Dear Editor.

 

I hear tell that the new Pattaya Police Commissioner wants to recruit Pattaya’s motor cycle taxi and Baht bus drivers to act as vigilantes to help the police reduce rising crime rates, especially offences against tourists. These people are all controlled by the local mafia. What must he have been thinking? It’s like setting foxes to guard your chickens. What do you say, sensible or what?

Norman Stormer, Sattahip

Dear Norman,

Perhaps our new Police Commissioner isn’t aware of the true controllers of the motor cycle taxi and Baht bus drivers. I grant you there are many ‘bad apples’ amongst their ranks, but they are not all bad. I personally know a fair number who have always been honest and helpful towards me. Plus the fact that the police are no doubt understaffed, so could do with the added help that those perhaps nearer the grass roots can give. There is apparently a reward of Bt2,000 for the successful conviction
of offenders, so maybe that will keep the taxi drivers more towards the straight and narrow. We can at least give them the benefit of the doubt and failing that, if the local populace actually see any of the Baht bus drivers behaving badly, they can report them, using the ID details prominent on the inside of the Baht buses.

 Dear Editor,

We’re in for a pretty awful hot season, lasting an extra month due to El Ninyo, according to some predictions I’ve seen in various places recently. With Pattaya’s perennial water problems, perhaps you could suggest some bright ideas on how to conserve water for those who don’t know how and that will make more available for the rest of us.Yours faithfully,

Brian Jentz, Naklua. Dear Brian,

Yes, like you I’ve seen the warnings, too, and noted that the majority of the reservoirs nationwide are rapidly running dry, not to mention the water levels in the Mekong River being the lowest for 3 decades. Considering Pattaya’s past record as regards the water supply, everyone needs to be fully aware of how essential it is to conserve water, especially kids who may not care sufficiently or who don’t know the techniques. Most measures are common sense but just in case, here are some suggestions: fit water-efficient toilet cisterns that only flush half the tank, similarly for shower heads, and washing machines if possible; shower rather than bathe, share the shower with a friend and take fewer showers generally; run only enough water in the sink/basin for immediate personal washing needs or for cleaning vegetables;
fill a cup of water to brush your teeth; shave in the shower; always place the lid on pans boiling water; check your water bill for excesses, indicating you have one or more leaks, and check for leaks generally; don’t wash your vehicle, and only water those plants that really need it and then sparingly. Other than following those suggestions, surf the Internet for water conservancy tips.

 Dear Editor,

Since when have you been so anti-life as to publish articles about the fur trade? Don’t you realize how much cruelty is exacted on poor animals that are killed for their pelts? I hope you amend things for the future.Yours truly, Frank Brown, Jomtien

Dear Frank,

Perhaps our inclusion of a fur-friendly article was somewhat insensitive, or perhaps we forgot to put a note above the article to indicate that the views expressed by the article writer were not necessarily those of the management or editorial staff. Rest assured we don’t go out of our way to promote practices harmful to animals, especially killing them for their pelts and we certainly have no wish to offend sensitive souls such as yourself. Bludgeoning seals for their coats we also find reprehensible. All in all, we’re a pretty sensitive lot too, so you’re in good company.

Dear Editor,

I have lived in Thailand for only six months, however, I have travelled to all the countries in the proximity in visa quests and adventure !

I left England after working hard in the Engineering/Oil industry since I was 16 years old. I am now 52.

I have seen the decline of what was my perception of THE GREAT BRITISH way of life at first hand. Personally I feel BETRAYED by my own country .

I now am living in a pleasant, structured and mainly happy place, life for me is good here in this beautiful country, I enjoy being able to walk out late at night if I wish without fear and being free to chat and mingle with lovely friendly people.

Long may it continue.

With gratitude, N.T. White.

Dear Mr. White,

What a refreshing letter to get by Email. With the recent political problems within Thailand, the world economic crash and the plummeting exchange rates, it is sometimes difficult to realize just how lucky we are to be living in this little bit of paradise.

Along with yourself I became very disillusioned with the UK many years ago, I left around 1985 and went to start a new adventure in Spain. After 22 years, Spain was becoming as regimented as the UK, and my wife and myself looked at spreading our wings once again and eventually settled in Pattaya around two and a half years ago.

I am very pleased that you have found a new, and much better life for yourself in the Land of Smiles. We have a country that is very beautiful along with its people, OK, so the weather is too bl**dy hot for me at the moment, but hey, that is why we have air con.

Long may you continue to enjoy your Thai experience and spend many, many years enjoying your new life in Thailand.

As for the UK, I try to keep abreast of developments over there on a political and social level, however, I have to admit I do not read anything that gives me the impression I made the wrong decision all those years ago, in fact quite the contrary. So it looks like we have to suffer the hardship of living in the Land of Smiles for many years to come. Shame!! Ha, Ha.