I was a first time tourist to Pattaya once. I did all the first time tourist stuff. I walked up and down the streets observing the daily life and the night life. I loved it, in spite of the few things that were not flattering to Pattaya. I notice the poverty. I loved the exchange rate because it allowed me to walk around town and be “ the big time spender “. I realized that everything was cheap. I went on a shopping spree. I even had to buy two new suitcases to haul it all back home. I realized I could sell some of this stuff back home for a profit. At the club, next to my hotel the girls loved it when I bought them “ lady drinks”. Buying a lady drink was my form of charity. So what if the bar bill was a little more then I had intended to spend. The girls loved me and were very grateful and appreciative and the next night when I came back to the club they schriked and hollered my name and run to me to hug, kiss, and crawl onto my lap. I felt like a millionaire or a rock star. Back in Omaha, nobody hugged me and crawled onto my lap.
Sometimes I would walk down the street in Pattaya and I would notice a person sitting on the sidewalk begging for five Baht, ten Baht. I felt great when I could afford to give each person a coin. Back home in Omaha we don’t have anybody on the street except Homer, cause he drinks too much and falls asleep on the sidewalk. His wife comes and gets him early in the morning because if she doesn’t then Andy, our cop comes and drags Homer off the street to go to jail to sober up. We like to get him off the street before the businesses downtown open.
I met a German gentleman who has lived in Pattaya for about two years. One day we decided to walk over to the Internet café on 2nd road and South Pattaya road. He wanted to show me something about E-mail. As we walked down the sidewalk we came by a boy about ten years old. He was begging for coins. I was going to give the boy a coin. My friend said not to do that because the boy should be in school. If I give him money he won’t want to go to school and he will tell his friends how much money he is making and then his friends will drop out of school to beg. Or the children’s parents might send the kids to beg in the street because they need the money. Some of the people that I meet even think that the beggars are part of a mafia type organization and the money is taken away by them to be used for drinking, drugs, sex or given to international terrorists.
These beggar boys might be illegal immigrant. There are millions of illegal immigrants working and living in Thailand. They work in construction, small shops and the entertainment industry. As illegal immigrants, they can not go to school because they do not have any identification. They can not go to Thai government hospitals or the immigration, tourist or regular police because they are illegal immigrant and don’t have any legal rights in Thailand. They have only the money they make working illegally in Thailand. The boy might be from an immigrant family from one of the many surrounding countries. Some countries in the world can’t afford to take care of their illegal immigrants.
There are better ways to help disadvantage people than giving them money directly. It is heart breaking to see the children in the street begging, but giving them money will only perpetuate their plight. There are many organized charity programs better suited to helping these unfortunates. One has to be prudent however in whom they are making a donation. At an Expat’s Club meeting, a speaker said that with some charities the money you donate may sometimes goes into someone else pocket and not always to the intended receiver. Sometimes we donate things that wind up in someone else house and not the intended charity. It is up to us to go back and do an accounting of the money or things that were donated.
The people on the streets that are begging are usually really just trying to make a living. They try to appeal to people’s sympathy, compassion and generosity. There are others who are not asking for charity. They are trying to make a living by selling things like gum, pens, clocks, calculators, Thai silk, time shares, flowers, photos, food, cigarettes, drinks, etc.. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish between the genuine needy and the scam artist. So if you want to help get to know the local establish charities and work through them.
Pattaya Info Celebrates 2 Years of Publishing with a Charity Benefit for Pattaya Orphanage.
The Pattay Info is celebrating 2 years of publishing “Pattaya’s Only Multi-Language Entertaimnet Guide” with a party in Pattaya at Siam Kart Circuit / Mini Siam, at 387 Sukhumvit Road, on Sunday August 8th from 6 pm to 8 pm. This party will be a Charity Event to raise funds to benefit the Pattaya Orphanage. One hundred children from the Pattaya Orphanage will be in attendance and they will be giving a musical presentation. Plus many fine businesses in Pattaya are participating and have geneorously donate time, money and services to make this event a success. If you business wishes to participate please contact the Pattaya Info at (038) 251 414 or (01) 356-0918.
Let me tell you about the wonderful people and businesses that are participating in the Charity Benefit for the Pattaya Orphanage. At Siam Karting Circuit, Mr. Graeme Wright has been a strong support of this cause . He has helped tremedously with the preparations and without his and Siam Kart Circuit’s support this benefit would not be taking place. Siam Karting Circuit has very generously made their facility available to the event at no cost. We are very grateful that they will be donating all proceeds to Pattaya Orphanage from Kart rides during the event. Siam Kart Circuit is located at 387 Sukhumvit Road, north of North Pattaya Road and across Sukhumvit from the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital.
The Coca Cola Soft Drink Company will be suppling a tent, tables and chairs, plus enough coke soft drinks for over 200 expected guests. Also Mr. Paul Klaus Gehlmann, General Manager of the Bavaria House Restaurant is graciously donating food for the children and guests. We also wish to thank Sophan Cable TV for running free notices on their cable station advertising this Charity Benefit. There will be many more businesses participating and in our next issue of the Pattaya Info we list them all.
The Pattaya Info wishes to thank all these business and individuals for their support and help. We are proud of their generous participation. We believe here at Pattaya Info that we and other local businesses can make a difference. During our third year of publishing we will be promoting a program of community service to the city and people of Pattaya. It is our wish and those of the above to help by giving something back to the community.
You Are Invited To Help Us Celebrate!
The Pattaya Info is 2 Years Old!
Let’s Party, and
Do Something Good for a Worthy Charity.
On Sunday August 8 from 6pm to 8pm
at
Siam Kart Circuit / Mini Siam
387 Sukhumvit Road, Pattaya (038) 727 411
We will be Celebrating with a Party to Raise Funds
to Benefit Pattaya Orphanage.
Fun, Free Food, Coca Cola Soft Drinks, Siam Kart Rides, and Prizes!
You Are Invited To Help Us Celebrate!
The Pattaya Info is 2 Years Old!
Let’s Party, and
Do Something Good for a Worthy Charity.
On Sunday August 8 from 6pm to 8pm
at
Siam Kart Circuit / Mini Siam
387 Sukhumvit Road, Pattaya (038) 727 411
We will be Celebrating with a Party to Raise Funds
to Benefit Pattaya Orphanage.
Fun, Free Food, Coca Cola Soft Drinks, Siam Kart Rides, and Prizes!
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