicts between retailers and suppliers, brokered by the Thai Government Commerce Ministry, a spokesman for the Ministry said, “Retailers must not offer lower prices in an effort to beat rivals or to benefit consumers. Smaller retailers would be hurt most from discount sales, and while low prices would benefit the consumer in the short run, it could lead to overspending.”
Can anyone think of other more valid reasons for shops not to compete with each other or offer goods at competitive prices?
Apparently the government now intends to pass new laws regulating the retail sector. With this kind of attitude we shall all eagerly look forward to seeing what restrictions and safeguards will be included in these regulations.
No Longer Amazed
Pattaya

Crossley and Pattaya Beach Bum - perfect together

Editor;
I raised 11 boys from age 21 until 35. We had a girl but lost her in a senseless car accident on the 5 highway in California. She wasn’t belted into her car seat. A car stopped in front of me and I slammed the brakes. My little Stephanie was in my boy’s arms and he couldn’t hold her. She went through the windshield. I have tears in my eyes writing this but it must be written.
My husband Steve warned me to belt her in but we were only going 2 miles until the store and it was such a bother. I was so stupid then, it was 1975. Now the boys, Steve and I mourn little Stephanie every time we see a baby being held on a baht bus, or riding with 4 others on a motorcycle as the Thais are want to do. I see my Stephanie in the arms of every Thai mother.
Steve my husband is much less kind than me when it comes to the opinions of Crossley and the Beach Bum. The Bum says that he shouldn’t have to make the child safe because it is only a short ride. What about my Stephanie? Thank God for people like Geoffrey Humphreys. It’s comforting to know that in a sea of senselessness there is one man who shines as a beacon of sanity.
Shame on you Crossley and double shame on you Pattaya Beach Bum.
Bobbi Dooley
Perpetual mourning mother
Western Estates California, USA

Thank God it’s THAI-day

Editor;
Friday in Thailand: So I was reading letters to the editor in a local paper yesterday. Some whiner was complaining about how foreigners were not treated well here. I thought I’d take inventory in how nice the Thai people are to me in just one day alone (yesterday):
Thai waitress stops to talk and take a personal interest in all customers at breakfast.
All cashiers stop and say hello/welcome to everybody who walks in the door at 7-11.
Crazy insane housekeeper who has nothing but smiles and hospitality and even provides room service when she notices me looking at a menu.
A police officer who took about 5 minutes to give friendly directions when asked.
A lady tossed out my lunch order that she spent five minutes on, and started all over when she found out I did not like fish sauce. I never had “corn salad” before, but I am sure that I will never find better.
I ran out of gas out in the countryside on my scooter. Thankfully it was adjacent to a “gas station” which was a table with whiskey bottles full of gas. The half dozen people (family) there insisted that I drink some whiskey with them and begged me to come back again. Strangely the whiskey was the exact same color as the gas! I did not bother to taste the gas, but do have my suspicions...
A helpful siren from the passing police car to keep me from pulling my scooter out in front of a bus at a blind intersection.
I am sure that a lot of other nice things happened yesterday too. These are the first ones that come to mind.
TV

Gas bottles a danger?

Editor;
Once you see the size of these gas bottles you can imagine the damage they could do should they explode. Surely these bottles should be far, far away from a local community where the death toll could be enormous, especially when you consider that the Phenapa Guest house is right next door.
Regards,
Stuart

Beaches need updating

Editor;
Having just come out of the worst down season ever it is gratifying to see an influx of tourists across the board despite the government efforts both local and national to do otherwise by visa restriction and a general down on the nightlife side of things. If then the property market can be put back on track after the election then that would be just dandy.
I read in your fine weekly a plan to emphasise the beach side of things, seemingly featured as something of a new initiative. If this means then that local government is going to ensure that the beach gets cleaned and no more crap is to be dumped in the sea this can only be good. If it just means that pretty pictures are to be circulated then it will still mean that Jomtien Beach is a place where kids can get a nasty rash.
While the “think tank” is puzzling which way to go could I humbly suggest a whole rethink. The current system of beach bar evolved in Pattaya Beach Road in about 1977. I don’t think it was planned, it simply happened. This comprised of a rented space on the beach, a few old deck chairs and some tatty sunshades with a blue ice box somewhere in the picture. About 5 years later it started in Jomtien at the beginning of Beach Road and was very successful. The problem is the same system is still with us 25 years later and it is completely old hat and no one is used to it any more except maybe on the Black Sea (no offence intended in that comment). Pattaya has upgraded enormously during this time but it simply hasn’t rubbed off on the beach bar owners.
This apparently is not all their fault and I am sure given the opportunity many of them would invest in new equipment, etc., and make an effort to upgrade their business. The fact is that there would appear to be certain restrictions that prevent anyone stepping out the norm. I know that if someone builds or upgrades a bar or hotel, in fact anything, the local Thai businessman nearby will probably pep up his concern yet a notch higher; fantastic, that is competition and that’s how things improve. Also and I am not sure of my facts here (sorry if I am wrong) there is also a system of sub-letting of beach concessions. If this is so then it can only be counter productive and my belief is only the operator of the business should be granted a permit on a yearly basis and examined periodically that a good job is being done.
Why not allow comfortable sun beds both single and double, round sand tables with proper chairs, attractive and functional umbrellas, windbreaks, mushroom style beach bars a la Caribbean, and yes, some deck chairs. Also food that is prepared and served to the bars by arrangement from clean efficient restaurants (you don’t want to know where most of it comes from now) or that of the vendors. Maybe a little light (I said light) music to add some atmosphere say after 6pm and yes, open at night for those wishing to work. Can anyone explain why this communistic approach seems to only apply to beach bars and what, if any, is the fear of competition? It would be gratifying not to hear the sound of someone scything their fingers off with a collapsing deck chair; yes this has happened on many occasions. However; the most important thing right now is clean up. There are nearly 200 beach bars on Jomtien, each occupying a space from 10 metres up. Make each responsible for cleaning their own shoreline and hey presto you have a clean beach and if they don’t, then no licence renewal. Anyway , anybody know what happened to that big yellow contraption that looked like a sand cleaner that was around a year or two ago?
Richard Franklin

Bangkok Hospital Pattaya gives away Father’s Day presents

The Bangkok Hospital Pattaya is offering its annual 50 percent discount on check-up packages plus other discounts on tests and procedures, in honor of the 80th birthday of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Packages must be purchased before December 31, but there are two ‘lucky draws’ for those who have purchased packages up to November 30, with a Home Theatre being awarded on November 30 and a Yamaha Fino motorcycle on December 1.

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