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Give peace a chance

Reply to moaner moaning about moaners

Brandon Stainsby

How is he back on the streets?

Volunteering for a charity or service organization

Ghosts haunting Pattaya?

Give peace a chance

Editor;
I’m not politically motivated, I’m just a peace-loving English retiree living in a country I love, Thailand. They were sad days when the Parliament compound was besieged and when the airports were closed by protesters, especially when the armed forces and the police refused to intervene!
Hopefully now, all seems to be at peace with the new prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, working hard to get the country back on an even keel. “We will work for Thais, no matter who they are, no matter the colour of the shirts they wear.” He said this at a forum organised by the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand.
All I’m saying to my Thai friends is: “Give Mr Abhisit a chance!” I’m not just supporting him because he was born and educated in England, but he appears to be keeping the peace at the moment and the last thing Thailand wants now is another load of bad publicity in the Western press.
We’ve all seen what’s happened to the economy, especially in the tourist industry here. Many business people, Thais and farangs alike, rely on the high season to see them through the low season but this year, in most areas, the high season has been a poor one! Sadly, I expect that some businesses, especially the small ones, may go to the wall!
There are certain people who are predicting that Mr. Abhisit’s term in office will be a short one. I hope that they are proven to be wrong and that he gets Thailand back on its feet again. It may take a little time but the tourists are beginning to come back already. Let’s hope this is a good omen for the future!
Des Gillet,
Koh Samui

Reply to moaner moaning about moaners

Editor:
Finally an original letter from one who has discovered paradise in Pattaya which does not end with the sentence: “Go home if you don’t like being a farang in Thailand.” Even better we have a very cleaver and witty letter from an apologist and defender of the Land of Smiles.
I have lived in Asia for the better part of 35 years. For many of those years I lived in Hong Kong as the regional manager of an American Airline (woops, now I know many who read the Pattaya Mail have already stopped reading. We all know that the Great Satan is responsible for every problem in the world today). Nevertheless, I will continue.
I have traveled, lived or worked in literally every country in East Asia. I have only lived in Pattaya the past ten years. I chose Thailand for two reasons: The most bang for my buck enjoying the many excellent golf courses. I also find the health care excellent and for the most part affordable.
During the past 10 years, Thailand, in general, and Pattaya specifically has made it more difficult for a farang to live in Thailand. This is not an isolated opinion as evidenced by my wide circle of expat friends who still remain and the number of letters published in both your fine newspaper and the Bangkok Post which suggest areas where Thailand might improve and become more attractive as a place to live and visit.
Power brokers who run Thailand will run the country anyway they choose. I am not sure that the people in power even care what Thai citizens think. There is no doubt in my mind they don’t care what a farang thinks. Witness the latest immigration gem. Land crossings will grant only 15 day extensions. A stroke of genius when the other side of the mouth is encouraging Thai tourism.
Every thinking farang is well aware of the Thai Government intention to upgrade farang residents and holiday visitors. I wish they or someone like Mr. Flanagan could make it more clear just what it takes to be considered desirable by our smiling hosts. Name a net worth. Set a minimum spending level per day for visitors.
Everyone is entitled to form their own opinion. Having said that I question just how much experience the apologists like Harry have had living in other Asian countries. I have met a number of ex-pats who moved to Thailand from the Philippines due to a high crime rate. I have met very few who have the experience living in and spending considerable time in other Asian Countries.
The point is, the advice Harry and other apologist are about to give me - “love it or go home” is sadly mistaken. I do have many more options open to me other than “going home”. Thailand has made it crystal clear Thais define “guest” differently than I do. I also predict that within the next few years, Thailand will wake up to the fact that her neighbors are moving forward while she is moving backward. You continue your blissful life in paradise keeping an eye on that lot next door and I wish you good luck and all the best.
Only time will tell in which direction the Thai tourism industry is headed. The most well conceived solution appeared in a recent article I read in your newspaper indicating the Pattaya Tourist Association planned to focus on bringing Thais to Pattaya. I think this is a terrific and viable plan.
Sign me,
“Packing my bags”

Brandon Stainsby

Dear Editor;
I recently found on your web-site a tribute to my brother, Brandon Stainsby, which appeared in the Pattaya Mail (Vol. XV No. 23 Friday June 8 - June 14, 2007) written by Christopher James Parry, MA. On behalf of my sister, myself and Brandon’s family, I wish to thank Mr Parry for his very kind words. His description of the memorial service has given us great comfort.
As I have been unable to contact Mr Parry, I would be most grateful, if through your paper I could thank him.
Yours sincerely,
Janice Wingfield-Bennett (Brandon’s sister)
3 Burnfoot Terrace
Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear
NE26 2ED
England

How is he back on the streets?

Dear Sirs;
Can someone at the Thai police explain how a man caught having sex with an 11 year old boy and other underage boys was still out on the loose with the opportunity to commit these crimes again? Don’t they have jails in Pattaya? Isn’t pedophilia a felony? Suspected of 50 or more times? How can this man be arrested for such a crime and then put out on the street to do it again? Was he out on bail? There should not be bail for repeat offenders of this nature. I’m certain I’m not the only person concerned about the frequency of these crimes by the same people with little or nothing being done to stop it.
Sincerely,
Paul Donahue

Volunteering for a charity or service organization

Editor;
Many people volunteer to work with charity or service organizations. It is a chance to help a chosen charity by the giving of your time and skills, and getting something back in return. If you want to help a charity, and you don’t have a lot of money to give in the way of donations to a chosen charity, why not consider volunteering?
Depending on what charity you choose to volunteer for will depend on exactly what you will do. So, if you are considering becoming a volunteer within the charity there are some basic factors that you should consider. The first thing to think about is what you can offer the charity. Look at what skills you possess and how they could be of benefit to a particular charity. For instance, if you are especially good at administration skills this could be of great benefit to the charity, and this is where you should offer your services. It’s no good volunteering with a charity as a counselor if you have no qualifications or experience in that department. Think about what you do well and offer to do it for the charity.
Another thing to bear in mind when volunteering for a charity is what you like to do. Volunteering in a charity is not just what you are good at: charity work is also what your passion is. For instance, if you enjoy art, but have never had the chance to work at it as much as you would like, then combining this with charity work in a volunteering capacity could be a good idea.
Another factor when volunteering for a charity is to decide how much time you have to donate. Think about how many hours each day you could give to volunteering to a charity. You may only be able to participate with the charity in the evenings or on the weekends, but you need to be aware of how much time you can give to the charity before you volunteer. That way you will understand beforehand exactly what is involved in the charity work and how much you can expect to be working.
Volunteering for charity work should be beneficial to both the volunteer and the charity. As well as giving your time to the charity you should also get something out of the volunteering work that you do. You should find satisfaction as well as gaining insight into the charity you are working for. Volunteering with a charity is a great way to meet new friends, enjoy new projects, and find new skills while helping others at the same time. If you have some spare time on your hands and would like to be involved in a charity or service organization then volunteering is a great option and one that should give you much personal satisfaction.
We are extremely fortunate in the Pattaya area to have many fine charity and service organizations that represent the Thai people and their communities. There is an array of beneficial projects that include: Clean water for the schools and vaccine for polio. These are just two of the many projects that are sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Pattaya. Then you have the Jesters that raise millions of baht each year for many worthwhile projects. The Optimist International Club of Thailand that is helping the poorer schools with pen, paper and all kinds of miscellaneous items that are needed in the function of everyday learning. The Ladies Club, the YWCA, Sportsman Club, Charity Club, Fountain of Life, and the list goes on and on and on.
All of these organizations work year long in order to bring some relief and much needed help to the people of Thailand, and especially in the Pattaya area. These are decent, hard-working and honest-hearted people that are trying to make a difference in another’s life and at the same time, give back a little of themselves.
Any of the above mentioned charities or service organizations would welcome your services as a volunteer. Contact them directly and let this be the start of something “special” in your life.
Webb Phillips

Ghosts haunting Pattaya?

Editor;
There sure is a lot of bad and even horrific news in Thailand these days. How about something a little more fun and intriguing? I am looking for good “ghost stories” from Pattaya. I would think this is the perfect breeding ground for classic hauntings. Can anyone steer me in that direction?
Chonburi Ghosthunter

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