HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Songkran classified as extreme anti-social behaviour?

Pattaya’s new parking garage

Taxis from Suvarnabhumi Airport

Local litter a big problem

Songkran visitors

Water shortage or not

Tourism numbers in Pattaya don’t add up

State of the roads

Whinging about whingers … again

Songkran classified as extreme anti-social behaviour?

Dear Editor;
Could not the Songkran water festival be classified as anti-social behaviour on an extreme scale? For example I arrived in Pattaya on the 18th April 2008, with my 74 year old father who walked with the aid of a walking stick to assist mobility. In the following three days/nights of “fun” we were subjected to the following:
1. Endless buckets of cold water thrown over our heads with blocks of ice added to add too the hilarity.
2. White/brown paste smothered over our faces, poured over our heads, down our neck, covering all our clothing.
3. Jets of water from water tankers and on one occasion a fire hose, was used when we were stationary in a taxi at traffic lights. The force of this water knocking my father, a slight gentleman, off the seat of the taxi and on to the floor, which incidentally was a very traumatic experience for him and myself. We found the situation intimidating and extremely frightening. The locals (and foreigners) sitting on the top of the water lorry laughed hysterically has we pleaded with them to stop. Eventually our taxi drove away, but not before my father’s glasses were knocked off causing them to break.
For a further few days/nights we had to suffer this childlike, or loutish behaviour, of water throwing, and on one occasion never left the hotel for a 24 hour period because of this mass hysteria!
I can only conclude by saying that I will never visit Thailand again. Its warm and friendly people, and many other tourists I came into contact with, were also thoroughly sick of this anti-social behaviour.
I am fully aware that the Thai religion is to sprinkle water onto people, including the elderly, has a sign of respect, but this behaviour was a bloody sick joke, with actions not dissimilar from mindless yobs having a laugh at other people’s expense.
Incidentally this “fun” cost my father 140 British pounds for a replacement pair of glasses, and an experience myself and my father will not forget for a very long time.
Happy New year Thailand.
Stephen Chetwyn
UK

Pattaya’s new parking garage

Editor;
“Lets all jump in the car and go down to South Pattaya. The temple there has built a monstrous parking garage for us.” Isn’t that what people will be saying? Vehicles will be converging on the area from miles around thinking that their parking problems have all been solved. However, instead of helping with parking and traffic congestion, the parking garage will only increase traffic and make matters worse.
Most cities have tried to curtail traffic; it now seems the way to go. Surely a subsidized public transportation system will be better than what we have to deal with today. People are looking for city streets that are sane and quiet. How much better to cut down on all this pollution. There is also another matter that deserves our consideration. More and more people are moving into cities to take advantage of what they have to offer and to be close to where they work. They want a beautiful, clean, and safe environment. They do not want a parking garage in their back yard. If anybody builds such a structure, or any other structure that devalues their property they should, by law, be well compensated for their loss.
Were the public officials of 2,000 years ago more civilized and considerate than they are today? One look at our cities and you would think so. When there were too many chariots in Rome, Julius Caesar prohibited their entrance into the city.
We have almost reached the stage in Pattaya when people in the city should be supplied with oxygen tanks, ear plugs and valium. Take a walk down Pattaya Tai and you will see what I mean.
Ray Standiford

Taxis from Suvarnabhumi Airport

Editor;
What’s a passenger to do? In January my wife and I left the airport, we attempted to take a bus from the shuttle terminal to Jomtien but it had already left. A woman in the ticket office indicated she could get us a taxi so we said okay. The taxi took us not far from the airport to be transferred to (I assume) an illegal taxi. But we didn’t have much choice at that time and proceeded to change cars.
Upon our next arrival at the airport I read the signs about ensuring we were taking a legal taxi and we lined up in the Public Taxi line. Lo and behold the same thing occurred, the driver took us to the same area to change cars. However, this time I said no way, this is the taxi we entered to go to Jomtien so proceed to Jomtien. We were told when entering the taxi the 1500b would include tolls; however, the driver tried to weasel the tolls from us but again I said no.
I think we broke the land speed record to Jomtien, luckily with our lives intact.
My question to “anybody at this point”, what the H— is going on? I would love to hear from “anybody” what should happen, so the next arrival will not be as eventful. Maybe the airport should advertise “Better By Bus”.
Also on another note, we visited Cambodia during Songkran which they also exercise; however, the government has declared “no splashing on farangs”. Songkran in Pattaya may have brought in money during the festival but what was the impact after? It seemed to me upon returning that the streets were near empty because many farangs did not return thereby causing loss of revenue.
Neil Allison
Canada

Local litter a big problem

Editor;
If I was to throw a cigarette down on the street in Bangkok, not that I smoke, I would be fined 2000 baht. Yet in Pattaya/Jomtien, Thais dump rubbish in any un-occupied ground, and nothing happens. I can see it every day from my home.
Matt
Jomtien

Songkran visitors

Editor;
In your last issue Chaiwat Charoensuk, Director Region 3 TAT, said that “500,000” people came to Pattaya to enjoy the “festivities”. Maybe 500M people came but, innocently, I ask, how did they get here? Most busses, tour and otherwise, carry 50 passengers or less so - 500,000 divided by 50 = 10,000 busses, cars, motorbikes, horses?
True, my advanced age, dimming eyesight, or math skills may all be at fault but, if not, how could I miss this incredible influx of people and machinery, or, is the director in error, or, inflating the figure to illustrate that TAT (Tourism Authority Of Thailand) is doing an incredible job of attracting tourists? Cannot be as surely someone would notice.
True the figures are “estimated” but even a “guess” couldn’t be that far off and, of course, does not consider the many people who left town, with their money, during the extended, customized, Songkran. I am equally puzzled as to how much money came into town and if the budget will reflect income of the “estimated” extra 500 million B these people spent.
Yes Virginia, apparently there is a Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse and, and...
Don Aleman
Ed’s note: Perhaps whist Don was holed up avoiding Songkran, he didn’t happen to see or experience the massive tailbacks on Sukhumvit during the week.

Water shortage or not

Editor;
Do we, or do we not have a water shortage?
In answer to Charlie Brown’s question... that’s an easy one. Just witness the present daily Pattaya traffic, where the water trucks nearly outnumber the songthaews.
Scott Benson

Tourism numbers in Pattaya don’t add up

Editor;
Hello everyone! It is always with a big smile I read the news and comments concerning your tourism performances.
Rounded Figures:
- From the “official” stats, “2007 was a good year for Pattaya City and Chonburi Province in terms of tourist arrivals, with the figure standing at 6.62 million. Pattaya City itself received an income of 5.9 billion baht from tourism.
This represents an increase of about 8 percent over the previous year, 2006, when there were 5.5 million tourists and a tourism income of about 5.3 billion baht.”
- Revenues Up 8% during Songkran in 2008: “Revenue at least 500 million baht to the Pattaya economy, with some 500,000 visitors arriving in the city to enjoy the festivities.”
- Quite curious facts, since these same people said month after month (before official stats were announced) that tourism was down “only somewhat” due to the military coup.
Doesn’t add up ... in my view.
BUT
- When reading news and comments from business people they complain business was/still is down! There is one comment from a hotel owner in this section this week! Just talk to others, locals and foreign business owners and you hear the same.
- Due to beers bars and discos owner complaints, your officials just recently agreed to eventually RE-extend the opening hours, after they have been shortened for a few years. I can only suppose (most probably rightly) because business was/is down not up! Just listen/talk to the bars and discos owners.
And last but not least:
- Whether for 2007 in its entirety or for the 2008 Songkran, the average spending per tourist is around 1000 baht! Is that all they spend during the 3 to 15 days while in Pattaya? Doesn’t add up, in my view.
Conclusion: Let’s face it, numbers don’t add up. A tourist, whether local or foreigner, spends more than just 1000 baht during their whole stay in Pattaya.
With big smiles and big winks,
Charles

State of the roads

Dear Editor;
Its 10 am Tuesday and it’s taken me 45 minutes to get from the top of the hill on Thappraya Road, past the law courts to the Thappraya / Thepprasit Road intersection!
I know the present mayor is departing, but perhaps someone could drag him by one ear to have a look at the state of the road over the distance I have just mentioned before he actually goes. It is not only disgusting, it’s positively dangerous and has been for months.
What’s wrong with city hall? Have they no control over any of the contractors they award contracts to?
RW

Whinging about whingers … again

Editor;
Can I point out to Tony Crossley that your letter last week is a bit of a contradiction in terms? You immediately launch into an (understandable) whinge about Don Aleman’s (barely understandable) whinging about Songkran and then continue to whinge some more. I’ve noticed your name popping up in Mailbag over the years and to tell you the truth, the one’s I’ve seen are always only when you’re whinging about someone else’s whinge. You mention the Pattaya Moaning Muppet Show - so how about it then - Crossley and Aleman starring as Statler and Waldorf live from Big C balcony?
M. Guiney a.k.a. ‘Guy Smiley’

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