Meechai Burapa |talks a lot of nonsense about farang

Meechai Burapa's letter states that the reason "farangs" stay in Thailand despite complaining bitterly about dual pricing, crooked police, unscrupulous taxi drivers, noise, poor infrastructure resulting in congested and flooded roads, etc - all of which are perfectly valid and justified - is because they are made to feel important by friendly and polite Thais who look up to them.

He goes on to say that farangs won't admit that they like Thailand because here they are somebody, while in their own country they would only be regarded as an "average Joe". What nonsense! And it only goes to show that the writer, along with most Thais, has little or no understanding of farangs, or indeed any other culture other than his own.

First, the reality is that many Thais resent Westerners due to their perceived wealth and lifestyles, and desperately want to keep Thailand for Thais only.

Another misconception about Westerners is that they are all rich with money to throw about with "gay abandon". Sadly this is not the case. Rather most have worked hard all their lives and chose to retire to a country where the cost of living generally is significantly lower than their own, as well as to enjoy a more relaxed pace of life, not to mention a more favourable climate.

The stark truth, which l am sure Thais would be extremely reluctant to accept, publicly at least, is that whilst prostitution is illegal in Thailand, places such as Pattaya give it a reputation as the "brothel of the world". So l would respectfully say to the writer to get real, as without the sex industry the "average Joe" would almost certainly not be here in the first place.

LAWRENCE TILNEY

UBON RATCHATHANI