Haze a concrete issue
I am surprised that nobody to date has raised the possibility of the huge increase in concrete making sites contributing to the pollution. In the road behind where we live, Rama 9 Soi 19, there used to be four such sites, now there are nine and a 10th being erected. The huge area being developed adjacent to the MRT Depot in Huai Khwang has had its own concrete-making machine erected. Another site on Rama IX similarly has recently had one erected. Concrete dust particles are present in the air directly from these sites. Concrete mixer lorries throw up clouds of dust when leaving the sites, some also get rid of the remnants in the mixer by offloading at the side of the road, I suspect illegally.
In the 12-plus years that we have lived here, the increase in the number of buildings, of all descriptions, is quite astonishing.
Pictures of our view across Bangkok, taken in the early days compared to now, show this increase quite clearly. Whilst I don’t suppose concrete-making sites are the sole contributor to pollution, they must be a major one.
Are there any building controls on the erection of such sites?
Martin K
Bears in the woods
This recent excretory revelation from the jungles of Kanchanaburi provides the opportunity to cite the old rhetorical question “Does a bear sh*t in the woods?” to assist the inquiry, with apologies to all our ursine friends out there who should not be compared in any way to the alleged culprit.
Lionel Biers
Private hospital veneer
Approaching many private hospitals in Bangkok is like approaching a hotel. There are official greeters at the door, greeters in the hallways, opulent seating, and in many cases someone to bring you a refreshing glass of water on a hot day. The air con whirls quietly away. Doctors have plush offices, the equipment is up-to-date, high tech.
You are then courteously “escorted” to the cashier’s window, (escorted to make sure you don’t bolt after seeing your bill). Someone has to pay for all this.
By comparison, government hospitals are not always air-conditioned, have no greeters, no escorters, and the waiting areas look like gigantic airplane hangers or movie theaters lined with wall to wall plastic chairs.
However, doctors are the same, nurses are the same, medications are the same. Many private hospital doctors split their schedules between their private hospitals and government hospitals. My local government hospital doctors drive Isuzus and Hondas, not BMWs or Benzes. For the record, even upcountry government hospitals usually have one qualified English speaker on staff to help those with language difficulties, like me for instance.
Abhaibhubejhr Mango
Jakarta gets it right
Pol Maj Gen Prettipong Prayoonsiri, chief of Immigration Police Division 2, instructed immigration officers to take “no more than 45 seconds” to process outbound passengers during the busy Chinese New Year travel period (BP, Feb 18).
What a contrast I just experienced, travelling back to Thailand from Jakarta on the eve of Chinese New Year. Reaching the immigration counters at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport, I was very pleasantly surprised to see absolutely no lines, despite the fact that the airport was busy with passengers.
The process took less than 10 seconds, including a friendly, “I hope you enjoyed your stay in Indonesia” comment from the immigration officer! No silly form to complete; no fumbling with antiquated facial cameras; no flipping tirelessly through my passport — just a quick check to confirm I was really the rightful bearer of the passport, a speedy scan of my passport and a swift thump of the departure stamp.
If other countries can manage their immigration processes in such an efficient manner, why not Thailand?
Samanea Saman
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