ikkrang

Interesting. Yet, he was the one who did the multi focal lens replacements in both my eyes, three days apart. Further to my own response from October 1, i did go to Rutnin to get a second opinion on the retina issue. They confirmed the findings of BPH, but added that this condition would probably have developed over many years, and be likely to take many moreyears to have a more serious deterioration for my eyes. Which wss a relief. They also confirmed that from what they could see, the surgeon in BPH had done all the right things, and they would have recommended and done exactly what he had done. So far, so good. A month after my Rutnin consultation, my retina in my right eye detached. I woke up one morning suddenly virtually blind in my right eye I happened to be overseas at the time. I consulted a specialist, who confirmed what I suspected was the case, and called it macular detachment. He advised it could be operated with a 70-90 % chance of success, but needed doing within a week. I returned to Thailand, straight to Rutnin, and was operated on by the same woman doctor who saw me a month earlier. It involved putting a gass bubble into my eye, to put pressure on the retina, pushing it back against the outside wall of the eyeball, then repairing the lesions with a laser. It didnot hurt at any time, but it took about ten weeks for the gasbubble to dissolve and my vision to gradually return over that time. During those ten weeks, I wastold not to fly. My vision in my right eye is almost back to normal, still having a bit of trouble coordinating the images of both eyes, but I was tokdtyst would tske time. I was also to,d what an earlier poster saud, that one posdible cause for the retinal detachment may be repeated trauma to the eyes, such as eye operations...... Looking back, would I do ut again? Probably, yes, but maybe not with graduated lenses, but one eye close up, one eye long distance lens, then usung glasses for driving to retain the ability to judge distance.

Thank you for that endorsement! She has been back driving now for three months, and has settled in well. She's ironed out a few issues that occurred in the first few weeks, limiting herself to not more bookings then she can handle in terms of her own energy. She's happy driving, and proud on the reputation she is developing in the mongerers community, for being safe, reliable and prompt in her response to enquiries. The job change has meant a major life change for her, and she thanks all of you guys out there that have supported her by using her service. For those who want to contact her, initial contact via email, once you confirmed a booking she will send you her Mobile number. Namnamthailand@gmail.com

I can recommend Nam's Taxi - Lady Driver for a pre booked taxi. I have used her a lot, and have on other boards seen many positive comments about her service. Clean new car, careful compentent driver, on time, responds to your enquiries usually promptly. She is sole operator, so she won't farm out your ride to some reckless cowboy driver And, she's cute, and pleasant company! Namnamthailand@gmail.com She will send her phone number when you make the booking....

I recently had to drive to DM myself to pick up a friend. It took me 40 minutes past Suvarnabhumi and the toll charges between the two airports are 145 bt one way, 290 for the return trip. So for her 2x40 minutes extra drive and 90 km, she charges 310 baht more compared to the Suvarnabhumi pick up. If you could guarantee a two way passenger it might be cheaper, but between Patts and DM that is very rare. Total tolls for the two way trip are 290 plus 120, 410 baht. Of course, you could avoid the expressway, and take an hour or more longer...

I understand a few BM have recently booked her for an airport or BKK trip. I'd be happy if you can provide any feedback here, how she compared with your previous Taxi service providers...

No, she uses her Android phone. But I wan to get her a car based Garmin. Can anyone tell me what shop in Pattaya can they not only sell, but also advise and explain, both thai and English. I look for a retaailer who can give expert service, too.. Don't worry, I just reread the whole thread and now have my answer. good thread, useful!

As I noted in the thread Atlas2 mentioned, I have been using Nam from namnamthailand@gmail.com for most if my recent trips to BKK and back. I am dealing with a health issue that prevents me from driving, but requires frequent trips to BKK. I have found her consistently reliable, and driving safely, not speeding, not incessantly overtaking left and right, just steady. On two recent occasions, she could not take me back from BKK to Pattaya, once because my schedule changed, once because a late arrival of another customer at the airport, combined by heavy traffic delayed her return, and I said "don't worry, I'll grab a taxi here in BKK. Both those trips were nightmares, male adreniline hyped cowboys, up to 150 km/h in rattly old cabs, ignoring my requests to slow down, overtaking by cutting right in front if other cars, bumper hugging the cars in front, just terrifying. I will use her from now on each time, or if not available, find another service with woman drivers only. Life us too short to waste in a car crash... Nam will usually get back to you almost instantly, or within a few hours, ask you the relevant questions, check her online map or her GPS for the correct location and the best driving route, put your booking into her diary on iCloud, and if it is a forward booking, check with you a day ir two before if everything is still on schedule. She is a one woman band, which means that sometimes, she will be booked, but if you book her, she will be the driver, she won't pass you on to anyone else. If she cannot drive you, she often will recommend ine of the other lady drivers..

My apologies for the delay. She does not own a minivan, so she would have to rent one. Leaving her car idle. That would bring the cost beyond what is reasonsble. She suggests you would be better of using one of the regular other services who do have their own minivan. Sorry she cannot help you.

What dates, what arrival times?

Thank you, MM Now, we can keep our discussion here centred on the taxi services of Ms Nam, who currently us on her way back from Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya, and should be home soon. She has another job tomorrow evening, but as far as I know is still free tomorrow daytime, if required....

She drives a Ford Focus Sedan, which has an LPG tank, but still has quite a nice big boot left, unless the little Toyotas, which once they have gas, cannot fit much luggage. However, i am not sure how big your mobility scooter is and whether the shape will fit her trunk. I shall ask her about a minivan. Are you talking pick up from airport? If so, which airport?

Re insurance, yes she has insurance, but told me she isn't happy with the cover and is going to change it in the coming few days.

She charges 1200 bt including tolls for an airport pick up from Suvarnabhumi

She is if course not the only woman driver, there are a few others going for that niche. But I think it is a definite niche, and she may be able to make it work. Not sure about the idea of a fleet. The thing she has going for her is personal service, she is her own quality control in terms of her personal dedication to the quality of her service, safe driving, punctuality, rapid response to email requests, ability to find places and routes by GPS, English skills, and "service with a smile". The drawback about larger businesses is that it becomes more difficult to keep that quality control. Complaints about other bigger firms have often been that they seem to have more random staffing, including reckless drivers, who for the sake of time and money take stupid risks, who beg for tips, get lost, or have an unpleasant attitude etc. The plus of a bigger group is that you can do more back to back jobs, take someone to the airport, then pick up the next appointment from the airport for the return journey. That makes it more profitable, allowing a cheaper price. I suppose there is a place for both options. I have over the years been terrified a few times by reckless drivers, a couple of times been traded to a different driver in a layby on the motorway, without anything I could do about it, been lost on Arrival in Pattaya, because by BKK cabby didn't have a clue where to find my hotel at 1.00 AM, and been harassed for tips or tollway charges. And once or twice taken on a non tollway route that added an hour to the journey. And missed an international flight once, because the driver decided to take a shortcut and then lost the way to Don Muang... So now I choose to pay a bit more for "Peace of Mind"

To stay within the intent of Teelack's recent thread thread, I would like to share my positive story for 2014 A good friend of mine made up her mind a couple of months ago that she needed a change of career. The old career was reasonably lucrative, but had a few aspects that she had grown tired of, and she decided a clean break was what she needed. So she set up in business as a Taxi driver, based in Pattaya, providing rides to and from airports, and various other destinations us mongerers want to go from time to time, golf courses, BKK, tourist attractions, in fact, anywhere you want to go. She engaged my assistance, and that of a few more BM, here and on a couple of other boards, to advise members of her new service. She charges a little above the cut rate fares charged by some providers, but for that, you get your Tolls paid on Airport runs, you get Ford Focus with plenty of space, as opposed to a smaller Vios, you get a lady driver, very careful, instead of an adrenaline, testosterone or Yabba fueled male driver, so the experience isn't as hair raising as it often can be. And a few snacks and cold water thrown in. Added bonus, she is cute, and speaks O.K English, and is happy to chat on the way to your destination. Now, after her first full month driving, she has proved to be quite popular with our members. A true success story. Most of her income goes to support her mother, grandmother and her two young children back home. No freeloading boozing gambling males in her family! You can book her on email namnamthailand@gmail.com, or look at her Facebook page "Nam's Taxi Lady Driver Pattaya" She is busy designing a webpage right now... Give her a try, she deserves a shot at making herself and her family a better life....

GPS has been a major improvement in getting around in Thailand, even if you don't speak the language. I use Google Maps on my iPad in the car, and it took away some of the stresses of finding your way around when there aren't many signs, and no one understands where you want to go. Just be careful driving, rules here are different, and not always followed.

Not wanting to put your lady or any other Thai lady down, but I'd believe any GPS more then any Thai female in respect to directions and turn left or right, distances etc. Been led astray too often. However, Noi is an exception, when she uses her own GPSon her phone, very skilled, and often outsmarting my iPad GPS programme.

Hmmm, if you bought this to take to Thailand to photograph Airplanes on infinity distance, wide land scapes, outside scenes at high light levels, you bought the right camera, to judge by your pictures. However, this being a mongerers forum, are you also planning to do low light shots, close ups, ultra close ups, artificial light shots, etc, like a lot of the stuff we see on "sexy Thai girls etc" If so, I suggest you do some more testing, change your subject to include what .i just listed above, and familiarise yourself with your camera under those conditions. Doesn't need to be a naked Thai girl as subject, but similar conditions. You old aunt in her parlour in the evening will do, and she can keep her clothes on. Your dog, your kids, your wife. Get some very close ups, a nose filling a frame, extreme light conditions, experiment. Because, when you are faced with your Barfined lady, at 1.00 AM in a badly lit hotelroom, after she comes out of the shower, you don't want to waste time fumbling, you want to be confident, and know exactly what you need to do to get the succesful picture. Pre requisites: Clean the lens before you go out on the town, check for empty memory card and full battery. Take iff the lenscap, switch on the camera Practice, practice, practice with dry runs....

But Pat? Still on deck?

Ban Ampur, I think doesn't have the same natural shade... I often sit on BS beach after five, until just after dark, relaxed, watching sunset. Lovely place. But then, I only live five minutes away...

Unfortunately, I cannot suggest to Noi to go phone her provider, both her wifi feeds are piggy backing on a resident in her building who doesn't password their account....

In the end, names are irrelevant. What counts is the quality if the service you receive when you seek a certain service. I described to service on offer here, and believe you will receive quality service with a smile. I myself, have been a dishwasher, a cow milker, a factory worker, a photographer and a social worker. In each job, I gave the best I could, and see no point in trying to mix up these different jobs. I have also loaded trucks for a few months, cleaned airplanes, and been a welders assistant. One bore no relation to another of those jobs, just what was around at the time... BTW, she just came back from an airport pick up, and decided she will charge 1200 for pick up, and 1000 for delivery to airport. When I asked her why the difference, well, main reason is on pick up she needs to park and pay for parking, make a sign and wait. Longer wair costs more parking, and more downtime, sometimes hours.

A good friend of mine has decided to change career. She is now available as a driver, both for airport trips as well as general sightseeing around the area. She drives a Ford Focus. But she is multi skilled, and worked as a caddy for several years. She knows a lot of the golf courses around the province, knows of their cost structure, and plays a decent game herself. She owns two sets of clubs, which could save some money if you don't bring your own. She will partner you in a game, but will also be able to just take you there. She speaks and writes reasonable English, and some Japanese. You can contact her for either golf or transport on Namnamthailand@gmail.com

A good friend of mine has recently started offering her services as a driver, including airport pick ups and drop off. She drives a Ford Focus, which in spite of running on LPG still has a sizable boot for bags, and will easily fit a golf bag. She used to drive a cab some years ago, and getting back into that work again now. She speaks and reads reasonably good English, she knows how to use her GPS in case you want to go somewhere, knows where to shop, and generally is handy for any information, including using google on Thai and English sites. On top of that, she used to be a caddy, knows lots of golf courses around Pattaya, and is aware of prices. If you're looking for a golf companion, I am told she plays a decent game as well. She can be contacted on namnamthailand@gmail.com I found her to be reliable, and a competent driver.

My friend Noi complained this morning her YouTube stopped working. She usually gets her music by streaming music vids on it. Could it have something to do with a malfunctioning Adobe Flash player?