Shoddy massages
Re: "Thai massage industry set for overhaul", (BP, March 4). I'm looking forward to the day the Thais will finally upgrade and greatly improve the massage industry in this country. It is indeed in a dire state. I'm a fully qualified masseur with three diplomas from the world-renowned Wat Po school, two of them specialist courses. Very proud of it.
I love giving and receiving a massage. However, due to my knowledge and skills in this noble art, I find it a very painful experience to have a real professional massage in Thailand. As soon as a masseuse/masseur touches me, I can feel and know how poor she/he is.
Just last Sunday, I went for a full-body massage. The woman just poured some nice-smelling liquid on me and started to stroke me, rubbing the stuff into me without using the proper pressure points procedure.
She did not use the body pressure points that need to be stimulated and continued with her ridiculous routine. I stopped her and showed her how to do it. She was useless and a complete amateur. Thus, I got up and left the massage parlour. Yet the manageress demanded me to pay for that extremely poor and insulting service. Disgusted, I did, never to return.
This is happening all over Thailand, and when I see it on the beaches, how the unknowing tourist pays a lot of money for such poor service is a shame. Improve the famous Thai massage now!
Miro King a professional masseur
AI starts at home
Re: "Gen brain damage", (PostBag, March 5) & "Should social media be banned for under-16s?", (Online, March 3).
Kudos to Samanea Saman for today's contribution to the PostBag. It was well-written, complete, and to the point.
It covered everything I have been wanting to write.
I would add only one thing: Parents have a crucial role in determining children's use of AI. I have read numerous articles about the dangers of AI, but not one mentions that parents have the biggest responsibility in how children use -- or do not use -- AI.
Yes, governments can regulate; however, raising children is not their job. Parents are the best defence.
It comes under the heading of parental responsibility: teaching their offspring to BE responsible -- including but not limited to the use of media in all of its forms.
Jan Meyer
Russia eyes Asean
Re: " Can Russia rise again in Asean", (Opinion, March 3).
In a response to the Post's regional political columnist, Kavi Chongkittavorn, on Russia's role in this region, the answer would seem to be "yes" if Asean state members seriously take the Russian government's request to soon hold a summit with Asean member states in the Russian capital of Moscow.
The goal for the government led by Vladimir Putin is to upgrade Russia's minute relationship with Asean to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" (CSP), similar to that Australia and China have with the 10 or so member states of Asean.
While it is clear how Russia would gain from such a relationship, it's not so clear how all the member states of the previously mentioned organisation would benefit, although some would undoubtedly do so.
Paul
