Re: "Chiang Mai growth not so bad", (PostBag, Jan 13).
I found Mr Bourne's response to my criticism of Chiang Mai interesting for the fact that two men of similar age can feel so different about their world.
First I would just like to correct the assumption that the city I fear for is a "bolt-hole" when it is in fact the place I chose to build a house, raise a family and spend more time in than any other country. The place that he found "boring", I found fascinating, didn't wish to alter and was quite happy to pass on unchanged to my children. What he calls development I call destruction, where he sees man's hand as improving I see it as diminishing.
Mr Bourne is, I assume, what I would call a city dweller whereas I am a "hayseed" country man. He is correct in that I have this "sentimental nonsense" for the old things such as clean air, uncontaminated water and unlittered streets. I enjoy the natural beauty and am happy to live in it.
As for Chiang Mai being "manageable" I suppose that's true if you wish to wear a suitable mask, perhaps flee the city as some do in March or take the experts' advice of staying indoors at certain times. I chose to just move farther out of town, 200km to be exact.
Mr Bourne however, has no need to worry about my type who are losing the battle and his desires will be fulfilled. Higher energy use, more roads, bigger malls and possibly even factories will almost certainly be the city's future. Conservation and the preservation of our ecosystem don't appear to be high priority, which is maybe why many scientists think climate change is inevitable.
Lungstib
Insurance impossible
I agree with David Sheechan, that compulsory health insurance should be a must for foreigners living in Thailand. Certainly as long they don't have the same opportunities as Thai nationals.
Sadly this is not the case. Foreigners are excluded from health benefits Thai nationals can rely on. So this is never an option for foreigners. Getting reliable health insurance with a Thai company is near impossible if one reaches the age of 70 years or more, considering the rigorous rules about one's health history, those Thai companies use.
In many cases this will result in foreigners trying to insure themselves with an international insurance company. And the prices you have to pay for their policies are not cheap.
J van Daalen
Bring back bicycles
Whenever there is a cycling event publicised in Bangkok we see thousands of cyclists on pristine cycles merrily touring the capital. Why is it though that we rarely see a cyclist in day to day commuting? Is it due to laziness, considered demeaning and lo-so, or fear after seeing several long-distance cyclists being wiped out on Thailand's roads?
I can remember, years ago, seeing photos and news reels of Thailand's major cities crowded with cyclists as they went about their daily business.
The air pollution problem has risen again in Bangkok and all kinds of solutions are being offered apart from the obvious one of encouraging people to return to their bicycles and use them to commute the short distance to wherever, instead of using those fume-belching vehicles or motorbikes.
Littlepe
Uniforms not needed
Bravo Samanea Saman for well written comments, in his Jan 13 letter, "Kids should know how it is". Capability and accomplishment should be determined by how much you want to achieve, not how you dress to achieve it. In all sincerity, good for you.
Jack Gilead
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