HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Good on the British guy

Stick to what works

Different kinds of moaners

Shirtless in Paradise

Live and learn

Trying to avoid tailors

Post office blues

Re: Another way to look at things local

Paul is doing a great job

Good on the British guy

Editor;
Good on the British guy who fought back against the intruders that broke into his home. I hope they learnt their lesson; at least one person won’t be robbing another home. I have no sympathy for the dead man. It’s time the police tracked down the robbers, thieves and drug addicts that now inhabit Pattaya. The people in general need to know how devastating the effect is, and is going to be when people get hooked on the drug ice and/or methamphetamines. The good thing is, you can usually spot an addict a mile off; scruffy, pale, withdrawn. It’s time to take action, time to fight back against the disease.
Mickyfin

Stick to what works

Editor;
Congrats on the luck to find the two letter-writers “Fled the Scene” and “A helping Hand” in the last issue.
After almost 10 years in Pattaya I consider myself an “Expert” on anything Pattaya and fully agree with the two gentlemen.
To try and purposely thrust aside the merits of the founders of nowadays Pattaya as is being done by the TAT / Immigration is indeed killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. (Still lays!)
The dream that the rich and beautiful will come to our borders, hand over their money and turn around to fly back without having set foot on our soil, will not come true. We have to give them a chance to see and experience the many shortcomings of the now Pattaya as described by “A helping hand”. Will the rich + beautiful come back again for a second helping of so aptly described Shmutz and crime and primitive living (outside the hotels)? I doubt it very much.
My advice is: stick to the approved. Make it a small heaven for the people who spend their pension here and Pattaya will thrive.
Pattaya has found its niche in the world. Stick to this, improve on this city if you can and sit down to see it grow and prosper, as it has in the past.
Improve on the city not on the visitors.
Yours sincerely,
Toni Zeidler-Jones

Different kinds of moaners

Editor;
In the space of a few weeks, two worthy tomes with contrasting styles have appeared on the shelves of Pattaya’s bookshops. There is Dr Iain’s light-hearted ‘Farang’ with amusing anecdotes, and Tony Crossley’s ‘The Butterfly Circus’, which goes for the jugular of “Pattaya’s Moaning Muppets” (many are named). The Jan. 25th Mailbag had two people with different styles of moaning. Raymond Standiford (A Special Type of Moaner) proudly told us that his U.S. moaning mode was constructive. I wonder if he was so constructive as to have noted specific examples of his complaint in a formally drafted letter, had it translated into Thai and then taken or sent it to city hall. A fair bet is that making other farangs suffer his self-superior griping was more his style. Incidentally and to those who moan about visa restrictions, in a ‘Farang on Thai’ and ‘Thai reply’ section of The Butterfly Circus, the Thai reply to visa complaints is: “Shall we ask a Native American about the need for farang immigration control?” Ouch! Truth does often sting!
‘Shirtless in Paradise’ was penned by a wag, who hid behind a ‘Sir William’ tag. Calling passers-by in general ‘the zoo’, which told he pretentiously regards himself above everyone else, a snobby whinge came via the unlikely dialogue of two Thai females.
“Shirtless is classless,” one is supposed to have preached on seeing bare-topped farang men. That’s some phraseology for a Thai girl! Is this Sir Willy a Wonker trying to have us on? Amusing about a tale that wasn’t thought through by the wannabe writer, was us being advised what is classless by ladies, one of whom was ‘found’ by a boozy new arrival. Are we to believe she was ‘classy’?
J. Tighe

Shirtless in Paradise

Editor;
How nice to hear a story expressed of the true feelings of some Thai people educating some of the privileged few - visiting this wonderful land.
Everywhere you go one witnesses real abuse and lack of respect shown by visitors to the people of this land where actions and daily occurrences performed by said visitors are twisted and abused in a fashion that would never be allowed in the countries of their origin where the resulting penance would be prison or hefty fines.
The honour and respect that the Thai people afford us visitors is in most circumstances honorable and polite, yet some seem to take advantage of their generous hospitality.
Many who live here could not afford a lifestyle in their own countries that they demand and dictate here. Tourists likewise enjoy the economic advantages of cheaper prices than their home lands. On top of this some even consider as visitors that they have a right to dictate how standards and procedures should be carried out.
“Respect” is a word that has in many cases been lost in the western hemisphere - please lets put the brakes on now and not lose it here too. The Thai people with a dynasty of over 2K years are a wonderful example of how it should be done - in most cases!
John Henry
West London

Live and learn

Dear Mailbag,
I look forward to your fine newspaper every week and I must say that one of the highlights is The ‘Learn to Live to Learn’ feature. It really puts a smile on the face.
The columnist is an inspired creation; a hilarious combination of Alan Partridge and an older Adrian Mole.
Admittedly, it did take a little while for the penny to drop but now that I ‘get it’ I was wondering if you might have considered publishing an anthology of the ‘Andrew Watson’ articles. I think that they would make an ideal gift for those that cannot read the columns regularly and who would enjoy his hilarious opinions on such diverse things as the Middle East, Venice and his trademark rant against ‘the management’. Comedy gold!
Keep up the good work!
John (Harry) Palmer
Rayong

Trying to avoid tailors

Editor,
I am a regular visitor to Pattaya. Even though Pattaya isn’t perfect I love the city. I read with interest in the latest online edition of Pattaya Mail that on January 16th the tourist police and volunteers where out in force in Walking Street. They were there to clear Walking Street of beggars and touts. Even though I feel that the police needed to do this I for one have never really been bothered or annoyed by these beggars or touts.
In Pattaya the people who really annoy me are the owners (and their employees) of the numerous tailors shops. Whenever I’m walking along a road on a pavement these people are standing outside their shop blocking my way. And whenever I try and get passed them they are forever trying to shake my hand. And asking me how I am. They only do this so that they can try and get you inside there shop and buy a made to measure suit. I find this very annoying.
On the Beach Road near Pattayaland Soi 1 and 2 there are about 4 tailor shops close to each other. So you have to run the gauntlet of getting past 4 shopkeepers who will each try and shake your hand and get you inside their shop.
If I want to buy a suit a made to measure suit I will go inside a shop and buy one. I am on holiday and don’t need to be harassed by these people. The Pattaya authorities and police should visit the owners of these tailor shops - and there are a lot of them - and tell them to stay in the shops and to stop harassing the tourists. As I’ve already mentioned if I want to buy a suit I’ll go inside a tailor shop and order a made to measure suit. Whenever I see a tailor shop I tend to step into the road to get away from them. Walking on the road to get past shops is not a good idea. There is always a chance of being hit by a baht bus.
The shop owners should be warned against annoying the tourists and if they ignore the authorities they should be fined.
Brian Adams

Post office blues

Dear Editor;
The amount of mail that never arrives Pattaya posted from all parts of the world is shocking. I have lived in Pattaya four years and until I now have my important mail posted to my in-laws in Bangkok. I still had Christmas and birthday cards posted to my home here, which I know only about half arrived. I know a lot of expats have the same problem, as it was even mentioned at an expats meeting that I attended. The question is: to where is this mail disappearing?
B. Phillips

Re: Another way to look at things local

Dear Editor;
I think I met John once in a beer bar. He was the gent who would urinate in his pants so he wouldn’t have to pay 3 baht to use the toilet. If there is a contest for Cheap Charlie of the year I would like to nominate John. An individual that is truly inspired by trying to keep poor people poor. First prize could be a free ride on a baht bus, which would probably keep a smile on his face all year long.
Regards,
Bill Turner
USA
PS: Hell Yes! All Americans are billionaires, even with the devaluation of the dollar.

Paul is doing a great job

Dear Pattaya Mail;
One of the reasons Pattaya Mail and Pattaya Mail Television is the tops in all forms of media entertainment is because they have some of the most talented writers and commentators working for them. Example: The very talented Paul Strachan. I have been in Pattaya for over 6 years and of all the commentators (in my opinion) Paul is the very best. I have also met Paul, off camera, and he is a very warm, caring gentleman, and will always take time to greet you and listen to you.
Eddie Blystone

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