They come every September and October, printed with orange leaves and pumpkins and bad puns like “You autumn know by now.” We all hate them — fall cards.
The coastal enclave of Pattaya is taking a bold stance this year by banning these seasonal nuisances, announcing on a billboard that they are no longer welcome.
“Welcome to Pattaya. We pattaya. Do not ‘fall card’ me,” it reads, to the bewilderment of many.
That, or perhaps it was just more Google Translate fail that led The Resort City to post a nonsensical English translation for all to cringe about.
Though Pattaya may be one of the most farang-facing cities in Thailand, that doesn’t mean it has overcome Tinglish tendencies, as demonstrated by the gigantic billboard put up by a former lawmaker.
The welcome billboard featuring the likeness of former Chonburi MP and one-time education official Chanyuth Hengtakul has been shared online with glee and chagrin for its misplaced faith in Google.
Read in Thai, it’s clearly meant to warn people to always “keep their guard up” to prevent the return of COVID-19. Not that the giant “X” next to the words “social distancing” make that clear (“Fall card” is what you get when you run “lower guard” in Thai past Google).
As expected, Thais just can’t even with the mistake.
“What the fuck? It’s good that tourists can’t enter Thailand right now,” Cynthia Cyn Aiemsaard wrote. “Foreigners who stay here for a long time, please ask your wife what it means. Don’t ask me, I’m puzzled.”
Suthep Yangcharoenying just felt bad about the whole thing, writing:
“The billboard is huge. I feel ashamed.”
