HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Enjoy or annoy?

Poor performance of Thai TV

Why is Mabprachan Reservoir still half empty?

Three perfect links

History in the making?

Drop the monorail

Correction

Enjoy or annoy?

Editor,

I differ with J. Tighe’s answer to the conundrum as to why people who constantly complain do not seek somewhere they will be happier (1st Oct). I’ve never been to Cyprus, but can confirm the peeves and rants he referred to are common with expats in Spain and Greece. But it is not just expat syndrome. Some people know they are alive by the things they enjoy, others by the things that annoy them.

John Arnone asks if he is the only one who understands what Pattaya’s charm is or was. No, he isn’t. Everybody knows. The problem is that everybody knows differently. Does he really think we would all find the old shabby buildings, codge-modges of electric cables etc appealing; any more than prim Pierre’s anaesthetic vision? More to the point, does anyone really want Pattaya to be a typical Thai city by the sea? Some villages are picturesque, but I’ve yet to see a city that has much to be admired aesthetically - other than Bangkok, which has made giant strides forward in the last few years.

I suggest Pattaya’s charm is the same now as it ever was. It is one of few places in the world where a man can publicly associate with a much younger woman (or man where applicable) without being called ‘a dirty old man’. That finger pointing is the product of a sect that stigmatises life’s most natural act. Make sex dirty and you make most minds dirty.

Few people are aware that Pattaya was not too long ago used for U.K. research into the effect a tolerated sex trade has on a society, and the findings were complimentary. In short, what some of us expats and regular visitors have long known is becoming more widely recognised. Progress takes time because everyone’s idea of progress is different.

Incidentally, I largely agree with those who complain about TV programming. Where I differ with them is I don’t expect my preferences to be catered to by mainstream media, as that would make me one of ‘the masses’. Perhaps this should be heeded: I find TV very educating. Whenever someone switches the set on, I go into another room and read a book. ~Groucho Marx
Tony Crossley

Poor performance of Thai TV

Dear Editor,

In reply to the email of Mr Hyde Parke (Sept. 10) I’d like express some feelings on the clear and sharp comments over True Vision/UBC, that hit the nail on the head and that I totally share.

This cable TV is a mess. Starting from the sequence of channels arranged at random without an understanding logic, films are mostly very old or real trash movies dreadful to watch. Only very few are acceptable. That happens 2/3 time a month.

The good channels are Historic, Geographic, Animal Planet and a couple more. But advertising of future showings is hammering every 15 minutes, ad nauseam. Very annoying. In addition the same documentary comes up again and again for weeks.

And it’s not a question of money or investment as True Vision is a wealthy company. It’s a matter of management and open vision on customer’s needs who pay good money and get poor performance.

Obviously I’m not expecting any new future trend by the Channel.
Concerned Farang

Why is Mabprachan Reservoir still half empty?

Editor;

The rains this year have been quite good, especially in recent weeks, but despite this, water levels in the reservoirs around Mabprachan still remain low. Some bizarre run off spill ways were constructed but the major ones remain blocked, especially at the location between Nattikarn Estate and Mabprachan Gardens. Do the water authorities plan to do anything about this because clearly if no action is taken the long term effect will be less and less water in the reservoirs?

Concerned Resident

Three perfect links

Dear Pattaya Mail;

Referring to your opening News page Fri Sep 24 - Sep 30, you featured three articles in a row that linked perfectly. 1st. ‘Rayong panel finds human trafficking problem not severe, but still requires action’. I’m afraid this is evidence that bureaucrats need to get out of their air conditioned offices and take criminal activity such as child trafficking seriously. 2nd. ‘Phothisamphan Pittayakarn School joins royal effort to stop violence against women’. Thankfully, the empowerment of children produces better long term results because they raise awareness about the seriousness of trafficking into sex slavery, rather than covering it over. 3rd. ‘Thai, Cambodian army leaders tout open border at Pattaya meeting’. Increased trade due to an open border also makes it easier to traffic children especially where border corruption is endemic. I live in hope that one day Thai authorities will take serious action against those who prop up the child ‘rape for profit’ trade.
David,
Ban Chang

History in the making?

Dear Sir;
As somebody with an interest in history perhaps somebody out there could tell me what the jumble of concrete, cables and pipes outside of the Jomtien Complex is. Is it the remains of some ancient Thai city or even Roman remains? Are there any conducted tours to view and learn about these ancient artifacts? I assume they are historical as any place desperate to attract tourists back would not leave such a mess otherwise would they?
I will sign as,
Waiting with bated breath

Drop the monorail

Dear Editor,

Please tell the mayor of Pattaya to drop the monorail. Why not instead install a canal system and water taxis where Beach Road is? Many tourist attractions have similar boat rides which run on submerged rails, so there is no passing or races, unlike baht buses. Beach Road could become a giant canal similar to Venice. A one-way strip of street should be maintained next to the businesses for deliveries, which should be done only between 3 and 7 a.m. These boat taxis are easy to install and maintain. The canal could also be used for jet ski races during specific times when the taxis are moored. This is not a complicated project, and would really be a family friendly addition to Pattaya.

Regards,
Bill Turner
California

Correction

In the Friday, Sept 24 edition of Pattaya Mail, we ran an article titled, “Sister Supaporn - working miracles at Fountain of Life Women’s Center” which was inadvertently attributed to Eva Johnson, when in fact it was written by Elisabeth Gilek. We regret any confusion this may have caused.

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