HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Re motorcycle safety

Experiencing crime firsthand

Unfair policing

Grumpy expats

No problem in Angeles

Family destination

Eric Bahrt responds

Happy Anniversary

Thanks, Jackalope 2008

Re motorcycle safety

Editor;
While I appreciate the “Concerned Resident’s” concern for motorcycle riders safety, it appears he has a few of his statistics a little twisted. Bangkok is far from having a 100% helmet compliance, especially on the sois, and even more so at night when anything goes. The 60% no rear lights and 40% no light whatsoever figures in Pattaya are also exaggerated.
Although I hate wearing a helmet in 33 deg+ temperatures and I tire of these “concerned” letters here, I agree the helmet law should be enforced. However, there are numerous other driving violations far more serious the police continue to close their eyes to as they are too busy harassing motorcyclists. Let’s start with the unbelievable double parking hazards of Thepprasit Road.
Scott Benson

Experiencing crime firsthand

Dear Sir,
Myself and my brother have been visiting Pattaya for a holiday for over a decade now, and every year crimes against tourists seem to be increasing. On our last visit in June 2008, we visited the famous “Walking Street,” and the bars in that vicinity. We are aware that this area can attract unscrupulous characters, so we tried to take precautionary measures, but unfortunately were still unsuccessful and added to the latest crime statistics in Pattaya.
My brother had his wallet and digital camera stolen when he socialized at his hotel with a Thai girl from the Walking Street bar area. He also had the misfortune of visiting a bar where extra beers were added to his bar bill by dishonest staff, and on questioning the rather excessive amount of Thai baht demanded, was assaulted by the bar owner.
I myself over the two week period in Pattaya had the attentions of a local Thai guy whom attempted to steal my wallet, but without success, and on the final night of my holiday another young Thai guy produced a knife, demanding in no uncertain terms that I had better give him some money.
Thankfully, due to the assistance of the security team at my hotel any serious consequences were avoided, and the Thai guy ran out of the hotel penniless. I can only conclude by saying that if you are a “farang” you should, at the very least, be extremely careful.
Thank you,
David Chetwyn

Unfair policing

Editor;
My friend runs an internet shop in Pattaya and was recently raided by the Police Copyright Protection Squad. A customer had been using a computer for some time. It is my friend’s policy to re-start the computer after such a customer leaves to ensure that any possible illegal downloads are removed with the special software he has installed for that purpose. One minute after the customer left, before he had the opportunity to re-start the PC, about 10 police walked into the shop and found an illegal games programme downloaded by the customer who had just left. My friend was forced to pay 35,000 baht fine or lose his PC and probably have his shop closed until the case came to court. Is that suspicious? I think it reeks of entrapment. It takes a lot of 30 baht customers to make up the 35,000 baht. If he had intentionally tried to steal the software the punishment may be justified, but all his software is totally legal. Do the police think he is going to risk his business for the sake of one games programme? When are the Thai police going to get real and use their resources to curb the true criminals?
A Cavendish

Grumpy expats

Dear Editor;
After reading last week’s Pattaya Mail and the 1st Aug issues I see that the grumpy old expats are at it again, moaning that is!
These grumpy old expats must have visited Pattaya many, many times before deciding that Pattaya would be the place for them to live, work or retire; however, once the novelty has worn off they seem to spend the rest of their stay moaning about all sorts of things, especially on how the authorities should clean up Pattaya in terms of law enforcement, cleanliness, etc.
There was a chap moaning in your paper about motorbike helmets and why farangs don’t were them … so!? In this week’s issue someone was moaning about people smoking in the girlie bars and even enquired if there was an authority he could report the bars to. How sad is that!? These old grumpies should not be living here and need to decide that if they don’t like Pattaya anymore then it’s time to pack up and leave, assuming they have somewhere to go that is.
I came to live in the Pattaya area because it was an easy going place to live, and relatively cheap in terms of living cost. It did not bother me (and still does not) about the things expats moan about. I do, however, have a choice, and that would be to return to good old blighty with all the restrictive rules, regulations, cost of living and many, many more that a nanny state can offer.
I have to ask. What attracted these moaners to Pattaya in the first place? And why after they have lived here for some time do they want to change it to mirror the rules that apply in their own country of origin? Don’t these unhappy people realise that if they push, push, push the authorities to change Pattaya, then eventually Pattaya will become an expensive and not so nice a place to live, which is getting that way a bit now. What will these poor old souls do then? Oh yes, have another moan!
A happy Brit

No problem in Angeles

Dear Editor
The letter written by Eric Bahrt about trouble in Angeles City Philippines is very hard to believe. I have been there many times. I was just there 8 July to 14 July 2008. Yes the crime and police use to be bad there but not in the last 5 years. About 5 years ago they started cleaning up all the crime against farangs because 68% of the income from that part of Angeles City came from men tourists.
First of all, his passport and ATM card would be worth more than the $200 or $400 dollars that he said they took. I know if there was a theft they would have taken the passport and ATM card before they would have taken the money because the passport alone they could sell for at least 50,000 pesos or $1,000 US. As for the girl part of his story that has not happened in any part of the Philippines in over 5 years and you can verify this with any of the embassies around the world.
Randy

Family destination

Dear Editor,
I recently returned from my 17th trip to Thailand and Pattaya. The city as a whole continues to improve. It is also great to see the diversity of the people visiting the city, especially families. It is unfortunate that many of these people will not return and will tell their friends to avoid Pattaya. This is due to the proliferation and exhibition of graphic pornographic images on souvenir tables on Beach Road. Pornography is accepted for adult consumption in most cultures. Unfortunately the vendors in Pattaya offer it for sale where young children are directly exposed. Pornography should be available for those that want it, but it should be kept out of the public eye. A simple sign such as “Porn” should suffice.
Regards, Bill Turner
California, USA

Eric Bahrt responds

Dear Editor;
I’d like to respond point by point to Dalmatian Dave’s response to my letter about Angeles City.
Point 1: It’s not necessary for Dave to put my name in quotation marks since unlike him I’m not afraid to use my real name.
Point 2: In my original letter I mentioned the name of the hotel where I was robbed. But the editor told me that for legal reasons he couldn’t print the name of the hotel. But I never implied, as Dave claims, that security is bad at all the hotels in Angeles City. Still even Swagman Hotel, which has good security, (and that’s NOT the hotel I was robbed at!) warns guests that they can use the deposit boxes at “their own risk”. (That warning and quote is on the sign at the reception desk at Swagman Hotel in Angeles City)
Point number 3: Dave claims that if someone was really framed by the police for molesting a child in Angeles City it would be reported to the websites. But that’s only if the victims report the incidents. Certainly the police aren’t going to report it! Since Dave called my friend who reported the incident to me a liar, then he still would have called my friend a liar if he had reported it to the websites. Actually there are many incidents in Angeles of tourists being set up by the police and for Dave to deny this makes me seriously question what are his motivations behind his ridiculous letter.
Point number 4: Actually one website which specializes in tourism did reprint my letter about Angeles City. While the man in charge of that website didn’t actually verify what I wrote, he said he found my letter to be credible and in line with his own observations about that dreadful city. In fact, that’s the reason he reprinted my letter in the first place!
Eric Bahrt

Happy Anniversary

Dear Editor,
Greetings from Perth, Australia. Congrats on your 15 years - may you have many more. I have been reading your paper all this time as I have been travelling to Pattaya many, many years and am to retire there soon.
Well done & keep up the good work
Lt. Cl. John W. Ryan

Thanks, Jackalope 2008

Editor;
I would like to thank all those responsible for this year’s Jackalope Charity Golf Tournament. An absolutely wonderful time was had by all. The organizers as well as all the personnel at Burapha Golf course are to be congratulated. The golf course was in great shape, the food was delicious, and the prize giving ceremony went off with out a hitch, as always. It was truly a great day out as well as a family affair with many children and wives/girlfriends in attendance.
Thank you all. We had a blast.
Marilyn and Dr Doom

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